Lifting Weights after Valve Replacement/Bentall Procedure

[lilteach3234]

Hello my friends,

I've not been on in ages. My husband and father-in-law recently passed away with pancreatic cancer within a few months of one another, so it's been a crazy year.

In 2009, I had my aortic valve replaced and the Bentall procedure done for an aneurism. My checkups and echocardiograms have been perfect. I've lost 42 pounds since the surgery (give or take 6 to 8 pound fluctuation).

I want to begin working with a personal trainer in the next couple of weeks to get the rest of weight off as well as inches, not to mention helping with the stress I've had/having with the deaths of loved ones.

I called my cardiologist office today and spoke with the staff. They gave me a green light and felt it would be great. Can any of you suggest anything? I still have this "fear" that I will do something wrong. I don't feel any ill effects from heart surgery except climbing stairs. That has been my only problem and I think that just comes from no exercising.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

I've missed you all!

Trina (lilteach)

 

[bdryer]

Hi

Don't be afraid, jump in. With a personal trainer showing you the proper technique and guiding you, you will be able to reap the benefits of wt training without injuring yourself. You've got the green light from the cardiologist. Their is nothing to hold you back but apprehension.

I had my Aortic valve replaced Mar 21/11 with a mechanical valve and also had a graft of the ascending aorta. Started cautiously resuming lifting after 1 month. I'm a life time lifter and jock at 56 years of age. I was also swimming, doing easy interval runs and riding a stationary bike after 1 month. At 1 1/2 months I was riding my bike outside. At 5-6 weeks I resumed steady easy running. As you can see from my experience, "noproblemo".

Have fun with the lifting. It really is fun and you will meet lots of like folks in the gym. No steroids OK?! LOL!

 

[epstns]

Trina - The only suggestion I would add is to see if you can find a trainer who has experience helping heart surgery patients. General conditioning may be a bit different than conditioning for those of us who have had open heart surgery. You are far enough past the surgery that the healing process will not be the issue, but there may be other signs the trainer needs to watch to ensure that you get the maximum benefit with minimum risk to your cardio-vascular system.