Exercise - any restrictions?

[Gail K]

Hi,

I have aortic stenosis and I'm told I'm about 3 to 6 years from needing a valve replacement.

I'm wondering if I need to restrict my exercise at all. I like to walk fairly steep hills in my area, but I do get out of breath from my heart beating fast so I'm wondering if that's bad for my heart.

Thanks,
Gail

 

[tprice54]

exercise

exercise

The first disclaimer, ask you cardiologist about exercise and your condition. That said, many of us have exercised right up to surgery, or close to. Exercise should not make your valve any worse, and will make recovery from any surgery that mush easier.

 

[MrP]

Walking, including up hills, will be good for your heart. Try to avoid any heavy lifting.

 

[M&M]

Hi Gail,

I'm wondering if your got a holter heart monitor and you were able to record those fast beats would help determinte what is happening. I know hills made my heart beat increase. Now I'm 100% paced so I can only go so fast. Rapid heart beats should be checked. Holter monitors can do that. Extreme rapid heart beats are not normal. I was told that I could continue running right up till my valve surgery - but then after my surgery I talked about my running and told their nurse what I normally ran and she said: Your a real runner !!! Well, yea I told the surgeon that - and she said: No your a real runner !!! So I'm not sure they fully understand some runners. Get a heart monitor and find out for sure what your beats are. I could barely walk and breath just before my valve surgery. I waited to long. But I had major electrical problems long before my surgery. 3 mos after surgery I won 2nd place in a road race. So my valve was in bad shape - the surgery went very well - but then I went into intermittent full heart block (electrical) - which is really bad.

Stay on top of the electrical and get an 'electrophysciologist' specialist - to read those monitors - they are definently worth it..
M&M

 

[Philip B]

Restrictions

Restrictions

I'll echo what's already been said about checking with your cardiologist and get his/her recommendations.

This said, I wasn't really placed on any restrictions until my cardiologist noted an aortic anneurysm that was about ready to go. It's probably important to add that I didn't see a cardiologist at all for twenty-seven years so it's not like I was getting much input concerning possible restrictions.

My surgeon wanted me to cancel a golf trip to Mexico the week before my surgery. He felt I would be increasing my level of risk to have the anneurysm blow. He changed his mind when he realized that quality emergency care didn't exist in my rural community. I guess he felt my chances would be better in Mexico.

You'll be well-advised to have a conversation with your cardio doc about the level of exercise which is appropriate. We can relate our experiences, but all of us are different. Unrestiricted exercise and physical activity worked out okay for me, but if I had known how large my aortic anneurysm was getting I probably would've done somethings differently. I'm lucky (possibly charmed) to be here.

-Philip

 

[epstns]

Hi Gail, and welcome to The Waiting Room - the virtual room where many of us await our own turns at valve surgery.

My situation is somewhat like yours. I have aortic stenosis, diagnosed about 5 years ago. Until then I had no clue that I might have a heart condition.

I am not a medical professional, so I can only relate to you anecdotal information about how my cardio is treating me. Once we determined that my stenosis was moderate to severe, we discussed exercise. I have been a recreational jogger for over 30 years, and the cardio told me that this sort of exercise is good for the heart, keeping it strong and potentially has allowed me to wait as long as I have for surgery. He advised not to "push it" and only go at speeds that are comfortable. A good warm-up helps, too. I am not on any restrictions as to heart rate, running speed, etc., just that if it doesn't feel good, slow down.

I have also been told not to lift heavy weights -- nothing over 40 lbs. I can do as many repetitions as I like, but nothing heavy. Heavy weights will raise blood pressure, and that is not good.

Also, I was warned not to participate in activities that have "high dynamic" range, where your heart is called upon to go from resting or slow pace to a dramatically higher pace instantaneously, like tennis or basketball. Because of this, I also stay away from the roller coasters. . .

Other than that, we are just watching and waiting.

My advice is to discuss all these things with your cardio. Every case is different, and you may have other circumstances that make your treatment different than mine. Above all, though, discuss it with the doc, learn all you can, then go back to living your life fully until you are told to do otherwise. Don't let them treat you like an 80 year old invalid without a good medical reason.

You've found the best place to learn from experienced people. Welcome!

 

[MikeHeim]

I had regurgitation, and not stenosis, but I'll share what my Cardio told me before surgery. Anything that causes SOB or other heart failure symptoms should be stopped immediately. When you heart is under so much stress that it cannot keep up is when you start getting ventricular enlargement and cause other damage to the muscle itself. I personally was given a max HR of 130 and told that I could do whatever exercise I wanted to if I stayed under that - as long as I wasn't getting SOB.

 

[cbsmith]

I'm in the waiting room as well. I have aortic regurgitation, not stenosis.

My doctor told me I can continue to run. However, I asked about marathons (was hoping to do one for my 40th birthday next year) and he advised against a marathon. So I'll continue to run my 20-30 miles per week (just not at one time).

I was also told no weight lifting or other exercises that put a sudden strain on the heart.

 

[Susan BAV]

I think that I was regurging and stenotic pre-valve replacement. My primary sources of exercise throughout the last twenty or so years have been lots of walking and using my exercise bike. As my original bicuspid valve got worse, and as I would walk around the local track, I eventually started having sick achey pains in my upper spine and up both sides of my neck, particularly the last year before valve replacement. It was very unpleasant and later, upon describing it to my doctors, I was told it was angina! I also developed more and more strong heart flips and flops and brief episodes of racing heart (diagnosed as V-tach) when I would walk, as my valve deteriorated, and I could barely pull an incline. The deterioration was gradual at first and then, as many of us have noted here, as the valve evidently began to deteriorate, the deterioration accelerated.

So, as Tom and others said, first of all clear things with your doctor. But remember that some doctors may have different opinions and experience. One cardio I saw about seven-eight months before valve replacement told me that I was "fine," even though I was very ill at the time. I finally decided to look for a second and more experienced opinion and I also began to research things for myself. So a few months after I was told that I was fine, but inside I knew otherwise, I was told I needed my valve replaced in "weeks, not months!" I wanted to be sure, so I consulted with three excellent and highly recommended surgeons. My bicuspid aortic valve had become so bad that it was causing my mitral valve to also malfunction and there was talk that I might need work on both. Evidently, however, my surgery was just in time because my original mitral valve worked much better after they replaced the aortic valve and after checking it, they didn't end up having to do anything to it.

Hoping this experience is helpful and that all goes well for you. Take care.

 

[kman]

Months before my surgery I was told to keep my heart rate below 120 and to cut out heavy weights, the other stuff tennis, jogging and difficult hikes I had already stopped on my own about a year before surgery because I just couldnt do them anymore, the stationary bike was pretty much it for me, my recovery time from pushing myself took so long I just quit doing those activities.My experience was my body told me to knock it off before the doctors did and that as I felt worse my valve had gotten worse as the tests showed. When I really started to feel bad I went back to Kaiser and got another echo even though I wasnt scheduled to have another for eight months and they said... uh oh its time.
So my experience was to try and stay in the best shape I could but to listen to my body telling me what to do and what not to do.
Good luck to you, its tough waiting

 

[cbsmith]

My bicuspid aortic valve had become so bad that it was causing my mitral valve to also malfunction and there was talk that I might need work on both.

Not to threadjack, but is this unusual? I had a TEE done and it showed the jet from my aortic valve (the main problem) is hitting the mitral valve, causing it to bow.

 

[Susan BAV]

Not to threadjack, but is this unusual? I had a TEE done and it showed the jet from my aortic valve (the main problem) is hitting the mitral valve, causing it to bow.

Technically and/or statistically, I don't know if it is unusual or not. But I've read, from at least a few other members here, somewhat similar experiences. Two of the surgeons I consulted with said that once they got in there, they would be able to better see if the mitral needed repaired or replaced also. So my surgeon replaced the aortic valve and while I was still under did a TEE and could see the mitral was then working better and happily for me needed no further attention. Hope that information is helpful. Take care .

 

[tprice54]

Ditto

Ditto

I had the same echo results with my aortic problem. Depending on the tech and doctor, it was decided the MVP might well go away once the aortic valve was repalced, and it did.

 

[Gail K]

I had regurgitation, and not stenosis, but I'll share what my Cardio told me before surgery. Anything that causes SOB or other heart failure symptoms should be stopped immediately. When you heart is under so much stress that it cannot keep up is when you start getting ventricular enlargement and cause other damage to the muscle itself. I personally was given a max HR of 130 and told that I could do whatever exercise I wanted to if I stayed under that - as long as I wasn't getting SOB.

Mike,

I think what your Cardio said makes a lot of sense. It is enlargement of the heart I worry about when my heart starts beating fast and I get out of breath walking the steep hills. I think I'm going to continue enjoying exercise as everyone recommends here, but avoid the steep hills since that's what makes me SOB. I've noticed that my ankles get swollen sometimes when I walk the hills and I believe that's a sign of heart failure.

Thanks to everyone who posted their replies on this. It has been a big help.

I wish you all good health.

Gail