Running

[Fitzy]

Anybody out there with mechanical valves using coumadin that does a lot of running ( ie- marathon / Triathlon (Sprint Dist.) I have been training a lot for Triathlon when the bombshell landed that I have to have ARV. Am worried that I will have problems with this post op. due to coumadin use. At present I have only very mild symptoms ie- slight chest pain at beginning of exercise (lasts about 5 mins). Any advice appreciated.

 

[Ross]

Hi Fitzy

We have runners galore here. Mark Wagner, Les Barrett, and a couple of others. Give them some time to swing through here and I'm sure they'll add a reply for you.

If your experiencing chest discomfort when running, you are best to seek the advice of your Doctor and not push it until you've been evaluated.

 

[Les]

Hi, and welcome to this great place!
First, Ross is right....get to your doc about the chest pains. Nothing to fool around with there! There are several of us on this site who run and you should see input from these people soon. The only caution I have ever received from my cardilogist in regards to running was to be aware of any blood in the urine after longer distances (i.e. marathon training) I have never had that occur and have maintained a consistent INR of 2.8 for ten years. Being on Coumadin has not impacted my running or any facet of my life. I was never a "sprinter" but after my first AVR ( and of course, the second) I have mild bouts of a-fib that occur out of nowhere, and at present, this 2nd valve has developed a leak. All that does is slow me down a bit, but speed was never my forte anyway so, big deal! Basically, you can rest assured you will be running again after your AVR. The operation is a set-back but not an end to your workouts. To quote Runner's World magazine: "The miracle is not that I finished, but that I had the courage to start".
Please PM me with any questions or concerns or just to "runner speak". Best of luck!
__________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[MarkU]

My cardiologist told me it was okay to do all the aerobic activity that I wanted to. To give myself some specific goals I have started training to do a couple of sprint triathlons next summer.
My only problem is my right knee (the proverbial old football injury) which hampers my running. No probs at all with the swimming and biking, along with a reduced weight program.
I had developed some left ventricular hypertrophy prior to my AVR, but I am fortunate that it has started to reverse. Whatever you do, talk it over with you doctor first.

Mark

 

[Fitzy]

Hi Fitzy

We have runners galore here. Mark Wagner, Les Barrett, and a couple of others. Give them some time to swing through here and I'm sure they'll add a reply for you.

If your experiencing chest discomfort when running, you are best to seek the advice of your Doctor and not push it until you've been evaluated.

 

[Fitzy]

My cardiologist told me it was okay to do all the aerobic activity that I wanted to. To give myself some specific goals I have started training to do a couple of sprint triathlons next summer.
My only problem is my right knee (the proverbial old football injury) which hampers my running. No probs at all with the swimming and biking, along with a reduced weight program.
I had developed some left ventricular hypertrophy prior to my AVR, but I am fortunate that it has started to reverse. Whatever you do, talk it over with you doctor first.

Mark

 

[Perrster]

Run Run Rudolph!

Run Run Rudolph!

Greetings Fitzy,

I can't exactly categorize myself as a marathoner or a "real" runner quite yet, as I "wog" (walk/jog). Also, I play too dang much golf, so any running training takes a back seat to chasing the little white sphere.

However, I have done some 5K's over the past 3 years and sure enjoy the events and comraderie of all the "pros" that show up. I always stay around and cheer on the 10K runners. I'm doing a 5K in 2 weeks with about 10,000 runners. What I like about this event is that it's sponsored by my local hospital. This will be my third year being in it. An emergency room doc organizes the whole thing. Too bad he's in my age group--I can never beat him! It's a security thing too when you start and end a race from the hospital parking lot.

I sport two mechanical St. Jude valves. I don't think I've ever fully pushed my limit, so I can't tell if the valves are a help or a hinderance (however, I do notice the valves' predominant clicking sounds when running).

Anyway, happy running and I paraphrase the quote that Les posted: "The miracle is not that I finished, but that I had the courage to start".

Regards,

 

[Fitzy]

Thanks PerryA,

I appreciate all your comments- I don't want to give the impression that I am some kind of elite athlete (far from it) I'm just an ordinary Joe that likes to run and cycle and keep healthy and active . If I can do that after my op. and be healthy for my family then I will indeed be greatful.

hope to be in touch soon.

Fitzy

 

[persianlady]

ross y

ross y

Dear everyone ,I heard the tragic death of this beloved man John Ritter,he has a 5 yr old little girl he was going to take to school himself on monday.I hve been crying all day off and on .I feel so sad ,I cant believe he is gone ,he was so young only 54 we will all morn for you John and with your family too you will be greatly missed.I wonder how this can be prevented that after a certain age it would be a reguirment like any other needed test done after a certain age, i am so sad at his passing thank you for letting me vent all chris

 

[JimChicago]

I would like to ask those who run for exercise how high their pulse rate goes and if that affects the mechicanical valves. I can't run due to a knee injury but I had a somewhat fast pulse (around 110 or so) for 15 years before I had heart surgery and the St. Jude valves put in. Does a fast pulse make the valves wear out? I would think when you run like that one's pulse might get fairly high? Can the vlaves survive such strenous effort/pulse rates OK?

 

[Perrster]

Turbo Charged or Not?

Turbo Charged or Not?

Jim,

When you learn the answer to those questions, I'd sure like to hear them. Perhaps then, I'll know if I can turn on the afterburners or not. I'm not in great shape, by any means, but I often feel like I have a lot more to spare, yet I'm not sure if I should use it or not. In spite of all my meds, I get my heart rate up to 130-140 with some to spare.

Regards,

 

[rcatalano]

I'm also interested in the answer. I'll be very disappointed if there are limits, since my doctors have told me I can continue running and biking. I've certainly never been told that coumadin would be a reason to limit exercise.

With my homograft for 14 years, I had no restrictions. Did a few triathlons and various running races. I'm just now recovering from having a mechanical valve put in, and have always been planning on continuing my exercise without modification.

I tend to think its not the heart rate that would be the problem, but the pressures in the heart chambers. Higher pressures would put more stress on the heart and the valves. Thats another advantage of tissue valves, they tend to have better hemodynamics.

Whether this would just limit your capacity, or would warrant a self-imposed restriction not to max out, I would like to know.

After having my homograft, even after getting back in top shape, I could never come remotely close to my best running times prior to surgery. But thats my experience and not necessarily the 'rule'. I'm happy to be able to 'just do it'.

 

[rcatalano]

Forgot to mention, I'd expect your cardiologist to give you a stress test before clearing you for exercise. This would let him see how your heart responds and determine if its safe to work it hard.

 

[MarkU]

I regularly get my pulse rate up into the 130-140 range on the bike (not sure about running).
My doctor's only caution was about heavy weight lifting and the resultant blood pressure spikes.
I've never had to have a stress test. My cardiologist said my pre-op catherizaton showed I have "monster" arteries and that there were no other problems other than my bicuspid valve.
My LVH is now below the margin of error of what the Echo can measure, so they don't consider that to be a problem anymore either.
I consider my biggest hurdles to doing a triathlon are my short legs and previously mentioned gimpy right knee.
Mark

 

[rcatalano]

You may want to check out a thread in the Small Talk forum started by Mark Wagner - 'Hello Neighbors'.

Looks like he is getting ready to run his second marathon, mechanical valve and all!