When can I ride my Bike again??

[dot4toto]

I was reading about the bike riders here and I really miss my bike. I was told by me doc in July no more bike. Well now that my surgery is over and I'm healing and feeling great. I see my surgeon Sept. 9th so I know enough to wait and hear what he says. But I was wondering when any of you started riding? I'm looking forward to it, I have a bet with my husband that I'll be faster and go farther then him now that my heart is fixed. That's the only thing that was slowing me down before afterall!

By the way I have a Fuji....I love my bike! I was doing between 12-18miles 4-5 days a week. I don't like riding on the road, I'm afraid of the cars. I ride on paved bike paths.

 

[stevo]

Hi There,

I had my Mitral Valve repaired in March this year and I was back running and riding my mountain bike 8 weeks later. I felt like I could do it earlier but I held back - as I am finding out the recovery takes a while and I still do not feel completely right. However I can now climb well on my bike and just need to watch my heart rate until I am fully healed - a lot of people on this site have said up to twelve months. I can already feel the difference from having my heart repaired - less puffing for some work load etc. Riding the bike seems a lot easier than running. Good luck with your recovery.

 

[Phyllis]

Dick is a recreational rider also and was back riding at about 7-8 weeks. The major concern is that the chest is healed, so wait for that doctor's appt. and then most likely, you will be given the green light.

 

[Ross]

Your just about there if your not already. Better get the bike washed, waxed, and lubed up ready to go!

 

[Philip B]

Cycling

Cycling

I started cycling again at six weeks post-op. It was somewhat uncomfortable due to sternum issues, but pain was not excessive. I usually just took an Advil for the irritation and it took care of it. At eight weeks, the only time I has issues was when I rode really rough stuff on my mtn bike.

If you're planning to ride paved trail stuff you'll probably have few issues. I just passed my five month psot-op anniversery and I regularly ride (both road & mtb) five to thirty miles daily depending upon my work schedule.

It sounds like you're close to getting back on your Fuji.

-Philip

 

[67walkon]

Tina, I got on the stationary bike at a gym at 6 weeks. There was no sternum pain or discomfort. I got on my road bike last Saturday, 8 weeks after surgery.

I think I would have been good to ride at 6 weeks. However, the surgeon told me the sternum isn't healed until 8 weeks, so I patiently waited.

If I were you, and I am almost exactly 1 month ahead of you, I would give it the 8 weeks. If you go sooner, you can probably get away with it unless you fall. Sooner or later, we all fall. You can't escape that fact.

Between now and then, if you have access to a stationary, or if you have a trainer, they can help you get ready to ride again. Personally, I am about ready to kill myself after 20 minutes or so on a stationary bike in the gym. I can ride for hours and hours on the road without getting bored, but not in the gym.

We need to share our experiences and encourage others. Riding is great for our hearts and you will be absolutely amazed at how quickly it all comes back. I can't wait to get out there Saturday and ride about 20 miles, just 9 weeks post OHS. It's hard to believe, and so many guys I know who have had coronary artery bypass OHS just shake their haeds in amazement.

Be careful, but go for it.

John

 

[Cooker]

Training wheels!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fast Eddie]

My biking experience

My biking experience

Tina

I had AVR and ascending aneurysm repair done May 15. In early June I started riding a stationary trainer. July 1 I was out on the road again. I had no problems with anything directly related to the surgery. My biggest problem was ow out of shape I had gotten by not riding for several months.

By early August I was beginning to ride like I used to: 20-30 mile rides averaging 17 mph.

So listen to John (67Walkon) and give yourself 8 weeks before riding. That is mostly to protect your sternum.

And if you are on Coumadin, make sure you wear a helmet and get a medical alert bracelet. And be careful out there!

Fast Eddie

 

[dot4toto]

Thanks you guys.....

Thanks you guys.....

Thanks for the help...I feel like it is my breast bone keeping me from riding. It just keeps clicking and kinda moving...gross.

But you know what I'll do is go to the gym and get on the bike there until I can ride outside.

I have a tissue valve so no worries there, besides I've fallen already at a dead stop!!! Nice....

I'll let you guys know how it is after my first ride. I can't WAIT!!!!
Training wheels until I can ride in the breeze!!!!

 

[67walkon]

Eddie, you're killing me! 30 miles at 17 mph just 3 months after OHS is pretty impressive.

However, it is incredible how quickly it comes back. I rode 4 days in a row after getting the surgeon's approval and each day was better than the day before. I took a day off and rode 14 miles yesterday and it was better than the others. I may go 20 this weekend.

Is your mph door to door? I have to get out of my neighborhood and then go through another one before I get to the really good riding. I'm pretty much averaging a15.5 to 17 on the good riding part, but only about 14.5 for the door to door. I now view myself as a beginner who has to build up a good base again before worrying about speed.

Tina, you'll be back before you know it. That first ride is really, really fun.

John

 

[dot4toto]

67walkon...I went to the gym today, walked 30mins. then got on a bike.
WEAK!!!! I'm not going to let it get me down but wow, I was so weak.
It just makes me want to go back everyday and get better!

 

[67walkon]

Tina, I was riding the stationary bike at the gym for a few weeks and it was really boring. I couldn't get my HR up over about 85 on the stationary, because of the metatoprol they still have me on.

Once I got on the real bike, it was much better. Your strength will come back really fast. I even got my HR up to about 100 today; on the stationary, I got spin at higher rpms than my HR. That is really weird to have a cadence higher than HR!

You'll be back piling up the miles in no time!

By the way, I made the mistake of not stretching and doing back/abdomen exercises for most of my 8 week "lay off" and my lower back is really complaining about that. I did a little in the gym for the 2 weeks I was there, but I highly recommend spending a lot of time on that part of your body.

John

 

[Philip B]

Snap, Crackle, Pop

Snap, Crackle, Pop

Hi Tina,

Yeah, the movement in the sternum as it sets up to heal is kinda gross.

Like John, I did a lot of time on a stationary bike before I could get on a real one. The stationary bike worked well as I could sit on it and peddle without using my arms and stressing my sternum. It did get pretty boring.

The comments John made about stretching are good advice. My cardiac rehab program nurse insisted that I do a lot of stretching and it helped. Some of the upper body stretches really helped me monitor the progress of my sternum healing.

You are on your way back to where you want to be; you will get there before you know it.

-Philip