Very Active!

[Eric]

Just want to compare notes with other very active guys out there.

I'm 6 months post op and for the past 2 months I've been swimming 1/2 mile per day 4-5 days a week, playing beach volleyball twice per week (or when the weather is nice) and lifting lightly with sit-ups and other exorcises 3-4 times per week.

My doc thinks I may (may) be overdoing it and has upped my meds after we discovered my bp gets to 180-210 when I am pushing really hard while my HR gets to 150-160 whhile in the middle of a rally playing beach volleyball (but that's only for 10 seconds or so then settles back down to 120-140 when the rally ends). I average 120-130 throughout the game. While swimming, my HR doesn't get past 120-125.

What are your experiences?

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Inspiration for the rest of us in the waiting room....

Inspiration for the rest of us in the waiting room....

Hey, Congrats on returning to such an active lifestyle. I am a female, 49, scheduled for surgery April 5. Two or three years ago, I was able to lift weights on my home gym, play tennis, do aerobic exercise, swim, etc. Well, my heart condition worsened as did my energy level so I have become a very, very frustrated couch potato.
My question to you is.....I will not be into body building at all....minimal lifting to tone and shape using my gym. I generally didn't go over 20-30 pounds based on what I was working at the time. When do you think the average (motivated) post-op heart patient can start safely lifting on a home gym type set-up? Sorry I am using you instead of giving you input on what you had asked about?!?!?! Maybe six months from now I can put my two cents worth in!!
Debbi

 

[Eric]

Hey, Congrats on returning to such an active lifestyle. I am a female, 49, scheduled for surgery April 5. Two or three years ago, I was able to lift weights on my home gym, play tennis, do aerobic exercise, swim, etc. Well, my heart condition worsened as did my energy level so I have become a very, very frustrated couch potato.
My question to you is.....I will not be into body building at all....minimal lifting to tone and shape using my gym. I generally didn't go over 20-30 pounds based on what I was working at the time. When do you think the average (motivated) post-op heart patient can start safely lifting on a home gym type set-up? Sorry I am using you instead of giving you input on what you had asked about?!?!?! Maybe six months from now I can put my two cents worth in!!
Debbi

Debbie,
Sorry to hear your situation worsened. I was very active before the surgery and got back into it asap after the surgery. I may be overdoing it with the weights so I'm going to tone it down. Rule of thumb is to lift only light weights - if you can have a conversation while you're lifting then that is the maximum amount of weight you should be lifting. I try to stick with what I can do 20-30 reps with.

I went to cardiac rehab starting about 3 weeks post op, but only for 6 sessions. I am going to go back just to be monitored and see my progress. I would say you could probably start doing cardio while being monitored a few weeks post op and start lifting very very lightly with limited motion 4-6 weeks post op...but everyone is different and you should really ask your doc.

Good luck!

 

[msiwik]

Good Job Eric

Good Job Eric

Debbie,
Sorry to hear your situation worsened. I was very active before the surgery and got back into it asap after the surgery. I may be overdoing it with the weights so I'm going to tone it down. Rule of thumb is to lift only light weights - if you can have a conversation while you're lifting then that is the maximum amount of weight you should be lifting. I try to stick with what I can do 20-30 reps with.

I went to cardiac rehab starting about 3 weeks post op, but only for 6 sessions. I am going to go back just to be monitored and see my progress. I would say you could probably start doing cardio while being monitored a few weeks post op and start lifting very very lightly with limited motion 4-6 weeks post op...but everyone is different and you should really ask your doc.

Good luck!

Glad to hear you are making progress. You will see another positive jump at the 8 to 9 mo. mark. Regards.

 

[Eric]

Hey Mark

Hey Mark

How have you been? Still as active? I like to compare notes.

 

[MarkU]

I've been doing heart rate training in my triathlon training for the past months or so. Most of my base training is in zone 2 (aerobic endurance), which for me is 127-140 bpm for cycling, 134-143 bpm when running and 130-140 bpm in the pool.

My heart rate target ranges are based on some baseline lactic threshold testing I did with my triathlon coach last May. I'm going to be tested again next month and also do a VO2 test.

My blood pressure was 120/80 when I had it checked last week.

I'm doing strength training once per week - mostly low weight/high rep with free weights and some core training.

I'm 52 and five years post op.

Mark

 

[Eric]

I've been doing heart rate training in my triathlon training for the past months or so. Most of my base training is in zone 2 (aerobic endurance), which for me is 127-140 bpm for cycling, 134-143 bpm when running and 130-140 bpm in the pool.

My heart rate target ranges are based on some baseline lactic threshold testing I did with my triathlon coach last May. I'm going to be tested again next month and also do a VO2 test.

My blood pressure was 120/80 when I had it checked last week.

I'm doing strength training once per week - mostly low weight/high rep with free weights and some core training.

I'm 52 and five years post op.

Mark

Sounds like you're doing great. What kind of meds are you on? My bpm is about 120 when swimming, 120-140 on the bike and 120-140 while playing beach volleyball but gets up to 160 during long rallys for just 10 seconds or so.

Have you had your blood pressure checked while under stress of a workout?

 

[Cynthia]

Heart rate inquiry

Heart rate inquiry

Hi there,

I'm not post-op.....and, I guess I'm sort of in the early stages of pre-op. I'm so new to all of this.

We finally figured out that I have BAV, which explains a whole lot of heart "jumps" when I was growing up. I had a very active lifestyle with volleyball and cycling. But the birth of three children kept me at bay with weightlifting (the kids) and walking/jogging. Now, I'm jogging and have joined a gym with some pick-up volleyball and some other cardio workouts for me while the children stay in a little playroom. That's just some background.

I'm wondering if you or anyone can tell me whether having BAV changes the desired heartrate. I'm 5'11", 140lbs and 37. If anyone can help me figure out what pulse is in the danger zone, I surely would appreciate it. I'm pretty nervous about "jumpstarting" my heart into a mode of dropped beats and racing.....or pushing too hard that will worsen the leak. I just don't know enough about a leaking BAV.

Thank you!
Cynthia

 

[mtkayak]

I'm glad I found this thread. Pre-op I was working out lifting weights and jogging 3 miles every other day. I was whitewater kayaking 1 to 2 days on the weekend as well. I was asymptimatic when they found my valve wasn't even working. They were shocked I had not passed out at all. Anyway, I'm 7 weeks Post Op now and dying to get back to my active lifestyle but I'm content on getting better now. I'm walking 5 miles a day and not lifting anything and not kayaking of course. The Dr.gave me permission to walk as much as I wanted to, just stop when you get tired and rest. I started out doing 5 flat miles and now I'm doing 4 miles with hill on the tread mill. I'm doing about 4 miles in a little over an hour (not jogging, just fast walking). I still have energy to do more but don't push it. Anyway here is what my doctor told me to compare notes with y'all.

Walk don't jog until 3 months Post Op.
Yard work is okay (cut grass and rake leaves) 6 weeks Post Op
Can lift 20lbs. after 1 month / more than 30lbs. after 3 months
Strenous activity, jogging, kayaking, lift weights 3 months Post Op

While walking my HR I try to keep in the 120's on the tread mill while doing hills. I told the Dr. and he didn't seem to mind. My HR is a little higher than it was Pre-OP. I'm in the low 80's, I was in the high 60's and low 70's Pre Op. He didn't seem too concern with that either. He was just happy that I was walking 5 miles a day.

 

[JeffO]

Better than fixed

Better than fixed

I'm almost at 9 months post op. I'm a fair weather runner, so I didn't attempt a run until early April. I didn't think I was symptomatic before surgery, just out of shape, I was surprised that I had so much more wind. Since then I have continued to improve at a good clip. My circuit is about 5 miles. I have noticed that my recovery seems to take longer. It's close to 10 minutes after I finish my run that my heart rate gets back down to normal (high 50's, low 60's).

I'm also lifting more weight than I have in years. I don't know how much that is saying 'cause my cardio didn't want me lifting for weight, just for reps pre-op.

I hope this encourages others. Bottom line, at 9 months, the surgery is just a memory and I'm healthier in every respect than before.

 

[mtkayak]

Hey Cynthia,

I'm not that familiar with BAV but I did have a very leaky valve. I was a bad patient, I stopped seeing my cardiologist when I was 22, I'm now 37. They just discovered it last year when I had an operation for something else. Blessing in disguise. They guesstimated that it must had been deteriorating over the last 3 years. This was really ironic because the last 3 years I had been in the best shape of my life. The surgeons did say I might need a replacement in my 30's after my 1st OHS. Once they found the leaky valve, they told me to lay off the heavy weight lifting and stick to walking/jogging till I had the surgery. Little weight and high reps was okay. It scared me to the point where I didn't lift and just stuck to walking.

I would say just don't over do it to the point where you get to extermely tired or feel like your about to pass out. Walking is great exercise for the heart. Listen to what your doctor tells you to do and you will be fine.

Jeff, great to hear your doing so well. It's encouragement for us all. I can't wait to be 9 months post op

 

[Janea]

Cynthia,
I don't have aortic valve issues. I had a severely leaky mitral valve which was replaced with a tissue valve 5 weeks ago. I am a runner too and when my leak got severe just stuck to walking. My doctor said it was okay to run, but to stop if I had any chest pains. I don't know why I walked....just wanted to be careful I guess. I have an Uncle who is a heart surgeon and he was very concerned with me doing a triathalon last summer. Back then my valve was only leaking moderately. I guess it made me nervous about running when the leak was even worse. Anyway, we have a bit in common....I have 3 kids too and I am 5'11, 130 pounds (lost a bit of weight after surgery, trying to get it back!) and age 31. Welcome to the website. So glad you have joined us!

--Janea