6 Weeks And Going And Going

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J

jimbo

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
38
Location
valencia, california
Hello all you regulars! I had so many questions prior to surgery and all of you greatly helped out!. Thanks. I had my aorta valve replaced with a mechanical on April 20th. (bicuspid .07 opening) I turned 45 years old a week prior to the surgery. Just a little over a year ago I was hiking up Mt. Whitney (over 14,000 feet) with no problem. Just prior to the surgery, I could barely walk up the stairs in my house. It's now been a little over 6 weeks from my surgery and I feel like I'm getting stronger everyday. Yes, I have good days and bad, but I am always looking foreward to the future. I'm walking about 30-40 minutes a day on average. Does anyone have any information about a walking/jogging/workout program for some one in my timeline? And where were you in you physical activity at about 3 months? I feel that if I push it a little, I'm done for the day. Mt. Whitney here I come! Thanks Again.
 
I'm glad you are feeling better. Have you looked into cardiac rehab? they are really good about figuring out what you can do when and what to watch for ect. I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures from your next hike up the mountain, Lyn
 
I'm just home a week or so. I've been pushing walking - probably 60 minutes a day in 4 walks. I'll work on one of them and just saunter on the others.

In about 5 weeks, I'll start a cardio-rehab program at Spaulding Rehab Hospital in Boston. They will not start until 6 weeks after surgery to allow time for sternum healing. But walk like crazy until then. I talked with my doctor and he said so long as I am walking and not stressing myself much, more is not harmful. A little stress is where growth comes from.

I'm in kind of a hurry since I'm almost 60 and don't think I have more than 10-15 years of climbing and hiking ahead of me.

Have you done the mountaineers' route on Whitney? I've heard it is both awesome and scarey from the exposure.
 
Thanks for the replies. I plan on hiking Whitney, Shasta and many other California mountains with my new and improved St. Jude's valve. I have not done the Mountaineers route yet. That was going to be this year. I have been up Whitney 3 times from the back and 3 from the front. Wow ! You said you have been out for only a week and your walking 60 minutes? That's great. I was in great shape prior to surgery and I could get about 20 minutes a day my first week.
 
wow

wow

Thanks Susan! Thanks for the article! I had better not show this article to my wife because already thinks I'm pushing myself too much. Thanks again.
 
Rehab

Rehab

They started me with a cardiac rehab program at two weeks post-op even though I was dealing with sternum pain issues. The doc wanted me in a program where I would be monitored while exercising.

His perscription for me directed the nurse running the program to get me into a heart rate zone of 120-130. Now, at nine weeks post-op, I really have to work hard to get my heart rate up that high. When I visited with the doc last week he directed me to continue to work within the 120-130 bpm zone. After reviewing and assessing ekg data from my rehab sessions he was very pleased with what he was seeing. The rehab sessions have been excellent.

When you get into the cardiac rehab program I suspect your cardio doc will have input regarding the level of work you will need to do.

My doc has also encouraged me to do whatever exercise I feel like doing. He's told me to just listen to my body and avoid overdoing. I do a lot of bike riding and started playing golf (I use a bag cart and walk the course) again on Memorial Day. So far, things have been going really well. I plan to get a heart monitor designed for bicycling so I can keep my heart rate in the 120-130 range.

I guess I would recommend visiting with your cardiologist to get recommendations and guidelines for exercise and activities.

Good luck with the mountaineering stuff. My climbing career ended with a fall and two broken knees on a peak in Wyoming in 1979.

-Philip
 
golf

golf

Thanks Phillip. How long before you were able to ride a bike? Also, my Doc told me to wait for three months before I play golf. How lond did you have to wait before playing. Just prior to surgery I shot a 75 from the tips so I'm courious to see my new score and swing.
 
Encouraging

Encouraging

Reading posts like these while i"m in the waiting room is so helpful. I love to scramble up mountains (have alot of them in the washington cascades here). Also, it helps to hear about the type of valve you choose too. Way to go. Liam:)
 
Jimbo,

After OHS I gradually increased the length of walks per the guidance I received at the hospital upon discharge, for the first month or so. After that, I continued a gradual increase. By about 2 1/2 months, I was doing 3 miles in about one hour and have continued that pace. I did 4 1/2 miles one day and plan on a 6-mile walk on this coming Saturday. I purchased a heart rate monitor which I wear when I walk, and I try to achieve my "target heart rate" as given to me by the hospital staff.

I also strongly suggest starting cardiac rehab as soon as the doc clears it. You will probaly need your heart surgeon or cardiologist to write a prescription (or referral) to the hospital before they will allow you to start. I have been walking on the treadmill there (among many other machines and exercises). On the treadmill I try to maintain a 3-4 mile per hour rate and vary the inclination as I feel that day.

Everyone's recovery is different and follows a unique pace. I was nearly a "professional walker" before OHS, as I led walking tours all over the world. So your rate of walking recovery may be slower (or faster) than mine.

Best wishes
 
Golf & Cycling

Golf & Cycling

My cardiologist initially told me to not play golf until I was twelve weeks post-op, but I cheated and started playing at eight weeks. I didn't jump onto the golf course immediately. I tried hitting balls off a high tee at the driving range first. The driving range felt pretty good and presented no problems so I joined my wife on the golf course a couple of days later. My full swing isn't back yet. I just concentrate on a slow, easy swing. When I visited with my cardiologist last week he was actually pleased that I was playing again.

I started bicycling again at six weeks post-op. Initially, I encountered some sternum discomfort, but it wasn't anything an Advil couldn't settle down. My mountain bike is an older model that was made before they started putting suspension systems on bicycles. I still ride pretty conservatively to avoid pounding the front wheel and stressing my sternum. Since I'm on coumadin I wear my helmet religiously. My cardiologist was pleased to see me engaged in cycling again.

Good luck as you work your way back into your normal activities. I've often thought about returning to climbing and mountaineering, but my wife made me agree to not engaging in those activities before she would marry me twenty-one years ago. The things we give up for love...

-Philip
 
I talked with my surgical team and they said to walk as much as I wanted so long as I felt no strain or pain. Since it is the only thing I can do, I'm doing it a lot. I will do some (mostly) lower body stretches and calisthenics as well - toe raises and squats (just body weight), butterflies, calf, thigh, wrist, and neck stretches, etc. Seeing my surgeon 4/28 (4 weeks post-surgery) and hope for clearance for more.

They said no driving for a month so I am learning about public transit in suburban Boston - an adventure so far - so my wife does not have to take me everywhere.
 
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