Exercise = lower heart rate?

[ESF]

I'm going on 14-weeks post-surgery (mv replacement, tissue), and am pretty much back into my pre-surgery workout routine (Kettlebells twice a week, walking 1-4 miles every day). However, my resting heart rate is still on the high-ish side (mid 90's if I'm off 50mg metoprolol once a day, mid-high 70's on 50mg, high 80's on 25mg). I'm most comfortable and feel best when my heart rate is in the 70's, and I'm wondering if additional aerobic exercise will help bring down my resting heart rate so that when I'm weaned off the metoprolol it stays low. Once upon a time, before my valve issue blew up, my resting heart rate was 60-65; will I ever see that again?

For those of you who are further out from your surgery, how long did it take for your heart rate to come back down to pre-surgery rates and how long were you on beta blockers? Did exercising help? My cardiologist and his staff are helpful, but get a little vague when I ask questions like this, so I think they don't have a lot of experience with patients who were in good physical shape prior to coming in and want to get back to where they were.

Thanks!

 

[Rachel]

My surgery was a little different than yours, my aortic valve was replaced and my ascending aorta was repaired so I’m not sure this will be helpful to you, but this is what I experienced: I was on metoprolol (25MG per day) for about 2 weeks after surgery and went off because my blood pressure averaged 86/60 (even after eating food or drinking water during the day) and I was getting REALLY dizzy. My pulse rate for the first two weeks after surgery averaged in the 90’s - 80's (taken first thing in the morning). Once off of metoprolol my blood pressure started to average 110/70, but my pulse rate suffered, it didn’t hit the 90’s, but it was still averaging at about 80bpm at rest and much higher when I walked. I know that it took me 3 or 4 months for my pulse to finally come down a bit to an average of 70bpm at rest.

I also noticed that when I increased my exercise to include running, within 2 months my resting pulse rate went way down to average in the 60's at rest (total, that took about 6 months from surgery for that to happen). Now, 10 months from surgery it’s still 58-64bpm at rest.

Again, I don’t know if that’s helpful to you, but I was also worried about my pulse rate not coming back down to normal and I even spoke to my doctors about going back on the beta, but I seem to be doing fine without it for now. Everyone is different and every situation is different, my lower pulse rate could have been just time away from surgery, but I still think it decreased when I increased my workout.

 

[yotphix]

My experience was also that it was some months before my resting heart rate got lower. I had my aortic valve replaced with mechanical, and a maze procedure. I was on a Beta blocker for three months to prevent AFIB and keep things mellow until I was healed. At 6 months I had a stress test before going back to work and I remember them commenting that my resting heart rate was over 80 still. It eventually returned to 60-65.

 

[JeffM]

I remember my HR going up a few beats when I went off the Metoprolol, but it came down within about a month. My resting HR was about 48 - 50 before surgery. It averages in the low 60s now. That's partly because my conditioning isn't as good. For a short time last year, I got into decent shape (I'm a cyclist) and I was averaging in the mid to upper 50s, but I've had 4 other surgeries (not heart related) including 2 this year, that have kept me off the bike, so I'm deconditioned right now. I expect to be able to get my resting HR back into the mid 50s, but I honestly think my surgery changed things up such that I won't see the 40s again. My theory on that is I also had a Maze procedure during my valve replacement procedure and that can naturally effect the heart's rhythm. So, bottom line, we're all different. I would guess that if all someone has is a straight valve replacement, once you're off a beta blocker as you improve your conditioning, your resting HR will drop within in your genetically predetermined parameters.

 

[normofthenorth]

My experience may also not be directly relevant, but my resting HR also stayed elevated for what seemed like a very long time, then eventually recovered to its previous levels, if not a smidge lower. Passage of time, cardiac rehab, return to more and more vigorous exercise -- all happened gradually and more-or-less together, so it's hard for me to say what most contributed to the lowering of the resting HR. Mine actually went TOO low for a couple of weeks, apparently from "ectopic heartbeats" (PACs, I think) effectively halving my pulse, sometimes down into the0s or even high 30s(!!). Other than feeling big booming slow pulses, I didn't notice any other ill effects. (The main treatment for PACs is apparently "reassurance"!!)

My main take-home lesson is that during the first year post-HVR, if you don't like your resting HR, just wait a few weeks!

 

[ESF]

Thanks for everyone's input--all reassuring and what I expected (and hoped) to hear!

I'm adjusting to, and still figuring out, my "new normal", and like everything else in this experience, it's one step at a time.

 

[TheGymGuy]

ESF, Kettlebells got my attention I just did some 1 pood swings this past weekend. 5 sets of 10 swings supersetted with ball slams and bent over DB rows. I used DB rows as a break between Kettlebells and Ball Slams.

My surgery was 8 weeks ago. Prior to surgery my resting HR was 58-60, sometimes even lower. After OHS, and after getting off of metoprolol my HR stayed in the low 70s and even high 60s. Now that I am back to exercising the resting HR is in the high 70s. Several times a day it drops to 70, but it all depends on how relaxed I am. From my reading on this site it seems that as your heart learns to use it's new parts and recovers from the OHS truck, things go back to normal or even get better. This is probably more true for people with stenotic valves who get nice new big valves

EDITED TO ADD: Before surgery the more active I was the lower and more stable my heart rate became. I used to be able to push prowler loaded with many plates for 30 yards back and forth and then after a minute or two repeat no problem. My heart rate was able to recover pretty fast into comfortable area. Cannot wait to be doing that again.

 

[Eva]

Thanks for everyone's input--all reassuring and what I expected (and hoped) to hear!

I'm adjusting to, and still figuring out, my "new normal", and like everything else in this experience, it's one step at a time.

ESF,

Adjusting to your new normal, as you said, is the key! I was very unhappy and disappointed that my doctors were ok with with my elevated heart rate ... I felt miserable until I adjusted to it. Mine was in the high 80s day and night and went up to the high 90s with any movement. My 25 mg of Toprol helped with my PVCs and keeping my heart rate below 100.

A months ago, surprisingly, my new resting heart is in the 60s! Hallelujah!

 

[Sarah_Louise]

Before my last OHS my resting heart rate was anywhere between 60-75, and exercising heart rater between 70-85, then 2 months post OHS, randomly just over night, litterally my heart rate jumped and i went tachycardic. After several weeks of feeling rubbish because of it, i ended up being admitted to hopsital as my resting heart rate was 140!! And if i moved/walked a few steps it jumped up to as high as 170!!! eeekkk!! So i was started on a beta blocker, started off at 25mg daily, then twice a day, still not much improvement, after several increases i am now on 100mg, and it has my resting heart rate at 75-85 and during exercise it can still go as high as 120! depending on what im doing,
Love Sarah xxx

 

[scg]

this is a good thread. I'm only 2 weeks out from mitral valve repair surgery successfully done without a replacement valve. My resting heart rate is staying around 95-100, although I haven't checked it while walking. Doing about 4-5 miles every day. No running yet. I'm not on metatoprol anymore...in fact only rythmol and baby aspirin. I also get a little light headed when climbing stairs too quickly or standing up too quickly. Hopefully that will abate.

51, MVR 5/14/2012 Mitral valve repair, Duke University

 

[Eva]

this is a good thread. I'm only 2 weeks out from mitral valve repair surgery successfully done without a replacement valve. My resting heart rate is staying around 95-100, although I haven't checked it while walking. Doing about 4-5 miles every day. No running yet. I'm not on metatoprol anymore...in fact only rythmol and baby aspirin. I also get a little light headed when climbing stairs too quickly or standing up too quickly. Hopefully that will abate.

51, MVR 5/14/2012 Mitral valve repair, Duke University

No need for the rush...TAKE THE STAIRS SLOWLY, and measure your BP then and at other regular times daily. It is important to keep an eye on BP after the surgery.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[scg]

Will do Eva...thanks!