Hi Newbie

[Matt C]

Great forum anyway we all have questions and some have had thigs done years ago anyway I had a St jude valve replace my aortic I was leaning tissue up till the morning of surgery and had an anerysum repaired. I am 6 months out. I use to like to lift heavy weights 150 milltary press dumbells 400 bench just enjoyed heavy weights. I am not close to getting my strentgh back. Also my energy is not 100 percent back. Ran tests echo, blood etc comes back ok. Others have said it could take a full year. I am 33. Also seems the noise of the valve at first was not bad but the longer time passes it gets worse. Seems knowing that your stuck with it. Have had no issues with comadin really as others except winter feels 3x colder haha. Well I was not laughing in the cold but summer is almost here.

 

[Matt C]

Also drs, surgeon say dont lift heavy again. My cardiologist who I switched to prior to surgery saved me I was 4.9 anerysum. Says use common sense. I read and been told by many don't. What is the verdict on this?

 

[Duffey]

Hi Matt!
It seems to me, and really I haven't done much reading about this so I might be completely off base, that if the surgeon said don't life heavy, then don't lift heavy! I'm guessing that when the cardiologist said to use common sense that meant to modify what you use to lift.
How long until you hit the one year milestone for replacement?

 

[Matt C]

This coming October I just don't feel I am at the point in my recovery where i want to be. At first the ticking did not bother me the past month or 6 weeks it has. I have digestion disorder that may need surgery maybe that is bothering me they can't figure that out. It's just prior to Surgery I was strong as a bull and now I am not. Not that I am trying to prove what weight I can lift to someone but it's just not weight my energy does not quite feel normal. Then the other day I did something and then my chest hurt.

Maybe I am just grouchy and irritated but I know my body is not like it use to be. And I was told I would be going back to normal. I almost have a fear of the valve failing. So part of this is mental I am aware of that but energy wise I'm not happy about that. However on the same token I'm alive and met a few people that lifted heavy after surgery who needed to go in and have the bone fixed with plates and screws. But they told me after 6 months that bone is healed. I feel it is so that is not a concern.

 

[queenie]

Matt, It is extremely hard to be patient during recovery but, I think it's normal for you to still not feel like yourself. Your body was assaulted and no matter how young you are, six months is not long enough for your body to think nothing happened to it. About the ticking, My mechanical was so loud my family could hear it when they were close to me. I had to start sleeping with a fan on and that helped a lot. Hang in there.

 

[Bryan B]

Matt,

I had my aortic valve, aortic root, and ascending aorta replaced a little over a year ago. My surgeon also placed lifting restrictions on me, and when I asked what the limit was he said approximately one-half of my body weight. I would get in touch with your surgeon and ask for a more precise answer to what your limits should be.

 

[Matt C]

Matt, It is extremely hard to be patient during recovery but, I think it's normal for you to still not feel like yourself. Your body was assaulted and no matter how young you are, six months is not long enough for your body to think nothing happened to it. About the ticking, My mechanical was so loud my family could hear it when they were close to me. I had to start sleeping with a fan on and that helped a lot. Hang in there.

I hope your right! Tried the fan helped a little energy is just not coming back starting to drive me up the wall if more people told me it is normal who went through it would help. But my doc says it should be back I sure am not 100 percent back yet.

 

[Matt C]

I think like others have said it tends to spike bp and cause anerysums. My surgeon did not really put a restriction on it I dont feel comfortable going real heavy for a while more cardio as for now. The energy issue is really irritating me.

 

[Lionheart]

Hi Matt,
My guess is that the surgeon does not want you lifting heavy weights because you had an aneurism repaired and he may be concerned that your are at risk for additional aneurisms because lifting causes a spike in blood pressure which could balloon out a weak or thin vessel.
The cold may not be due to coumadin but may be something related to the surgery and may go away over time.
Best
JOhn