Getting back in the water and back on the rocks

[jds]

I will go in soon for a repair/replacement of mitral valve with an expectation of miimally invasive surgery. Tissue of some sort if a replacement. I plan to continue swimming and rock-climbing. Not very good at either of these but I enjoy them immensely. I'll be in a cardio rehab program in Boston.

When is it reasonable to expect to be able to resume swimming and (low level) climbing?

Thanks

 

[MikeHeim]

I would say that it depends very much on what you mean by swimming. Six months after my MV Repair, I did a half-mile open water swim in the ocean. To prepare for it, I swam pretty regularily in a pool for about a month prior. I am not a good swimmer by any means, but I do like to compete in this event every year. Typically I do not swim all year until I train for this specifically.

After surgery, you will feel fine and full of energy one minute, and absolutely wiped-out the next. You obviously do not want to suddenly feel completely out of energy in the middle of a lake, so I would wait until you feel comfortable in a pool first. I was personally sore while twisting back and forth for about two months after my surgery, so I would think you could resume pool swimming at about that time.

Someone else will have to come along to help with rock climbing.

 

[jds]

Trying to set a goal

Trying to set a goal

I'm a 59yo male and was quite active before my MVR showed up.

At this point, my surgery (MVR repair/replacement) is scheduled for May 23. From the way the surgeon talked, my sense is it is likely to be a replacement. He says my posterior leaflet is too large - in my mind, I heard stretched out - and may not be repairable. Replacement would be a Carpentier-Edwards bovine pericardial valve.

I'm in Boston so there is a good rehab hospital (Spaulding) here that I will work with.

I like having concrete goals. I originally thought surgery would be late April and was aiming to complete (not compete but just complete) a very short triathlon (1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3 mile run) on Cape Cod on September 8. With surgery in late April, that seems doubtful. I could aim for a biathlon (2 mile run, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run) in early October.

Does this seem feasible?

 

[Aussie Chris]

I was really keen to get back in the water and probably went in slowly at 8 weeks however the Dr was not too happy about that as the ribs had only just healed. I would say I was back swimming properly and light surfing at 12 weeks. If you have minimal invasive surgery you should be able to bring these times forward but just check with the people at rehab first.

All the best.

Chris

 

[MikeHeim]

I don't think there's any reason you wouldn't be able to do it. I was personally really frustrated by how long it took me to get back into good running shape, but doing two miles shouldn't be an issue. About two months after surgery - July for you - you should have a really good idea about how quickly your recovery is progressing. As long as your goal is just to complete the race, you shouldn't have too much of an issue. Good luck!

 

[Phyllis]

I put you on the calendar for May 23rd and wish you the best of surgeries and recoveries.

 

[kodi]

I waited three months before getting back in the water (pool). I was surprised how easily swimming came back altho a bit slower than pre-surgery (I had AVR).
Biking on a trainer in my garage also came along fairly easy and I started that at about eight weeks.
Running however has been the hardest and it's my primary sport. I did a walk/run 5K on a very difficult course 6 weeks after surgery in 39 minutes. Fifteen weeks after surgery I did a 5K on a flat course in very cold weather in 34 minutes. Six months after surgery I did a 1/2 marathon (hard packed dirt and totally flat) in 2:30.
In my estimation you should be able to do either the triathlon or biathlon as long as you train consistently in all the sports regardless of the intensity you train at. Go for as a goal and believe me when you finish it may be the worst time you ever had during an event, but it will definitely be the most rewarding.
As TPRICE said in another post these are all now POPRs (Post Operation Personal Records).

 

[jds]

Thanks for the comments. Keeping the notion of POPR - post-operative personal record - seems like a healthy one.

My surgery is now set and will be with a Carpentier-Edwards valve if repair is not possible and it should be minimally invasive. Looked at a video of the "minimally invasive" surgery and think maybe it should be called "less invasive." Didn't look so minimal to me.

 

[tprice54]

Hello

Hello

Welcome to our club!
I think the duathlon would be a good goal post op. Once you are though surgery, you will see how important those post op records (POPR) are!
Please keep us updated...every post here can inspire somone else...you never know!