New here-1 month post mitral valve replacement

[Joya]

I’ve looked around this forum and decided to join. I have a lot more questions as time pases, because I thought “minimally invasive” meant quick recovery, minimally painful, and minimal problems, lol.

Right now my immediate questions are about travel and cardiac rehab. I live in Central America on a fairly remote farm and was planning on returning for the holidays. My cardiologist wants me to start cardio rehab, which I just learned is a 12 week program. Can this be safely postponed until after the holidays? I would need to make living arrangements to be in the US for a solid three-month period.

 

[pellicle]

Hi Joya and welcome

because I thought “minimally invasive” meant quick recovery, minimally painful, and minimal problems, lol.

yeah, I think there is far too much "sales pitch" on stuff over there (that whole continent right down to the lowest tip of Chile

My cardiologist wants me to start cardio rehab, which I just learned is a 12 week program. Can this be safely postponed until after the holidays?

there was no such thing as Cardiac rehab on the 3 OHS's I've had ('74, '92, '11) and I just followed through with exersize myself and used basic tools like checking my HR, not going harder than I felt and so on. Heck there was nothing like metoprolol or other beta blockers either. For reference I'm 60 now.

These things (rehab) take time and really in the first few weeks I think the best rehab is walking and keeping active and deep slow (think yoga) breathing.

As I'm walking I breath in as deep as I can (per step: in -2, 3, 4, 5, 6 then out 2, 3, 4 ...)

So yes, I believe you'll be fine without it.
Slow and steady wins the "race"

Best wishes

 

[3mm]

cardio rehab, which I just learned is a 12 week program. Can this be safely postponed until after the holidays?

It is good to hear from you. Welcome!

In Sep, 2023, I had mitral valve repair and installation of a mechanical On-X aortic valve, using a full sternotomy. I found cardiac rehab to be very useful, but I could have recovered without it if I had needed to.

My cardiac rehab put me on a 6 lead heart monitor for each session so they could watch for any issues. It also included useful classes and positive reinforcement from other motivated patients and nurses.

I suggest using a good heart monitor device while exercising, training where you can quickly get help if you have a problem, and learning about a heart healthy lifestyle.

 

[Zoltania]

I had minimally invasive surgery, though mine was a repair rather than a replacement, and I was surprised by how weak I was after the surgery and how long it took me to get back to normal energy levels (around six months). Having your heart cut open and rearranged and being on the bypass machine for hours are pretty dramatic "insults" to the body and it can take a while to recover.

Cardiac rehab wasn't offered to me, though I wish it had been. I just went back to exercising carefully and gradually.

Enjoy your holidays!