Weight lifting restriction for me?

[BAV Pt's daughter]

Hi guys. Some of you may have read the post about me having bicuspid aortic valve as well. If not, my valve has two of the leaflets that are fused only about 1/5 to 1/4 of the way. So, anatomically speaking, yet its bicuspid. Functionally though, it works normally (or "99% normally") . There is NO aneurysm present. Only "mild" aortic insufficiency is noted. They did have a bit of trouble seeing the valve as it moves so much in my chest. Awaiting a new machine to be available in the next year. So here's my question.... At least until the next scan, I have been put on a 20 pound weight lifting restriction. I dont understand the reasoning for this, as everything functions as it should and I dont have any aneurysm. Thoughts anyone???

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

I could probably understand a lesser limit for me, as I only weigh 105 lbs, so that may be a proportion issue. I just dont understand the restriction need to ANY extenet for me at this point.

 

[Ross]

mtnbiker doesn't need to be lifting at all, but well........

Now you Angela, I cannot see why not either. Maybe it's like taking Coumadin and using a razor to shave........If I cut myself, I'll bleed to death.

 

[PJmomrunner]

Well, Angela, I think it goes to the "variable expression" of BAV. You have an abnormal valve and a Mom who just had her BAV and ascending aneurysm replaced. We know BAVD is a heritable conditon and it is probably safest to assume you have it.

 

[Mary]

Well, Angela, I think it goes to the "variable expression" of BAV. You have an abnormal valve and a Mom who just had her BAV and ascending aneurysm replaced. We know BAVD is a heritable conditon and it is probably safest to assume you have it.

My son has a diagnosed BAV but was put on no restrictions. I personally think you have nothing to worry about at this point, and the restriction is unnecessary.

 

[neal1234]

I had a bicuspid aortic valve being identified when I was 17 with surgery taking place three years ago at the age of 33. I have always been advised to avoid any strenuous exercise especially weight lifting, reasons for this advice is this puts an extra strain on the heart, and therefore could increase damage to the valve.
My advice to you is to continue exercising including some light weight lifting, but do not push yourself to the limit, my view is any help you can give to make your valve last as long as you can will be worthwhile in the long term.

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

Thanks for all the advice, guys!!!

 

[tobagotwo]

If you have no aneurism, and only mild insufficiency, that weight limit is off the wall. By the time you'd get to see the cardiologist again, you'd be decrepit.

I would definitely phone back and ask why he recommended it. It's not typical for the symptoms described. Either there's something else (some other health problem) we're missing from the description of your issues, or he's a tad out of round.

Best wishes,

 

[Marguerite53]

ask again

ask again

I'm going to make a nuisance out of you, Angela. Call him back and ask again. It is possible that you have a tear, or something else that he is not telling you about? My cardio said no limits (knowing full well I wasn't going to be bench pressing or moving pianos) and really has been wanting to push me to be tougher with myself. There is something you're missing or he's missing. Please ask again.

Now, I notice that I cannot carry things without getting out of breath. Like a full laundry basket up a flight of stairs is no fun for me anymore. Even the 18 pound dog gets me pouding a little. So I'm in somewhat of an avoidance mode. I also avoid lifting really awkward heavy stuff in a jerky sudden way, as to not increase my blood pressure too much. Maybe that's the jist of it. When you lift something it can increase your bp rather suddenly and I wonder if that is what he hopes you can avoid.

Ask, ask, ask. Get back to us.

Marguerite

 

[PJmomrunner]

This thread makes me wonder about, "if I had only known...." I'm not sure I would've changed any behaviors had I known I had a bicuspid aortic valve even if I had also had the knowledge that they are often accompanied by aneurysms. I cannot help but wonder if some of the things and people I have carried around or hauled-on in my life might have contributed to the rate of dilation. For sure the condition of the tissue is a factor--we know that--but how much of a factor are things like lifting, pushing or pulling? (All things I am no longer allowed to do with much intensity.) I know Angela has been told she has no aneurysm, but what is the dimension of her aorta? Perhaps it's nowhere near aneurysmal, yet larger than average. Angela, you're a nurse right? Do you lift people and/or support them from gurney to bed and such? That can be pretty heavy lifting. I would seek clarification--understanding was extremely important to my acceptance of my restrictions.

Marguerite, three cardios told me no restrictions on running (they did restrict lifting), but my surgeon (the guy who has seen only aortas and valves every working day for ten years) unequivocally, emphatically said no running (or anything else that gets my heartrate out of the low 100's) and he said it to the cardios in a letter. He was pretty clear about his concerns and was confident he could envision the fragility of a specific spot on my aorta he feels is in danger of dissection should I ignore the restrictions. This may well be specific to my case, and others may have their own specifics that cause varied restrictions, I suppose.

 

[CCRN]

??????? I have no idea why they put you on that type of weight restriction. I have severe regurg and an aneurysm and only recently was told "I would recommend that you not lift more than 35 pounds" and that was not seriously reinforced.

The more informed here will chime in shortly (as you know )

My surgeon put me on a 30 lb lifting restriction and made me stop biking and running. The reason he gave me was my peak gradient across the valve of 85 at the time. High gradients with increased heart rate/blood pressure (biking, running, lifting) have been associated with sudden death. It's just a precaution but a good idea too. I second getting more details from your Doc.

 

[jkn2kids]

I have a BAV and an aneurysm and was told not to lift anything over 30lbs.I'm 6'2" 265 pds and that's my limit. My wife saw something on tv about exhaling when you lift weights.Exhaling while lifting weights keeps the BP under control.Therefore,weight lifting in general causes the BP to rise,thus putting pressure against the aortic wall which puts strain against an aneurysm.The DR. told me there have been no studies with 10 men lifting weights and waiting to see who keeled over but from a logical view,the weight limit seems to make sense.The restrictions placed on you don't necessarily make sense to me but who knows sometimes.

 

[Natanni]

Weight Restrictions

Weight Restrictions

Hi Angela

My husband's aortic valve was a congenital bicuspid, one that had tri-leaflets, two being fused together, since birth. He had a known murmur all his life, and was diagnosed as leaking around 1997, mild-moderate. I don't know many of your details, but Nathan is a UPS driver and had been working as a UPS driver with no restrictions right up until he aquired endocarditis in July. We will never really know if all the weight lifting required of those drivers caused his valve to deteriorate faster or not, but he had no problems keeping up until he got sick with endo. Pre-endo in June he was moderate regurg, post endo in July-severe leak.

 

[Rush20]

I was also born with a bicuspid aortic valve and had been a serious weight lifter/fitness nut since the age of 16 (now 42). Prior to my diagnosis two years ago, I was training hard for a team triathalon (I was the biker). I had originally thought I was pushing myself too hard with the training, work, family, etc. and that was why I was tired. What a surprise when the doctor heard the murmur and I had replacement surgery less than two months later.

Post-op and post cardiac rehab (12 weeks), I started lifting weights again, however at more moderate, lighter scale. More cardio than full force strength training. My cardiologist gave me the OK and told me not to overdue it. I have a St. Jude Mechanical and understand I need to keep things moderate going forward.

I believe by reading the above posts, the restriction might be based more on the anurysm than the valve. ?

 

[CCRN]

I believe by reading the above posts, the restriction might be based more on the anurysm than the valve. ?[/QUOTE]

I wasn't diagnosed with my aneurysm until 4 days prior to my surgery and it was a darned good thing I was put on restrictions and followed my doc's advice or I could have ended up in a situaion much like Ross's. If I had it to do over I would request a CT or MRI with contrast to evaluate my aorta from the get go. I was told my aorta "looked okay and just slightly enlarged at the root which is usual with bicuspid valves" through echo but a much different picture was given after the cath. One of my cardiac surgeons recently told me he believed the standard of care for following bicuspid patients is leaning toward periodic aortic evaluation along with the valve. Our bodies are amazing things. The only symptoms I had were visual disturbances, noisy murmur, some muscle pain, and an intermittant weird fullness in my chest. So, I would follow the Doc's advice......just my opinion and it ought to be yours.

P.S. I feel great. I'm 5 month's post op. I'm able to run and bike again. Never was much into resistance stuff but have started some moderately for health reasons and no problems yet. I am so thankful for all you guys on this wab site. The psychological support here is priceless.

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

To answer some of your questions.....

To answer some of your questions.....

OK, to try to answer some of your questions:

I did have an MRI with contrast. They had lots of trouble visualizing my aortic valve and the aorta immediately above it due to the significant movement of the heart. They even tried twice and took like a million shots the second time.
The valve is congenitally bicuspid, but fused only about 1/4-1/5, so it is tri-leaflet. Mild aortic insufficiency noted only. NO ANEURYSM!!! The measurement was like 2 or 2.1 I believe, but I dont have the report in my hand right now.
I am a nurse, and yes, I do lots of lifting/sliding patients around. I brought this up to the doctor (CT surgeon, not cardiologist). His response was that he'd just write a letter to my employer if he had to, that I am not to lift more than 20lbs until the fancy new MRI comes out within the next year that will help see the valve and aortic root better, regardless of all of the movement of the heart/valve in my body. (Apparently it moves WAY more than most people's, but they are not concerned. Probably doesn't help that my baseline is tachycardia at rest--like 110 or so.)
I will ask him again, but I have been more concerned with getting mom home and settled, so each time I hear from him, I forget all about me. He also has me starting BP/HR measurements on myself at rest and exercise to see if my low blood pressure could tolerate ANYTHING that might get the rate down. I dont know if that'll happen, I am like 90/60 always.
Thanks for the input, everyone, and please keep the ideas and thoughts coming. What would I do without you all?????

 

[aussigal]

i am having just one lil thought about you dear Angela...you appear to be a tall thin attractive young woman, have you done the usual research into Marfans and EDS?...or noticed any other instances of this is the family?....
sorry if this is a repeat..i been busy this past week...but wanted to stick my head in and say hi to you and your mum,,,how is she?.well i bet with your expert nursing!

tonia

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

i am having just one lil thought about you dear Angela...you appear to be a tall thin attractive young woman, have you done the usual research into Marfans and EDS?...or noticed any other instances of this is the family?....
sorry if this is a repeat..i been busy this past week...but wanted to stick my head in and say hi to you and your mum,,,how is she?.well i bet with your expert nursing!

tonia

I haven't really done any research as far as my own issues. I don't really have symptoms of anything at all. My only probs are high heart rate, low bp, and occasional palpitations. (Except for the lovely reaction I had to Imitrex--migraine med--while in L.A., fibrillation or flutter...I got in big trouble with the doc for not taking my butt to ER for that one.)
Mom's doing well, I will post on her in a second in the thread I have on her progress, too. Thanks for asking...

 

[CCRN]

It seems the trouble visualizing your aorta is kind of strange. However, I don't believe they were able to get a good look at mine until I was cathed. If your valve opening measurement is 2.0 you're still in pretty good shape. My opening was down to 0.7 which is pretty close to critical. I looked back at my first echo measurements and my numbers were similar to yours. I was in my early 30s at the time and my replacement came at 46. Up until about 5 months prior to my surgery I had no restrictions. I met all qualifications to fly with the Air Force Reserve and, up until early in 2000, was regularly one of 2 people carrying about a 180 lb person on a stretcher for aerovac missions. I was pushing stretchers, lifting and moving patients and equipment with no problems. I think you should go about and continue your normal routine just keeping in mind your situation and follow your cardiologist's directions for periodic echo evaluation. You're a nurse so you've got to be one smart cookie. (I wonder what Ross and a few others will have to say about that?) I hope this gives you something to compare your situation. I'm so glad to hear your mother is doing so well.

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

You're a nurse so you've got to be one smart cookie. (I wonder what Ross and a few others will have to say about that?) I hope this gives you something to compare your situation.

I'm sure they would ALL agree