Resting HR post-AVR surgery

[dick0236]

As such, I was actually reasoning I might even see improved cardiovascular performance.”

I think you will equal, or exceed, your pre-surgery performance......that's why we go to all the trouble getting the problem fixed LOL.

 

[pellicle]

that's why we go to all the trouble getting the problem fixed LOL

Well, in addition to not dying quite so soon...

However, I agree with your assessment about fitness

 

[BGold]

Hi all - I'm 49 and 5 weeks post AVR and aortic aneurysm replacement (Bentall procedure) surgery and recovering well. Prior to surgery, I was in strong cardiovascular shape, primarily as a recreational road cyclist. I rode 25 miles two days before surgery and had ridden over 100 miles in a MS Society fundraiser weekend ride just two weeks prior. Anyway, point is, my resting heart rate was consistently in the low 60s prior to surgery. Professional athletes have a resting HR in the 40-60 range, so I wasn't at that level, but still....in good shape. Since surgery, I've noticed a much higher resting HR. I've been monitoring resting heart rate and it's been in the upper 70s since surgery. So, I've gone from a pre-surgery average around 61 to post-surgery around 76. When I asked my surgeon and NP about this, they assured me it was a normal change due to my surgery and the heart reacting to that trauma. Fair enough, but....the NP said, "it will come down, but it may never get back down to your pre-surgery level".

She didn't offer an explanation for that statement, so I'm curious if others here have experience or know - is it possible I will simply never get back into the same cardiovascular shape I was in pre-surgery? If so, I'm curious why. In my simple mind, I've gone from an extremely leaky and inefficient native bi-cuspid valve to a very efficient (albeit bio-prosthetic) aortic valve and root. As such, I was actually reasoning I might even see improved cardiovascular performance. Thanks!

April (will be 68) will be 11 yrs since my AVR with Edwards Bovine Pericardial Valve. Have been playing competitive racquetball and pickleball, mountain climbing and hiking every year and many other recreational activities. Just had my yearly echo and all is good, starting to slow down some but I think its due to age and body joints

 

[Gloria Mundi]

Hi all - I'm 49 and 5 weeks post AVR and aortic aneurysm replacement (Bentall procedure) surgery and recovering well. Prior to surgery, I was in strong cardiovascular shape, primarily as a recreational road cyclist. I rode 25 miles two days before surgery and had ridden over 100 miles in a MS Society fundraiser weekend ride just two weeks prior.

A little OT but it's good to find kindred spirits. Sounds like something I would do before heart surgery but to a lesser extent since I'm almost 71. I'm glad to have found this group.

 

[HokieHaden]

A little OT but it's good to find kindred spirits. Sounds like something I would do before heart surgery but to a lesser extent since I'm almost 71. I'm glad to have found this group.

Thanks Gloria - I feel incredibly blessed to have led such an active lifestyle with this birth defect/disease, and even more blessed to have come through my 10/25 BAVR / Bentall procedure as well as I have. I should be back on the bike soon. It’s actually weather, not my heart, keeping me on the peloton in the basement for now.

 

[tommyboy14]

I can only speak from my experience.

I did lots of cardiac rehab after surgery. And started exercising seriously for the first time in my life. I am 43. I now have a resting heart rate between high 50s and low 60s and 115/75 blood pressure. My cardiac stats never looked this good. In all honesty, it took me a while to get there.

The first 80% of the OHS recovery happens in the first 3 months or so. But then you know that the last 20% takes 80% of the time. So my advice is to keep exercising, work on your recovery every day and give it time. You will get there.

 

[Chuck C]

The first 80% of the OHS recovery happens in the first 3 months or so. But then you know that the last 20% takes 80% of the time.

Sounds about right.

 

[pellicle]

The first 80% of the OHS recovery happens in the first 3 months or so. But then you know that the last 20% takes 80% of the time.

the only thing I'd add is that depending on your age pre-surgery you may indeed uncover that you were capped before surgery by the illness

at least that's how it was for me, even at 48

These days I'm showing my age ;-)

Keep pushing the boundaries gently but firmly every day.

Best Wishes

 

[skier]

@HokieHaden, how's your resting heart rate doing?

It took about a year for mine to return to pre-surgery levels. Mine was 54 before surgery, up to 62 for the first months after surgery, drifted down to 56 at six months, and back to 54 a year later.

 

[Timmay]

Mine never returned to pre-survey levels. Surgery was over 2 years ago. I was 58bpm prior to surgery. I’m averaging 66-68bpm now.

 

[skier]

Mine never returned to pre-survey levels. Surgery was over 2 years ago. I was 58bpm prior to surgery. I’m averaging 66-68bpm now.

Notwithstanding the resting heart rate, how are you feeling, and how is your fitness compared to before surgery? That's what matters!

 

[Timmay]

Notwithstanding the resting heart rate, how are you feeling, and how is your fitness compared to before surgery? That's what matters!

I’m feeling fine. I’m happy. I walk about 3 miles a day. And I do a light weight workout.

Unfortunately I can’t exercise like I once did. Surgery broke something in me and the doctors have no clue. I’ve accepted it and moved on. Pre-Surgery fitness was running 2 miles 3 times a week. Plus, I also did a fairly intense weight workout 3 times a week that was 100+ reps of 10 different exercises … times 3 (for 300+ reps in about 25 minutes or so).

Can’t do that anymore or else the heart has PVCs and enters into a super thumpy mode with about 10 extra BPM. I get exhausted for about a week or two until I recover. I’ve learned to work around this by just doing hardly anything in terms of a weight workout. Meh. Lol.

 

[pellicle]

said as much for general readership than specifically to you mate, but:

Can’t do that anymore or else the heart has PVCs and enters into a super thumpy mode with about 10 extra BPM. I get exhausted for about a week or two until I recover.

one of the things I often say is that a mechanical valve gives you a useful amplification of your knowledge of your heart beat. Its like having a clear bio-feedback indicator built right in without the need to carry around or wear additional equipment.
Its a useful diagnosis tool that you have available all the time. So to re-use a phrase "listen to your heart" and it'll help you learn about yourself.

Perhaps there is some other "feeling" pre-emergence of the PVC's that you can pick up on for me its "double clicks"

Best Wishes

 

[HokieHaden]

@HokieHaden, how's your resting heart rate doing?

It took about a year for mine to return to pre-surgery levels. Mine was 54 before surgery, up to 62 for the first months after surgery, drifted down to 56 at six months, and back to 54 a year later.

I’ve gotten out of the habit of checking it regularly. It’s a good reminder to be doing that more often.

 

[Bally-ho]

Hi all - I'm 49 and 5 weeks post AVR and aortic aneurysm replacement (Bentall procedure) surgery and recovering well. Prior to surgery, I was in strong cardiovascular shape, primarily as a recreational road cyclist. I rode 25 miles two days before surgery and had ridden over 100 miles in a MS Society fundraiser weekend ride just two weeks prior. Anyway, point is, my resting heart rate was consistently in the low 60s prior to surgery. Professional athletes have a resting HR in the 40-60 range, so I wasn't at that level, but still....in good shape. Since surgery, I've noticed a much higher resting HR. I've been monitoring resting heart rate and it's been in the upper 70s since surgery. So, I've gone from a pre-surgery average around 61 to post-surgery around 76. When I asked my surgeon and NP about this, they assured me it was a normal change due to my surgery and the heart reacting to that trauma. Fair enough, but....the NP said, "it will come down, but it may never get back down to your pre-surgery level".

She didn't offer an explanation for that statement, so I'm curious if others here have experience or know - is it possible I will simply never get back into the same cardiovascular shape I was in pre-surgery? If so, I'm curious why. In my simple mind, I've gone from an extremely leaky and inefficient native bi-cuspid valve to a very efficient (albeit bio-prosthetic) aortic valve and root. As such, I was actually reasoning I might even see improved cardiovascular performance. Thanks!

Hi , All I can say is what my progress is since getting home on the 26th July 2024 . 2/3 days after getting home I started my recovery, 30 minutes a day on a treadmill, 3mph 12 incline not letting my heart rate go much above 100bpm . I wear a Polar heart monitor and keep an on my heart rate . I took a vo2 max a couple of weeks ago and it was moderate, after 3.5 weeks it’s at good . I’m having to increase incline and speed to keep heart rate at around 100bmp so I know what I’m doing is definitely making me fitter . My lung and breathing capacity has reduced since surgery but that’s the next thing I’m going to tackle . I too had a bicuspid valve which was replaced with a bio prosthetic inspiris model , I caught staph at a jiu jitsu gym , I’m 59 yrs old . I’d say the recovery process is a slow slog but from what I’ve been doing is making me feel stronger mentally and physically!

 

[d333gs]

Hi , All I can say is what my progress is since getting home on the 26th July 2024 . 2/3 days after getting home I started my recovery, 30 minutes a day on a treadmill, 3mph 12 incline not letting my heart rate go much above 100bpm . I wear a Polar heart monitor and keep an on my heart rate . I took a vo2 max a couple of weeks ago and it was moderate, after 3.5 weeks it’s at good . I’m having to increase incline and speed to keep heart rate at around 100bmp so I know what I’m doing is definitely making me fitter . My lung and breathing capacity has reduced since surgery but that’s the next thing I’m going to tackle . I too had a bicuspid valve which was replaced with a bio prosthetic inspiris model , I caught staph at a jiu jitsu gym , I’m 59 yrs old . I’d say the recovery process is a slow slog but from what I’ve been doing is making me feel stronger mentally and physically!

"30 minutes a day on a treadmill" Super. Your breathing will come back when your chest heals!