Docs and Coumadin !!!

[M&M]

Hi All, I probably should have posted this under 'active lifestyles' but I just wanted to hear if others get the "you shouldn't do this - or you shouldn't do that - due to a mechanical valve and taking coumadin? I just saw my new PCP last week or so and she was very upset that I ran and that I was going to bike race. Now I've always been running and my EP doc knows it and has never said I couldn't do it.. But she e-mailed my cardio EP doc and they 'suggested' I not bike race.. I told her I wasn't like really racing - I just wanted to participate in a duathlon.. She suggested I take up swimming - and that's ridiculous because I have an ICD and when I get 'shocked' - if I move even a tiny bit - I get more shocks - so how could I stay afloat if I started getting shocks !!! I would drown if I was over my head.. I don't understand. They never said anything about 'restrictions' before my surgery. I wasn't really going to race - but heck I drive a car to work everyday and if I got in an accident - that could do more damage to me than riding a bicycle. I already bought a bike last fall and I even told my EP about it and he never said " don't race" - but this new PCP is really upsetting me and I could ask for a new one - but its not easy getting doctors in this group (took me two years to get one) and I'm sure I'd have a hard time finding a doc as good that would accept my active lifestyle. I don't want to change anything - I had to the surgery so I could have a good quality of life - not sit around and be 'careful'.. Its not like I was going to 'push' the bike fast.. I hate this coumadin and I told her and my EP doc - I don't want to take it anymore. They said: You have to take it.. Well, my EP doc had all kinds of terrible scenarios if I stop taking it. So, I will continue - but I don't want to give up my activities.. I told her I wear a helmet.. I guess I won't be discussing my activities with them anymore. Which I hate to 'hide' as I did that for years with my old doctors and I'm rather happy to keep them informed. But I guess it just scares them.. I don't want to ignore their recommendations - but I don't want to give up the fun things I enjoy.. I got on my bike inside my house last night - fell over and my hubby got all in a tither.. Well, you see I have to adjust to these new shoes that 'clip' in the peddle and its 'tight' and I'd rather fall over in the house and learn than on the road.. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon.. I might buy some knee pads.. and elbow pads - but I wasn't going fast.. I was barely peddling and the shoe clip got stuck in the peddle.

Anyone out there ride bikes with a mechanical valve and have any got any suggestions on how to do it as safely as possible and what do you tell your doctors - or do you just not say anything.

Thanks
Marilyn (runner)

 

[tommy]

Marilyn,

Despite the wealth of knowledge that doctor's have, I think they retreat to what they know for sure when confronted with risk and activities that they haven't done. I know I do that as well. Also, questions are sometimes answered without context or big picture. Only you have the big picutre for your life and life style.

My cardio was a runner in college. When I told him I was considering a marathon, his answer was quick and affirming. When I told him that I hiked to the top of Pikes Peak, his response was just as quick, but negative because of the inaccessability of care should I need it. I'll bet that he has not done a lot of hiking to see the benefits and the feel the joy.

As for cycling, my lack of experience make me much warrier of it than those valvers that cycle every day. Same goes for skiing.

I say, get lots of opinions and chart your own life and activities.

 

[Ross]

Ah Marilyn I'm shocked that your even fretting over this. You know full well that none of us are going to stop doing things we love. If we did, we might as well not be alive to begin with.

Stick a helmet on your noggin and go have fun for crying out loud. You aren't an eggshell that is going to shatter if you fall down and go boom. Just protect your brain pan.

 

[catwoman]

Marilyn:

No doubt you do have a helmet. Get a small first-aid kit to put in your tire repair pouch, wear an emergency ID bracelet and go to it.

As a cat show judge, I put myself at risk. Come to think of it, just living with cats puts me at risk.
My PCP & my cardio are OK about it.

And I also do some bicycling.

 

[tobagotwo]

Marilyn,

Your surgeon didn't save your life so that you could avoid living it. Life is challenging enough without some self-appointed fear merchant settling his prim behind down on your dreams.

You're not a quitter and you're not someone who's swayed from your purpose without great effort. I admire that about you.

Happy riding,

 

[McCln]

Marilyn

Marilyn

Go by what the cardio says. The PCP needs to be brought up to speed on limits for bypass patients. Good luck and keep on biking. You are doing great in keeping active which is good for the cardio-vascular system. You do what the cardio deems safe to do.

 

[Gemma]

Blimey! Sounds like Jim struck it lucky with his cardio and surgeon - both said he could do whatever he wanted - from scuba-diving (cardio's suggestion - not sure we'll ever take it up!) to motorcycling. And he rides his bike off road (with a helmet of course) down tracks which I find terrifying!!!

Be careful with those new bike shoes though - Jim decided it was a great idea to do a wheelie on his bike (pre-op) and wobbled slightly - shoes were stuck to the pedals and he ended up in a heap on the road with me almost running him over!!! He's now gone back to standard trainers (sneakers) and normal non-clippy pedals. But I'm sure you weren't planning on doing any stunts like that anyway!!

 

[mile high]

Within a certain length of time after surgery (3 to 6 months) you can get back into your normal activities. It is important in that first three months not to do very strenuous activities. Your chest bone needs to heal properly. I started working in my garden about 3 weeks after surgery and the cardio office was not to happy about that. I was digging in the dirt and stuff. They were right of course, I should not have been digging around at that early stage.

However, after full recovery the cardio office said no contact sports and no rock climbing and that is it. Everything else is fair game.

 

[M&M]

Thanks - you are all so wonderful. I enjoyed reading every response. YOU are all so supportive. I can't tell you how much it means to me..

It was extremely frustrating to have a 'nervous' dentist and a 'nervous' PCP all in one week.. Heck I could easily become a hypocondriac - if I wasn't so darn determined to stay in shape. Biking really helps me go up the stairwell at work and since I work on the second floor and take flight at least 10 times a day - biking has made a huge difference in my ability to breath and walk upstairs at the same time.. I did a two hour spin class on Sunday and I could run up the stairs today easily. The only regret is that I didn't start biking years ago - I would have been so much happier. Running I guess doesn't hit those 'muscles' for stair climbing. You should have seen the look on my PCP's face when I told her I'm turning 50 this year and I thought a good goal might be to do 50 road races !!! One for each year of my life.. But that might be to much - but I'm feeling so good - I might be able to do 50 - 5k's.. that's not to bad. Heck I use to run 3 miles everyday for years during my lunch hour and I wouldn't go any faster than that in a race.
So who knows - Maybe I can do it - maybe I'll do it just to make a point that Gee doc, I'm not quite dead.. I'm just not sure my ole hips can take it.. But I sure would have a blast trying.. Running is so much FUN..

You have all been so wonderful - thanks so much..

Marilyn (runner)

 

[chilihead]

Marilyn,

I was biking about 150 miles a week before my surgery. I ended up getting a Ross so I could keep biking and ski occassionally in the winter. Teh funny thing is, since my surgery I'm just so happy to be alive I have been doing all kinds of things but not biking as much! I do plan to get back into it more this spring. I love to mountain bike and race. I wanted to tell you to be sure you're comfortable with those clipless pedals. They take some getting used to but are great. You can peddle in circles rather than just mashing down all the time which makes for a much more efficient pedal stroke.

Stowing a pack of gauze is always a good idea. and my wife now requires me to take my cell phone along when I'm out by myself on a ride. Probably a good idea.

Ride hard and win some races!

Jim

 

[Harpoon]

Heehee... I joined the fire department, I'm training to be an EMT, I've already been on a few rescue calls. I'm not quite two years post op for an artificial tricuspid valve and I was born with a congenital heart defect.

PLUS I have fused vertebrae in my lower spine and my neck, and I'm deaf on my right side.

Ok, if I want to be certified to do "scene suppport" which is being a full firefighter except for entering burning buildings with an air tank on my back I have to clear a physical by the fire department's physician, but beyond that, I can do everything I want to do as long as I'm mindful of the conditions I have and how my body is reacting to the effort I put into something.

I've got my cardiologist's blessing. He's not sure what's WRONG with me and (jokingly) asked if I wanted him to refer me to a psychiatrist, but he's OK with what I'm doing because he knows I'll take care of myself.

Same with my primary physician and I just switched to him back in October (same group practice, different doc.)


The ideal outcome of an surgery is a returning to a quality of life that the patient had BEFORE surgery or improving on it. A good doctor isn't going to want you to become a couch potato because you have an artificial valve now. That's actually counter-productive to your post-op care. You gotta get out, move, be active, be healthy and ENJOY life. Otherwise, there may not have been much point in saving it in the first place.


That's just my two cents anyways...