M
Masonje
I am 9 weeks out from a mitral valve repair with annuloplasty and I was thrilled to locate this site. I have several questions regarding cardiac rehab and just reading through some of the threads answered many. A little background first...
I am 41 years of age and in excellent health (aside from my recently fixed mitral valve). I have rowed competitively since 1984. I was looking forward to this summer's racing season when I learned that I had to have my mitral valve repaired in May.
I had no history of heart trouble whatsoever until October of 2005 when I had an episode of atrial fibrillation that was converted back to normal sinus rhythm within a few hours after one dose of rhythmol. I had an echo revealing mitral valve prolapse with, at that time, moderate mitral regurgitation. I was completely without symptoms and my cardiologist cleared me to resume rowing but advised no heavy weightlifting. She also wanted a follow up echo in 6 months.
Since then, my lack of any symptoms continued (no more A fib) and I even won two races. I then had my follow up echo in early May, 2006 and I then had severe mitral regurgitation. I had the repair on May 26 in St. Louis by Dr. Nick Kouchoukos.
I found my situation interesting (as well as obviously frightening) on a number of levels:
-I was otherwise in excellent health and was without symptoms not just at rest but while rowing! The evening prior to my May echo I rowed quite hard in my single scull and felt spectacular.
-I am also a general surgeon and while cardiac surgery is not my specialty, during my residency I spent several months caring for cardiac surgery patients in the intensive care unit. Being on the other side (the wrong side of the knife, so to speak) was very eye opening. I have had some orthopedic procedures done but that was small potatoes compared to this.
Anyway, my goals were to:
1) Survive
2) Get back to work
3) Row again, hopefully at a competitive level.
So far 1 and 2 have been achieved and now I'm gettin' greedy
My cardiologist and surgeon have both cleared me to resume exercise (obviously gradual in onset). My cardiologist said to basically go for it since I was in good shape pre-op. My internet searches don't reveal many people who have had valve surgery and then continued to compete at at high level, either in rowing or other endurance sports. If anyone has a story to share either about themselves or someone they know, I would love to hear it.
I also have a few other questions:
-My pre-op resting HR was in the 38-43 range and it is now about 80. Can I expect this to decrease as my CV fitness returns?
-I currently am walking 3-4 times per week and rowing on my ergometer 4-6 times per week keeping my HR less than 130. This feels like a purely aerobic pace (we do tons of this in rowing for the "aerobic base" development-I'm sure as is similar in other endurance sports). When can I "let it fly" and push the HR higher? I'm not sure there is a set answer to this but so far I use the "listen to one's body" approach.
Again, this is a very informative site and I thank in advance any who can lend advice.
John Mason
_________________
I am 41 years of age and in excellent health (aside from my recently fixed mitral valve). I have rowed competitively since 1984. I was looking forward to this summer's racing season when I learned that I had to have my mitral valve repaired in May.
I had no history of heart trouble whatsoever until October of 2005 when I had an episode of atrial fibrillation that was converted back to normal sinus rhythm within a few hours after one dose of rhythmol. I had an echo revealing mitral valve prolapse with, at that time, moderate mitral regurgitation. I was completely without symptoms and my cardiologist cleared me to resume rowing but advised no heavy weightlifting. She also wanted a follow up echo in 6 months.
Since then, my lack of any symptoms continued (no more A fib) and I even won two races. I then had my follow up echo in early May, 2006 and I then had severe mitral regurgitation. I had the repair on May 26 in St. Louis by Dr. Nick Kouchoukos.
I found my situation interesting (as well as obviously frightening) on a number of levels:
-I was otherwise in excellent health and was without symptoms not just at rest but while rowing! The evening prior to my May echo I rowed quite hard in my single scull and felt spectacular.
-I am also a general surgeon and while cardiac surgery is not my specialty, during my residency I spent several months caring for cardiac surgery patients in the intensive care unit. Being on the other side (the wrong side of the knife, so to speak) was very eye opening. I have had some orthopedic procedures done but that was small potatoes compared to this.
Anyway, my goals were to:
1) Survive
2) Get back to work
3) Row again, hopefully at a competitive level.
So far 1 and 2 have been achieved and now I'm gettin' greedy
My cardiologist and surgeon have both cleared me to resume exercise (obviously gradual in onset). My cardiologist said to basically go for it since I was in good shape pre-op. My internet searches don't reveal many people who have had valve surgery and then continued to compete at at high level, either in rowing or other endurance sports. If anyone has a story to share either about themselves or someone they know, I would love to hear it.
I also have a few other questions:
-My pre-op resting HR was in the 38-43 range and it is now about 80. Can I expect this to decrease as my CV fitness returns?
-I currently am walking 3-4 times per week and rowing on my ergometer 4-6 times per week keeping my HR less than 130. This feels like a purely aerobic pace (we do tons of this in rowing for the "aerobic base" development-I'm sure as is similar in other endurance sports). When can I "let it fly" and push the HR higher? I'm not sure there is a set answer to this but so far I use the "listen to one's body" approach.
Again, this is a very informative site and I thank in advance any who can lend advice.
John Mason
_________________
