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  1. Classtime Sailer

    Lifting weights

    Good thinking Meathead. Keep lifting to maintain connective tissues and such but challenge yourself with an endurance sport. I wouldn't think there is any downside to marathons done in moderation. (not moderate speed but moderate frequency.) Maybe shift some of your gym work to support your...
  2. Classtime Sailer

    HEART KNOCKING?

    A little googling informs me that some surgeons leave it open, some close it, and some close it part way. No matter what, the paricardium, which surrounds the heart with vibration dampening membrane and fluids is in every case altered. As I type this, my iPad jiggles a bit with each heart beat...
  3. Classtime Sailer

    HEART KNOCKING?

    Successful OHS are determined by other metrics. The vibration dampening effects of an unmolested pericardium are not measured before hand and the diminished dampening of the altered pericardium is insignificant. Docs should let us know before hand though. I have a porcine valve but if a future...
  4. Classtime Sailer

    HEART KNOCKING?

    This may have been mentioned already but I believe that the increased "noise" is from the pericardium being left open after most open heart surgeries.
  5. Classtime Sailer

    How Do You Stay Heart Healthy?

    For exercise, I ride my bike to work about 150 miles per week and then a fast ride of 50 miles with lots of hills on Saturday. I eat a Whole Foods plant based diet 99% vegan. I put turmeric in my oatmeal with a spray of b-12 each morning. No other supplements and no meds. (61 yo with a 7 1/2 yo...
  6. Classtime Sailer

    Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery - any tips?

    I wished I had been a little more aggressive in my breathing excercises. I should have concentrated more on the deepest possible breaths. I don't know if it would have made a difference, but my lung capacity is not what it was. Only matters for long hard bike rides and breath holds when free diving.
  7. Classtime Sailer

    Tissue Valvers. How Old is Yours?

    It has been 7 1/2 years since I got my St. Jude B100-25A and I just had my yearly echo and visit to my Cardiolgist. All good. The valve looks as good as when it was new. I'm a cyclist that does not take it easy. 7,000 to 9,000 miles per year with some challenging 100-130 mile events each year...
  8. Classtime Sailer

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    If you are outdoorsy active, get a tissue valve and you can avoid blood thinners. I have a porcine valve and hear it when it is quiet and I inhale deeply.
  9. Classtime Sailer

    Mechanical Valve - clicking

    I have a tissue valve and can hear mine when it is quiet and I’m trying to relax/sleep. I think OHS rearranges stuff and it is unavoidable.
  10. Classtime Sailer

    Vision Disturbances and Migraines

    Yes about the floaters. They happen less frequently now or maybe I don’t notice them as much.
  11. Classtime Sailer

    Has anyone else experienced nocturnal leg cramping after prolonged use of warfarin?

    I’ve been experiencing the nocturnal leg cramps but I am not on anything. Sometimes my toes, feet, calf, groin, hamstrings, with no rhyme or reason. Random. I have tried all the usual preventive measures and the cramps randomly attack. I have had an MRI on my back and extensive blood and...
  12. Classtime Sailer

    Tissue Regrets??

    I’ve gone 8 1/2 years on my Porcine AV riding my bike pretty hard 7-9,000 miles a year with some racing/strenuous 130 mile rides. I turn 61 in May. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ll celebrate my retirement with a new valve. (Or celebrate my new valve with retirement.)
  13. Classtime Sailer

    2 years and frustrated.

    It can be frustrating. I'm 3 years post op and primarily a cyclist but have started running again 3 times a week. My pace is very slowly increasing but at only 3 times a week, running 3-4 miles each, I can't expect much in the way of gains. Penners, I would suggest that you get on a bike to...
  14. Classtime Sailer

    Exercising Post Op

    To the OP, My cardiologist used to say take it easy. Now he doesn't give me any advice. He says I look good, it sounds good and the echo looks good. My surgeon performed the surgery so that I could go back to doing what I did before my diagnosis and I was aware of the risks. I'm not on any meds...
  15. Classtime Sailer

    Matter of time before I need a re-operation

    I think you can deal with the next surgery better than the first. I had to go back in 6 weeks post op and except for some muscle spasms and the anxiety regarding the outcome, it was easier. Tissue for me. It was the choice that least affected my active lifestyle. When the valve needs replacing...
  16. Classtime Sailer

    Resuming bicycling after OHS - sternum healing

    Adding this a little late. I was riding to work 3 days a week 18 miles each way. 7 weeks post surgery. However, I had already been spinning for 5 weeks. Get on the trainer asap. You'll be having fun by spring. Join Strava and start getting PRs.
  17. Classtime Sailer

    Update from 6/5/2013 AVR & aorta repair

    Yippee! My doc let me quit the Metoprolol when I told him that I was dizzy when I stood up and he knew how much I was exercising and my BP was low anyway.
  18. Classtime Sailer

    When to stop the incentive spirometer?

    20 months post op and I still do it a few times a week. Lately, I can almost fill that thing up. I think that I lost a lot of flexibility in my ribs after two surgeries and I should have been more aggressive in combating that early on.
  19. Classtime Sailer

    1 year anniversary. Back in the swim.

    Fantastic. Quite the adventure for us.
  20. Classtime Sailer

    Blurry Vision 3 months post-surgery?

    Imagine if there was no internet? You would be the only one with eye problems and really freaking out ;) I had/have them too from time to time. My wife (who has not had OHS) told me she has them too. (I damn near fell off the toilet one morning with vertigo. Again, no comfort from my wife who...
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