Length of recovery time following AVR.

[Paul]

Hello everyone, I was composing a letter to send directly to Bill after reading his Lake Placid Race Journal; but then Buzz?s string came up and hit my nail directly on the head. ?I am not alone!!!? (That?s the real power of this web site, not the hard facts) So I have modified my letter somewhat for all. This is my first entry and I would like to thank everyone for contributing and creating a source of reference and support away from our busy and hard to contact Cardiologists.


I have been a competitive USCF Cat III road bike racer off and on for 15 years. This past January my aortic valve was replaced due to severe regurgitation and moderate ventricular hypertrophy and dilation. I was born with a bicuspid valve, had cardiac arrest at 8 days and have had PVC?s along the way. So I have seen MANY cardiologists growing up and consequently was not blown away when told that I would need heart surgery. I never really thought it would happen but it wasn?t something out of left field either. It scares me more in hindsight to think about what I went through then it did leading up to it; maybe that was a defense mechanism.

So, as a 34 year old young man I was very eager to return to good health (meaning fit fast riding, if not racing (this year ) as soon as ?un?reasonable possible to prove to my self that this would not be a life degrading type of thing at my relatively young age. I am riding better and much more then last year. Last year I was so tired as you would expect. Although I didn?t recognize it as a health issue; just a state of life with a wife who started her own company and a wonderful but tiring 2 year old little boy. I am not however nearly as good as other years. It is QUITE subjective but I am at best 80% of where I have been, taking to account reduced riding and training volumes.

I struggle, as Buzz does, with knowing how much of my lack of speed (which is not to say I am too slow (I know this if very vague )) to blame on the recovery; the Heart-Lung Machine which my Cardio says ?is a BIG hit to the system?; how much is due to not riding as much or as longs this year as others I typically compare my self to; or how much is due to my age, a 3 year old and a brand new 2 month old.

What it really comes down to is I feel fine. I don?t have really any negative performance effecting SYMPTOMS that hinder me (except persistent migraines likely from the Heart-Lung Machine and some back spasms from the whole opening of the chest thing). I have a hard time really appreciating/comprehending (and therefore giving my self slack for) what I went through and accepting that I should not be as fast; since I don?t FEEL some reason for it. It all went by so quickly. My wife and I took it rather matter of factly; like ?well, we have to do this, so lets just show up at the hospital, do it and get back to life ASAP?. The reality is that it is a seriously invasive disruptive procedure.

This is my first effort to connect with you all and I feel a powerful need to do it; but I feel detached because it seems that for many of us, even those who write into the active lifestyle page; that it?s hard to do much intense physical activity at all. Like maybe someone describes participating in a 5k or 10k at a walking pace. They have really accomplished something wonderful and powerful; a real sign of their health and recovery. I don?t feel like that is me and so I feel a little uncomfortable complaining about my current abilities. The intensity I can maintain and the stamina I have on the bike is nothing to complain about and would be a dream come true for many with or without and AVR.

But enough about me?

So it seems like from reading the previous entries that there is a general consensus that aerobic output is reduced for a fairly significant, but undetermined, period of time. Possibly indefinitely based on the recourse Bill has quoted. I don?t see anyone else in this discussion in their 30?s so maybe I am the one to play it out and report back in a year or two with my experiences which should be less skewed by the aging process.

Buzz?s issue got a little distracted with the INR discussion. Maybe there are others out there reading who could convey their subjective feelings or recorded data concerning their return to athletics. Such as:
How did your recovery progress after initial healing from a getting back on the bike, road or in to the pool perspective?
What limitations did/do you feel if any?
Did you or do you perform as well as you could pre-surgery? How long did it take?
Do you now take a Beta Blocker or an Ace Inhibitor?
(Recently I was put on an Ace Inhibitor to try and improve the dilation of my left ventricle, another sign that I am still in some sort of recovery phase.)

I can say how I am doing after 6 months:
I defiantly feel like it takes me longer (in terms of days) to recover from a hard ride then it used to. I seem to have good power and endurance but notice a lack of ability when approaching or exceeding my AT such as on a sustained climb or interval. I used to be able to really dig deep and shoot way over my AT to hang on to the wheel in front of me when need; but now I don?t have much ability to hold even a few beats over my AT. (I should say that I am not currently train up there but I notice the effect on sustained climbs when I should be able to hold my AT at least.)

My wife has encouraged me to write in for some time but I didn?t feel like I had much to say. However, this feels great and I can hardly get it out fast enough. Good luck to everyone striving to improve them selves and their quality of life!!! I am proud to be with you.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Hello everyone, I was composing a letter to send directly to Bill after reading his Lake Placid Race Journal; but then Buzz?s string came up and hit my nail directly on the head. ?I am not alone!!!? (That?s the real power of this web site, not the hard facts) So I have modified my letter somewhat for all. This is my first entry and I would like to thank everyone for contributing and creating a source of reference and support away from our busy and hard to contact Cardiologists.


I have been a competitive USCF Cat III road bike racer off and on for 15 years. This past January my aortic valve was replaced due to severe regurgitation and moderate ventricular hypertrophy and dilation. I was born with a bicuspid valve, had cardiac arrest at 8 days and have had PVC?s along the way. So I have seen MANY cardiologists growing up and consequently was not blown away when told that I would need heart surgery. I never really thought it would happen but it wasn?t something out of left field either. It scares me more in hindsight to think about what I went through then it did leading up to it; maybe that was a defense mechanism.

So, as a 34 year old young man I was very eager to return to good health (meaning fit fast riding, if not racing (this year ) as soon as ?un?reasonable possible to prove to my self that this would not be a life degrading type of thing at my relatively young age. I am riding better and much more then last year. Last year I was so tired as you would expect. Although I didn?t recognize it as a health issue; just a state of life with a wife who started her own company and a wonderful but tiring 2 year old little boy. I am not however nearly as good as other years. It is QUITE subjective but I am at best 80% of where I have been, taking to account reduced riding and training volumes.

I struggle, as Buzz does, with knowing how much of my lack of speed (which is not to say I am too slow (I know this if very vague )) to blame on the recovery; the Heart-Lung Machine which my Cardio says ?is a BIG hit to the system?; how much is due to not riding as much or as longs this year as others I typically compare my self to; or how much is due to my age, a 3 year old and a brand new 2 month old.

What it really comes down to is I feel fine. I don?t have really any negative performance effecting SYMPTOMS that hinder me (except persistent migraines likely from the Heart-Lung Machine and some back spasms from the whole opening of the chest thing). I have a hard time really appreciating/comprehending (and therefore giving my self slack for) what I went through and accepting that I should not be as fast; since I don?t FEEL some reason for it. It all went by so quickly. My wife and I took it rather matter of factly; like ?well, we have to do this, so lets just show up at the hospital, do it and get back to life ASAP?. The reality is that it is a seriously invasive disruptive procedure.

This is my first effort to connect with you all and I feel a powerful need to do it; but I feel detached because it seems that for many of us, even those who write into the active lifestyle page; that it?s hard to do much intense physical activity at all. Like maybe someone describes participating in a 5k or 10k at a walking pace. They have really accomplished something wonderful and powerful; a real sign of their health and recovery. I don?t feel like that is me and so I feel a little uncomfortable complaining about my current abilities. The intensity I can maintain and the stamina I have on the bike is nothing to complain about and would be a dream come true for many with or without and AVR.

But enough about me?

So it seems like from reading the previous entries that there is a general consensus that aerobic output is reduced for a fairly significant, but undetermined, period of time. Possibly indefinitely based on the recourse Bill has quoted. I don?t see anyone else in this discussion in their 30?s so maybe I am the one to play it out and report back in a year or two with my experiences which should be less skewed by the aging process.

Buzz?s issue got a little distracted with the INR discussion. Maybe there are others out there reading who could convey their subjective feelings or recorded data concerning their return to athletics. Such as:
How did your recovery progress after initial healing from a getting back on the bike, road or in to the pool perspective?
What limitations did/do you feel if any?
Did you or do you perform as well as you could pre-surgery? How long did it take?
Do you now take a Beta Blocker or an Ace Inhibitor?
(Recently I was put on an Ace Inhibitor to try and improve the dilation of my left ventricle, another sign that I am still in some sort of recovery phase.)

I can say how I am doing after 6 months:
I defiantly feel like it takes me longer (in terms of days) to recover from a hard ride then it used to. I seem to have good power and endurance but notice a lack of ability when approaching or exceeding my AT such as on a sustained climb or interval. I used to be able to really dig deep and shoot way over my AT to hang on to the wheel in front of me when need; but now I don?t have much ability to hold even a few beats over my AT. (I should say that I am not currently train up there but I notice the effect on sustained climbs when I should be able to hold my AT at least.%)

My wife has encouraged me to write in for some time but I didn?t feel like I had much to say. However, this feels great and I can hardly get it out fast enough. Good luck to everyone striving to improve them selves and their quality of life!!! I am proud to be with you.

Hi Paul,
You said your at the 6 month point. My doctor said the one year mark I would notice a considerable difference if the surgery was successful. He was right on! At the one year mark, it was like I woke-up and felt so much more stamina, especially with the fact that I had been living with a bad valve for most of my life. Give yourself that time, and I can guarantee you will be digging in like never before. The only thing that will hold you back will be your mind, and age. (we cannot help that when it comes to the age department) There will be no excuse for anything less, because now you have 'heart'.

Peace my friend .. Mark

 

[epstns]

To all of you, all I can say is "Thanks again and again for posting your post-surgery experiences!"

I'm still waiting for my stenotic aortic valve to be "ripe" for replacement, and have been struggling with the gentle but noticeable decline of my athletic performance. I've been a runner for over 25 years, starting at age 30 through my present 57. I've watched my times decline from 7:30 miles to my present 9:00 pace (except slower now that Chicago has become an inferno), and have been wondering if I'm witnessing the end of my enjoyment of running.

Reading all of the responses to this thread helps me to realize that I will have to endure the inevitable decline in performance until it is time for surgery, but that after reasonable recovery time I will be able to regain a lot of ground.

One point I'd like to bring up is the comparison of pressure gradients, between prosthetic valves and healthy natural valves. For many of us, this isn't a valid comparison to make. We, in our lives, will be comparing the increased gradient of the prosthetic valve with the vastly decreased efficiency of our pre-op diseased valves. True, we may never regain the capacity we had in our younger years, but I keep reminding myself that the new valve will very likely have a higher flow rate than my own valve has now. (Case in point, my aortic valve area is currently just under 1.0 sq cm, and any of the mechanical valves I've read about have much larger areas, thus I would expect that after recovery my flow rate will actually improve.) Sure, I may never reach world-class performance, but then again, I never reached it before. I'm just hoping to have better performance and greater enjoyment of life after replacement -- and you folks are helping me to keep the dream alive!

Thanks again.

 

[Paul]

pressure gradients

pressure gradients

To all of you, all I can say is "Thanks again and again for posting your post-surgery experiences!"

I'm still waiting for my stenotic aortic valve to be "ripe" for replacement, and have been struggling with the gentle but noticeable decline of my athletic performance. I've been a runner for over 25 years, starting at age 30 through my present 57. I've watched my times decline from 7:30 miles to my present 9:00 pace (except slower now that Chicago has become an inferno), and have been wondering if I'm witnessing the end of my enjoyment of running.

Reading all of the responses to this thread helps me to realize that I will have to endure the inevitable decline in performance until it is time for surgery, but that after reasonable recovery time I will be able to regain a lot of ground.

One point I'd like to bring up is the comparison of pressure gradients, between prosthetic valves and healthy natural valves. For many of us, this isn't a valid comparison to make. We, in our lives, will be comparing the increased gradient of the prosthetic valve with the vastly decreased efficiency of our pre-op diseased valves. True, we may never regain the capacity we had in our younger years, but I keep reminding myself that the new valve will very likely have a higher flow rate than my own valve has now. (Case in point, my aortic valve area is currently just under 1.0 sq cm, and any of the mechanical valves I've read about have much larger areas, thus I would expect that after recovery my flow rate will actually improve.) Sure, I may never reach world-class performance, but then again, I never reached it before. I'm just hoping to have better performance and greater enjoyment of life after replacement -- and you folks are helping me to keep the dream alive!

Thanks again.

For me, as a Cat III (for those not familiar with road racing structure, you start as a Cat V and up grade based on your results to Cat I) I am by no means a world class athlete. However, I know I can always improve from training and hard work more then whatever the gradient's effect may be. If we were talking about Lance Armstorng then this small percentage handycap may be the difference between winning the Tour and not. And as Steve says, the new valve is likely an improvement in most cases from where we were.

I try not to think about my replacement surgery, I hadn't even thought about the decine prior to it. 16.5 years and counting .

 

[stormrev]

Another runner

Another runner

Hi Paul and others

I've been away from the site for a while, and was interested to read your post from back in August and wanted to echo some of your feelings.

I also have come from a competitive running/triathlon background and wasn't diagnosed with a bicuspid AV until aged 37. To give you an idea, ten years ago in my late 30's I posted some of my best times such as 2:42 marathon, 31:20 10k and 11:30 Ironman( with a 6 hr 180km bike and 3:40 marathon.) Looking back, I'm not even sure whether the leaking valve had any impact until more recently. As recently as 2001 I still ran a 3:36 marathon.

When my GP heard a murmur (he was also my running buddy!), and the leak was diagnosed, I was told it would not effect my competitive ability and so I kept on going (running 70-80 miles a week, riding 2-300 etc). It wasn't until my mid 40's in 2003 that I recognised perhaps my increasing struggle was not just age related, and sure enough last year in March I had the Ross procedure here in Melbourne.

At the time the cardiologist also talked about a return to full health (100%) in a year. I thought, beauty! I can get back to competing and enjoying a fit lifestyle quickly.

Well, here I am 18 months down the track and am still puzzled by what I have found. Though energy levels and general health has improved, my running has been very slow to respond compared to what I was led to believe would be possible.

I too have concluded that the cause may well be systemic, and that the body system takes a lot longer to recover from such an insult - if ever?

Five years ago, even with mild/moderate regurgitation, I could still go out and train at sub 7 min mile pace over 5-6 miles. Nowadays I am struggling to run 8:30-9:00 after a year back running 3-4 times a week. I thought the improvement would have been more rapid and am puzzled to know why not? Is it that the cardiac output is still deficient? ( I do have trivial leaks across both replacement valves, but nothing remarkable) Though my fitness seems to be gradually improving, the running is still really just a jog and memories of the past haunt me!!! It is so hard when for me running at pace and almost 'effortlessly flowing' has become such an effort. Like you, I don't believe that it is just because I am 3-4 years older now. I used to train with guys who were older than what I am now yet could still run 20 miles at sub 7:30 pace.

I too would be interested to hear if any valvathletes who have competed at an elite level have ever got back close to that - or are my ambitions unrealistic???

Kind regards

Grant

 

[LLJ]

Hello Grant.; I wish I could comment on Elite level ability,but it was never a label I could attach to my performance. Bill Cobitt did the Ironman Lake Placid and the rest of us seem to be short timers (under a year) or not Elite.
I was amazed at the toll OHS rook on me. I thought I would be up and fighting in weeks. Reality saw me just barely walking my designated mileage. My first goal was to walk 500 yards to the bus stop to get my kids and that took me 5 weeks to accomplish without feeling whipped. A real let down for someone who's idea of a good time was a hard bike followed by a nice trail run!
So here I am at just under 10 months and I run and bike much slower than I had hoped. I am hoping this will improve with slow, smart training. I think the reality is this: the advances in surgery and medication are fairly recent (in medical terms). Even though surgeons and cardiologist believe the cardiovascular system is good to go, Elite athletes with this procedure are few and far between. I started training again with the idea that I was starting all over again;as if I had never run a step in my life. This is slow and frustrating sometimes;but I'm hoping it's physiologically smart. My point is this: Maybe we have to change the way we train. We might have to really be careful about first putting down the endurance base, then adding intervals and speedwork. I know my cycling training protocol was always 8 weeks base in the winter than add the tough stuff.(this was before surgery,so I'm really not even near my former base levels!) It's alot to keep track of,but I'm hoping it works. Mark(MSWIK) thinks we should start keeping stats so we have a data base of athletic performances.
Enough chatter! It's 40 degrees here in New Jersey and Hurricaine Wilma is supposed to be here tomorrow morning,so I'm heading out for a run before the rain comes down!
Stay in touch! We'd love to hear more about your training
Laura

 

[stormrev]

Thanks for the encouragment

Thanks for the encouragment

".... Mark(MSWIK) thinks we should start keeping stats so we have a data base of athletic performances.
Enough chatter! It's 40 degrees here in New Jersey and Hurricaine Wilma is supposed to be here tomorrow morning,so I'm heading out for a run before the rain comes down!"

Hi Laura

Thanks for the response - I guess I was venting some frustration, but also with a degree of genuine curiosity about the possibilities for the future. I have no real desire to get back to racing marathons or the long-distance stuff, but would love to know if I am being unrealistic in my ambitions to be competitive again at some level.

My friend Nick, a sports medicine doctor, asks why I can't be happy jsut to walk... and at one level I am grateful to be alive, let alone to be able to be active still! But another part of me still has the desire to compete - may be its the adrenaline rush, or jsut my make up but I have always loved pushing the boundaries. Whether it's against the clock or in events. I would probably go spare if restricted to gentle walks (not that there is anything wrong with walking!)

Kind regards

Grant

PS We are heading into spring weather with a mild 75 deg and gentle showers tomorrow! Perfect for a run!

 

[mntbiker]

Hi Grant,
I can certainly understand your frustration. I have not yet had surgery but the day the doc tells me to get off the bike is the day they need to cut me open.

Laura has said in the past that coming back from OHS is like the worst couch potato getting in shape. (forgive my paraphrasing Laura )

I have always been very active, it sounds as though you have always been very active as well. For us to push to the next level is a matter of training an already fit body. How long would it take someone who has not done any type of workout in say 10 years to get to the level you are at now? I think that is approach we would have to take post surgery.

As far as your friend asking why you wouldn't be happy walking? If they don't understand you can't explain. Doing the activity you love is - freedom, relaxation, excitement and so many more things you can't describe. It's what makes us better people, more tolerant of others and more confident in our daily lives. It's the total exhilaration that comes from flying down a mountain on a bike with only yourself to blame if something goes wrong and the excitement of knowing you did it when you get there.

 

[LLJ]

Well said, Mtn Biker! I don't want to walk and my surgeon said I didn't have to! Grant, I think you can be competitive again,maybe just not Elite (or maybe Elite who knows) My point is no one knows and we are probably the first generation of heart valve recipients able to test the waters. I guess the limits will be set by your body and one day you'll know "ok that's about all I got." It's always a risk/benefit game. How much heart rate increase? How long a workout? What will make my tissue valve wear out faster? I don't believe anyone knows for sure. Hey, you're a Pastor ,don't you have an in with the guy upstairs? Maybe he knows!
Laura

 

[msiwik]

Pioneers

Pioneers

My point is no one knows and we are probably the first generation of heart valve recipients able to test the waters. I guess the limits will be set by your body and one day you'll know "ok that's about all I got." It's always a risk/benefit game. How much heart rate increase? How long a workout? What will make my tissue valve wear out faster? I don't believe anyone knows for sure. Hey, you're a Pastor ,don't you have an in with the guy upstairs? Maybe he knows!
Laura

I read this thread with interest and LLJ is right, we are pioneers. Thanks for sharing Grant and we look forward to updates. If you are interested in learning more, check out the biography of Walter Lillehi (on Amazon), one of the first surgeons to pioneer open heart surgery. It's amazing how far science has come in the last 50 years. By the way, Laura - I am able to do a little at the 10:30 pace now - not much - and I am going to have post some stuff on sports psychology that I have come across with goal setting and assessment - it's helping me cope better and be focused on smallish goals for now.

 

[Buzz Lanning]

Sub 8 Minute Mile.

Sub 8 Minute Mile.

Grant,

I just read one of your replies. I feel your frustration. However, this week on a business trip in New England, I finally ran a sub 8-minute mile pace over a 4.1 mile course. I was very happy. I'm sure some of the improvement was due to running at sea level, as opposed to the rarified air of Denver. That's O.K., I was still very happy to break the 8 minute mile pace again (finally).

Anyway, just wanted to provide some positive feedback; stick with-it!
Buzz

 

[msiwik]

Congrats Buzz!

Congrats Buzz!

Grant,

I just read one of your replies. I feel your frustration. However, this week on a business trip in New England, I finally ran a sub 8-minute mile pace over a 4.1 mile course. I was very happy. I'm sure some of the improvement was due to running at sea level, as opposed to the rarified air of Denver. That's O.K., I was still very happy to break the 8 minute mile pace again (finally).

Anyway, just wanted to provide some positive feedback; stick with-it!
Buzz

Buzz - I am thrilled for you - you did it and I could see it coming. Today, I was able to do a 10:30 pace for 3 miles - a 1 minute and a half better than when where I was 4.5 weeks ago when I had to start all over again at 12:00 min. pace and couldn't even hold that for a mile. For those of us who can't get enough, pick up a copy of Andrew Caruso's "Sports Psychology Basics" Caruso is a veteran coach of youth sports who went out and read a number of books, texts on sports psychology and then attempted to condense it down and make it super simple. It has some of the best stuff I have seen on goal setting and assessment. Those two skills are extremely important and have helped me cope better with the recovery. Buzz - look out, even though I got 2.5 minutes to go, for the first time in a long while, I am dreaming of the 8:00 minute pace again and my ticket to the Boston Marathon! Thanks for paving the way for us and keep us posted.

 

[stormrev]

Still running...

Still running...

Hi Laura et al

Thanks for the encouragement and the feedback. I'm sure the 'guy upstairs' knows exactly what is going on and is a little bemused at our frustrations!

I had a good day today - finally completed my DMin research project I began nearly five years ago. In my spare time, I work as a volunteer sports chaplain with a team called Melbourne Storm who play in our national Rugby League Competition ( http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/) For the past six years I have been involved with the club and during that time have carried out some research into the role of sports chaplains in professional football (AFL and NRL teams). I even used to do some of the fitness work with the players (prior to AVR!) and enjoyed the friendships that developed. I'm hoping my fitness levels continue to improve to at least do some pre-season 'jogs' this year...

Mark, good on ya, mate (as they say in Australia!) for wanting to qualify for the Boston Marathon. It is a fantastic experience. I was fortunate to qualify in 1983 (had to run under 2:50 I think back then) and some of my friends where I was studying in Fort Worth banded together and shouted me the trip to Boston - fantastic! Heartbreak hill turned out to be about four hills in a row... I 'hit the wall' at 23 miles and limped in just under 3 hrs after running 2 hrs for the first 20 miles... such is life!

I'd better head for bed, it's the early hours of Friday morning here and I'm due to play golf this afternoon (Friday is my regular day off)

Kind regards

Grant

 

[LLJ]

I knew I liked you, Grant! I played for Rutgers University first women's rugby team about a thousand years ago in 1978. ( man, were we bad!) Originally I thought it was a good idea because the guys coaching us from the men's rugby team had such unbelievable legs! (Phew!) Then I just loved the game!
It's been many years now but I get to treat lots of Ruggers in NJ when they hurt themselves and need a PT who understands their need to hit things hard and then run like heck!
Good luck with the running and please keep us up dated!
Laura

 

[Paul]

Hi Grant,
I have been away for a while as we have bought and sold a house. I am back into the site as Mark and I are trying to put together a Marathon Relay. We may need to fly you in as a ringer to make up for us slowish people!! I jsut ran a 5K in your 10K time.

I am a bike rider and really getting in over my head with this off season running thing, but it's fun and easier to compair run experiences with other VR's. I have enjoyed running because I don't have the memory of being a fast runner. When I ride, perticularlly climb, it can hit me how slow I am. Ofcouse that was closer to the 6mo mark and i am comming up on my 12mo. So this year should be more fun; then 2007, i can't see why we can't be 90%, atleast, of our former selves.

You are approaching your 2 years, so maybe you could make a post and in a few months and let us know what 2 years feels like?

 

[stormrev]

Nearly two years post...

Nearly two years post...

Hi Paul et al

I have been away and busy so haven't posted recently, but am pleased to be back in touch.

Paul, in response to what it feels like approaching the two year anniversary... I go for my scan and check with my surgeon next week and will see what he says. I'm a bit frustrated because my running had begun to improve in recent weeks until I fractured a rib surfing last week (yes, it is summer down under and my wife reminds me I'm not a teenager any more!)

I may have mentioned I joined the Masters (Veterans) Athletics and have enjoyed the comaraderie - forgoten how much I missed it! We have several world champion age-group runners, mainly in the sprints. After 25 years of marathon running I have returned to my first love - sprinting!

Earlier in January I managed 2 PR's - a 28 sec 200m and 1:03 for the 400m. The Masters have a great concept of encouraging you to set goals and records for each age group as you get older. You'll always be achieving PR's! All being well I hope to enter the State Championships in early April and, Lord willing, get amongst the medals with my reconditioned engine!!!

I still have difficulty in my training running up hills, with nowhere near the 'puff' I had even five years ago before my valve 'went south'. I've come to tems with that and am discovering that even after two years, the ejection fractions and efficency of the heart may still have room to improve.

Sorry I won't be of much use for the marathon relay - all the best as you train.

Kind regards

Grant

 

[Paul]

short & fast!

short & fast!

Grant,
Interesting, i am more of a sprinter too. Never could climb very well or sustain a high AT that compaired to anyone, but my ineficient heart doesn't stop me from going DEEEP into the lactate threshold. On the bike i race what are called Criteriums (maybe you are familiar) which are typically fast +/-60" races that follow a 1k to 2.5k loup with technical corners; so there are periods of full gas and periods of recovery. There is alot of possitioning and bike handleing, not just stady aerobic output like a TT or Tri. My cycling abilities and deficencies seem to correpond with my hearts abilities and deficencies. I have always felt like i trained quite hard; harder then 75% of the people I know who race at my level, but would be damn near last on the longer climbs. But in a nice fast techinical crit; oh yea!!

I am going in for my first run since 1/10; i have a family of 4 and we have all been off and on and off and on sick. But i feel great today and ready to start moving again.

 

[msiwik]

Hi Paul et al

All being well I hope to enter the State Championships in early April and, Lord willing, get amongst the medals with my reconditioned engine!!!

I still have difficulty in my training running up hills, with nowhere near the 'puff' I had even five years ago before my valve 'went south'. I've come to tems with that and am discovering that even after two years, the ejection fractions and efficency of the heart may still have room to improve.

Sorry I won't be of much use for the marathon relay - all the best as you train.

Kind regards

Grant

Grant - I am encouraged for you to see results again and think you will do well. It will be interesting to compare notes in about a year's time and to test theories about training after OHS and valve replacement. I also think there is merit to the idea that ejection fractions and heart efficiency can improve over a period of time. Until we have a database to track people (an idea underway in the U.S), we won't know definitively - it will be matter of learning through individual experience and expirement. Good luck in the upcoming competitions! Maybe there will be a U.S. Aussie marathon relay team of OHS/ACD types before the decade is out! Mark

 

[Arpy]

... It will be interesting to compare notes in about a year's time and to test theories about training after OHS and valve replacement. I also think there is merit to the idea that ejection fractions and heart efficiency can improve over a period of time. Until we have a database to track people (an idea underway in the U.S), we won't know definitively - it will be matter of learning through individual experience and expirement.

Good luck in the upcoming competitions! Maybe there will be a U.S. Aussie marathon relay team of OHS/ACD types before the decade is out! Mark

It seems we probably have one of the best study groups here on this forum that an aspiring medical practitioner could be easily convinced to do a research thesis on!

An international Valve Replacement.com team in a marathon / triathlon ...Now thats an idea ( Id be reckoning on more than one team though!!!)

... Earlier in January I managed 2 PR's - a 28 sec 200m and 1:03 for the 400m.

Grant impressive times that I think anyone in the general population would be extremely ecstatic at achieving - congratulations

 

[msiwik]

It seems we probably have one of the best study groups here on this forum that an aspiring medical practitioner could be easily convinced to do a research thesis on!

An international Valve Replacement.com team in a marathon / triathlon ...Now thats an idea ( Id be reckoning on more than one team though!!!)

Grant impressive times that I think anyone in the general population would be extremely ecstatic at achieving - congratulations

Others share the dream too! To me, this among the most interesting efforts: http://www.achaheart.org/lobbyday.php. A good researcher needs a systematic collection of data. Until then, I agree - sharing experiences, coupled with active dialogue between members and their medical support team, is a great help! Mark P.S. I agree - Grant should be very pleased!