Enquiries on Doing gym and competitive sports

[poodle93]

Hi I'm born with bav & I'm a Singaporean. I don't like the cardiologist here. They tend to be typical Singaporean. I'm having valve area of 1.5 and aortic root of 4.5cm. Have been going echo yearly. No deterioration. Currently 19 male. I have been doing competitive basketball up till now. I have been warned by my cardiologist not to do any strenuous activity or not doing weights. Just pure aerobatic sports. Frankly speaking I rather die to not to hit any gym and working out. I have already given up my competitive sports for my school. I just want to hit weekly gym and casual basketball. Is it safe? And is it possible i just do anything I want and I just let my valve detoriate till I go for a valve replacement.
Height 180/70kg.

 

[SumoRunner]

And is it possible i just do anything I want and I just let my valve detoriate till I go for a valve replacement.

One word of caution. The valve won't deteriorate slowly and evenly. It's not a gradual slope. It will worsen significantly in sudden steps without much warning. I can point to the exact place at 9 Km in a 15 Km race where it worsened sufficiently to require replacement. There was no indication from prior training and racing to tell me this might happen. My pace just slowed by 1.5 mins per Km mid race. I finished fine, though slower, and it was not life threatening, but I never felt 100% again after that race.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

Hi I'm born with bav & I'm a Singaporean. I don't like the cardiologist here. They tend to be typical Singaporean.

probably because you are in Singapore ... same would be true if you went to the USA, they would be typical American. However what does that mean? Pretend for a moment we don't all come from Singapore to know what that means.

Currently 19 male. I have been doing competitive basketball up till now. I have been warned by my cardiologist not to do any strenuous activity or not doing weights. Just pure aerobatic sports.

sounds prudent. The person is after all legally responsible to you. Do you have any family? Like parents or siblings? Consider what their actions may be should you drop dead after he has seen you and said "Its ok, go at it hammer and tong"

see what I mean?

Frankly speaking I rather die to not to hit any gym and working out.

well you might just get that chance. Think about it for a moment longer than that. Just sit down for 5 whole minutes and think through the possibilities. I know that at 19 its nearly impossible because you are bullet proof.

I have already given up my competitive sports for my school.

sounds normal. I was pulled out of surf life saving training when I was about 7 or 8 (Nippers we call it here) because the Dr said the stenosis would enlarge my heart and cause problems. Even with that it did and I had my first surgery OHS when I was about 10.

That is not to say I was eager to sit on the bench. Not able to do sports I turned to other activities such as hiking. By the time I was in my late teens I was hiking through areas of jungle around south east queenslan (Lamington and Border Ranges Nat parks) as well as other things.

There are other things in life than sport ... if your life depends on it can you change to something new?

I just want to hit weekly gym and casual basketball. Is it safe?

go for high reps low weight. Do not lift close to your limit. You should be fine. But only YOU will know. If you have developed a sence of self awareness you should be able to feel your heart beat and feel the sounds it makes. Try to get familiar with that, look for changes. Get checked regularly.

And is it possible i just do anything I want and I just let my valve detoriate till I go for a valve replacement.

as has been mentioned, its not a linear process. So just be wary on that. Mine went downhill rapidly on the second surgery time.

Before you get too despondent, consider this: if you were born in a previous generation your life would end about now. So you'll get a whole other life from here on.

What else do you like doing?

Personally I learned to like cross country skiing. For instance something about that here

 

[TheGymGuy]

To the OP (original poster), doing things you want to do now and pushing envelope should align with how much risk you are willing to take on. If you should croak while doing something and are willing to deal with that, then please go ahead. My risk tolerance was pretty high, but also very calculated before my surgery, I did things that most would not advise doing, but that was ME and I was ok with it. Now, once you get your valve replaced/fixed-up the world will be your oyster, or lets say you will get another chance at it.
I, personally, would continue to exercise and stay in shape and get stronger and otherwise healthier so that you could recover at an accelerated rate after surgery whenever that may be.

 

[poodle93]

Pellicle,thegymguy. Hi, I really appreciate your effort on clearing my doubts. I understand that my heart valve does not detoriate linearlly. So I have been benching around 70kg for 10-12 reps. Was planning to up the weights. But what's the recommended reps ? I do like to cycle and swim. But in singapore there's not much place to hike. I mean that typical Singaporean means that they tend to be overly cautious about my situation. Yeah and it's sound prudent but I am young now. So you'll get it right.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

I understand that my heart valve does not detoriate linearlly.

eventually you'll know what that means too (for one can not know what one has not experienced)

So I have been benching around 70kg for 10-12 reps. Was planning to up the weights.

why? simply because the doctor said it would be unwise?

In my view one does training to improve health. You are seeming to go against that with planning to increase weights. If you hurt yourself or kill your self what good will it be on your obituary to say "he was benching 80Kg before he died."

Realise that fitness is all relative. You will always be fitter than some, less than others. Stronger than some less strong than others.

Dead however is not a relative thing. Dead is simply dead.

I ask, do you understand what a valve does? Think in terms of a hydraulic system. If it has a weakness why would you stress test it? If it fails you may not like the results.

Personally I would follow the advice from the doctor, that is to do more aerobic training. Personally I would reduce the weights to 70% of what I was working with and go for higher reps and slower reps.

That you are young and healthy is quite a good start on the healing process post surgery. There is little point in trying to gain when right now you should be in a holding pattern.

Yeah and it's sound prudent but I am young now.

and maybe never old. The ball is in your court and I will not advise you on taking a risky path. That would be unethical and unwise.

 

[ski girl]

Really the issue is: will you do any long-term damage by pushing yourself now? If you go too hard and your left ventricle gets enlarged, you will never reach your potential post-surgery.

With our rubbish natural valves we won't reach out athletic potentials pre-surgery, so it's best to cut back now and keep our hearts in the best shape possible - then when we have decent valves we can absolutely smash it!

I know this is difficult - I'm a competitive paddler and had to drastically reduce my exertion level for three months before I had surgery. It was worth it, now I can push as hard as I like with my 'normal' heart. Think of the big picture, you have a lot of years to push yourself, don't damage your heart now, that's stupid.

 

[MarkU]

Really the issue is: will you do any long-term damage by pushing yourself now? If you go too hard and your left ventricle gets enlarged, you will never reach your potential post-surgery.

I was an avid weight lifter and body builder prior to my surgery and kept pushing myself as my valve deteriorated. As a result I developed left ventricular hypertrophy, or enlargement of the left ventricle. The extent of the enlargement wasn't detected until my actual surgery. It was very concerning to both my surgeon and cardiologist. They feared that I had done permanent damage to my heart.
The advice I was given at the time was to primarily pursue aerobic exercise. If I wanted to lift, then it was to be only moderate weights with high reps.
Very fortunately, with my new valve the enlargement reversed itself within about 1-1/2 years post-op.
Although my cardiologist still cautions me against heavy lifting, he does encourage me to continue strength training to offset muscle mass loss due to aging.
Mark

 

[pellicle]

The advice above is great, they thought outside the bounds of the question which I failed to do. Their advice is also very sage

 

[poodle93]

Looks like i am the only Asian and a very young BAV patients. What about my current measurement of valve area and aortic root. If i am not wrong it depends on different type of patients that can withstand different situation right? I do know that in the future, most probably i will go for my surgery it is just a matter of time. Really hate being a BAV patient

 

[ski girl]

Mate I'm not sure what being Asian has to do with anything! And you're not young - I was a BAV patient my entire life as I was born with BAV. The same will be true for most people on this site. Listen to your doctors, they are cautious for a reason.

 

[pellicle]

Looks like i am the only Asian

I would doubt that ... unless you mean on this forum.

and a very young BAV patients.

well I was getting my first surgery at about 10 ... that's about 9 years younger than you

I do know that in the future, most probably i will go for my surgery it is just a matter of time. Really hate being a BAV patient

I understand your sentiment. I don't like my situation either. Life often tosses very difficult situations at us. Some religious people seek to explain this, but you are right, it does not feel good.

I personally have undergone quite an amount of "I do not like this" in the last 2 years as well as a fair amount of getting used to situations like being a BAV and now a mechanical AVR.

Some people find comfort in religion, personally I only find irritation so I can't offer you with any sincerity quotes from any of the 'good books'.

My only comfort is that I am alive and I seek to make the most of the situations I am in. I believe it is all I can do.

Looking at the negatives will only yeild negatives.

After my wife died in August I wrote this http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/difficult-subjects.html

perhaps there is something in there for you, but perhaps at your age you have not yet experienced enough to develop wisdom. My self I had a rockier road as a youth. By 19 I had had open heart surgery, some other operations, had some friends die, one of my best friend died a slow death from Lymphoma cancer from out of School. Chemo is not a fun treatment, I can assure you that OHS is easier.

The world is not fair, the world just is

 

[SumoRunner]

The first time I was told to limit competitive sports was at age 15, 50 years ago. I didn't always listen to that advice. I was a serious runner for a couple decades but the valve did eventually deteriorate and need replacement. Could that have been because I took on too much stress in training or competition? I don't know. I can't go back and do it all over again, but I wouldn't change much if I could.

 

[epstns]

The general advice I was given in the years before my surgery (over 9 years from diagnosis to replacement) was to limit my lifting to light weights (about 40 lbs.) and do high reps. Sure, this limited how much I could bulk up, but I'm a little guy anyway and too much bulk would have looked out of place. (I may be around your size - about 5'8' and 165 lbs. now.) At least the high reps will allow you to maintain existing definition and tone. I was also told that I could do all the aerobic exercise I wanted, as long as I warmed up and increased intensity gradually. I ran/jogged for all those years, and decades before diagnosis. Of course, as my valve got worse, I slowed down and shortened my distances. So - light weights are good, but not the heavy iron. High intensity aerobic exercise is good. They will monitor the dimensions of your heart and if they see enlagrement going beyond the accepted norms, they will start to recommend surgery.

You are young now and feel that all this is so unfair. But think of it this way - think of what you can do now, then think of what you should be able to do with a new valve. This is your future. All you have to do is get there. And, as the others have said, a couple of generations ago they would have told us to go home and get our affairs in order. Now they tell us that we have whole new lives ahead of us. I can tell you that it has been that way for me.

 

[poodle93]

Mate I'm not sure what being Asian has to do with anything! And you're not young - I was a BAV patient my entire life as I was born with BAV. The same will be true for most people on this site. Listen to your doctors, they are cautious for a reason.

Yes. "they are cautious for a reason" They think of the safest way down the road to protect our valve. What about our other organs? I think pure aerobatic workouts are not sufficient for burning of fats and etc.

 

[poodle93]

The first time I was told to limit competitive sports was at age 15, 50 years ago. I didn't always listen to that advice. I was a serious runner for a couple decades but the valve did eventually deteriorate and need replacement. Could that have been because I took on too much stress in training or competition? I don't know. I can't go back and do it all over again, but I wouldn't change much if I could.

Hi there. i have to admit that we are both alike in our mindset. Even if i have to replace my valve earlier (with a very little risk) to live a better teenage life. I would take up the risk. Yes , death is inevitable state for everyone. Therefore when im old , eventually i would pass away at least happier that i had a fruitful teenage life. When im old, I bet none of those normal valve human beings can do anything while they are young. In fact i rather die earlier to do what i really enjoy and like. "Life is short,enjoy while you are young"
P/s this is not some reckless thinking by me. I have been thinking for few years. Hope you guys would understand.

 

[poodle93]

The general advice I was given in the years before my surgery (over 9 years from diagnosis to replacement) was to limit my lifting to light weights (about 40 lbs.) and do high reps. Sure, this limited how much I could bulk up, but I'm a little guy anyway and too much bulk would have looked out of place. (I may be around your size - about 5'8' and 165 lbs. now.) At least the high reps will allow you to maintain existing definition and tone. I was also told that I could do all the aerobic exercise I wanted, as long as I warmed up and increased intensity gradually. I ran/jogged for all those years, and decades before diagnosis. Of course, as my valve got worse, I slowed down and shortened my distances. So - light weights are good, but not the heavy iron. High intensity aerobic exercise is good. They will monitor the dimensions of your heart and if they see enlagrement going beyond the accepted norms, they will start to recommend surgery.

You are young now and feel that all this is so unfair. But think of it this way - think of what you can do now, then think of what you should be able to do with a new valve. This is your future. All you have to do is get there. And, as the others have said, a couple of generations ago they would have told us to go home and get our affairs in order. Now they tell us that we have whole new lives ahead of us. I can tell you that it has been that way for me.

Hi, May i know how much better is my life in sports after my valve replacment? My cardiologist ask me not to think of that till i have to do the surgery. In fact i do really hate my new cardiologist. My previous cardiologist has been taking care of me since i was born. Sad to say he passed away. My previous cardiologist just asked me to stop when i feel dizzy and chest pain. But i do not have any of those, not even once. I was being diagnosed as mild condition. But right now my cardiologist just sucks. He would make things sound very bad, he is just a new graduate.

 

[poodle93]

I would doubt that ... unless you mean on this forum.

well I was getting my first surgery at about 10 ... that's about 9 years younger than you


I understand your sentiment. I don't like my situation either. Life often tosses very difficult situations at us. Some religious people seek to explain this, but you are right, it does not feel good.

I personally have undergone quite an amount of "I do not like this" in the last 2 years as well as a fair amount of getting used to situations like being a BAV and now a mechanical AVR.

Some people find comfort in religion, personally I only find irritation so I can't offer you with any sincerity quotes from any of the 'good books'.

My only comfort is that I am alive and I seek to make the most of the situations I am in. I believe it is all I can do.

Looking at the negatives will only yeild negatives.

After my wife died in August I wrote this http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/difficult-subjects.html

perhaps there is something in there for you, but perhaps at your age you have not yet experienced enough to develop wisdom. My self I had a rockier road as a youth. By 19 I had had open heart surgery, some other operations, had some friends die, one of my best friend died a slow death from Lymphoma cancer from out of School. Chemo is not a fun treatment, I can assure you that OHS is easier.

The world is not fair, the world just is

Hi pellicle, I do understand what situation you are in right now and before. I have been through lots of unexpected things that you may not expect during this 19 years of my life. I hope you could catch me up some other way because i somehow hate communicating through forum. But i have to be thankful for it for letting you guys to clear my doubts. Really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

 

[ski girl]

First of all - aerobic exercise certainly does burn fat!

Second - you're probably not going to die from over-exerting yourself, but you may damage your heart (left ventricular hypertrophy) and that will mean that when you do get the valve replaced, your heart won't be as good as it could have been if you hadn't damaged it. Your call, but for me it was worth being careful pre-op so that I had the all-clear to do whatever I want post-op. When you're 40 and can't do the things you want to do because you were stubborn at 19 and damaged your heart you won't look back and say 'this is ok, I had a fruitful teenage life'.

How much better will you be at sports after the valve is fixed? That depends mostly on your athletic potential!

 

[pellicle]

. My previous cardiologist just asked me to stop when i .

Thing is that you may not feel chest pain. Please note no one has suggested avoiding light weights or exersize.

Only heavy weights