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  1. M

    I can't stop crying

    Yep - there's tons of data that heart surgery can have long term effects on a number of hormonal systems. There *isn't* a lot of clear data about what specific effects to expect. Depression seems to be relatively common, as is various types of ED/libido supression. For me, I was fine for...
  2. M

    Variable/pounding heart rate following AVR/Aorta graft

    Yep - the powder I use doesn't have any sugar. The only downside is that it has calcium which tends to block magnesium/zinc uptake. Its all a bit of a balancing act, and I've never run across clear rules for how to to optimize all of those things. Best I can do is to take my magnesium...
  3. M

    Variable/pounding heart rate following AVR/Aorta graft

    Thank you for this suggestion. A powdered electrolyte solution is helping a great deal w/ the pounding heartbeats.
  4. M

    After your surgery, what are some of the things that you found out that surprised you

    Two more minor things post surgery that were unexpected: - After 3 days of hibiclens and whatever they used in the OR, whatever repopulated my skin flora and fauna was resistant to my old deodorant. I'd put it on, then 2 hours later I'd smell foul like I do on the odd occasion that I forget...
  5. M

    After your surgery, what are some of the things that you found out that surprised you

    4 months out, and this is probably the worst part of the otherwise successful outcome. Pretty much daily pain from a spot high up between my shoulder blades. Massage isn't helping, and am going to try to get xrays in Jan. It really feels like somehow there's a big tear-away on the spinal...
  6. M

    After your surgery, what are some of the things that you found out that surprised you

    They took me in a pre-op room to get shaved, hook up some IVs, etc. I sort of remember this because of a conversation about my tattoos. They brought my wife back and we talked a bit before hey then asked her to go back out into the waiting room (very little of which I remember), before they...
  7. M

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    Yes - they went over that a lot as they talked about pros/cons. Anecdotally, it's interesting to hear how much better informed I was re: my choices that some friends who've had similar surgeries at lesser hospitals. I'm learning that a lot of people were told "this is what we're doing" <clap on...
  8. M

    Let's set some goals! A throwdown!

    Hugely comforting - thank you. Also very helpful: "Agreed. The benefits of exercise are numerous- reducing the odds of developing dementia is one of them. Other benefits are reducing the risk of heart disease, reducing the risk of developing cancer, increasing insulin sensitivity, decreasing...
  9. M

    Let's set some goals! A throwdown!

    That's it in a nutshell. It's weird to see my HR approaching the theoretical max when I don't feel uncomfortable at all. re: elliptical - bad hip, bad knee, so the elliptical is just about the best I can do until our local pool opens up again. I don't have specific fitness goals, although...
  10. M

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    Fair points all the way through, @pellicle . Cheers and best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season.
  11. M

    Let's set some goals! A throwdown!

    @Chuck C Thank you - very useful as always. " My resting HR is now a little higher, since surgery, but has come down significantly from where it was in the months immediately after surgery. " Got it - I'm really only 4 months out, so I'm guessing that my resting HR is still a little high...
  12. M

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    Fair point - I conflated the two. ".... compliance is easy given the possible adverse affects of noncompliance ...." Humans being humans, this statement is unfortunately not so helpful in a gigantic variety of contexts. :)
  13. M

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    @pellicle For clarity's sake, I'm not on warfarin, so I'm not even tracking my range. "true, but as we've also discussed here that's not impossible and if its the case you know you're going to have these "serious of major invasive surgeries" then you should steer away from warfarin ... call...
  14. M

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    There's some significant data indicating that specific SSRI's, SNRI's and some hormonal contraceptives don't play nice with warfarin. (I can post links, but honestly, 30 seconds of googling will get you there.) These can be absolute dealbreakers for some patients. No matter how much we say it...
  15. M

    Let's set some goals! A throwdown!

    Any more comments on the value of tracking HRV vs. just HR while you're training? Been doing the elliptical at the gym, and we have one on the way for home. Resting HR between 75-90. While at the gym, if I try to keep the rate at 110 (70% of recommended max for my age), I'm not even breaking...
  16. M

    Mechanical Valve

    A couple of minor notes: - re-do's on tissue valves are often TAVR, and based on all other factors with my heart health, my surgeon indicated it was "very likely" that my replacement would be TAVR - I'm at 90 days out and am doing pushups quite comfortably. - YMMV re: 6 months for a sternum...
  17. M

    Mechanical Valve

    Alternate opinion here. 56, very active, etc. I went tissue because I'm due for a full shoulder replacement next year, and a very likely hip replacement in the next few. While not impossible, these trickier surgeries and recoveries on warfarin than without. All of the reasons that the...
  18. M

    Not valve at all

    Not to make light of things, but this is also good advice for job interviews.
  19. M

    Is it okay to hit a boxing bag as part of gym training

    Go for it. Candidly, it's easier for me to regulate my heart rate into the desired cardio rehab zone w/ a bag workout than on an elliptical trainer/rower.
  20. M

    Is it okay to hit a boxing bag as part of gym training

    I'm right around 90 days post-surgery (valve replacement). I've worked the heavy bag a dozen times in the last few weeks w/ no perceived ill effect. I would go light the first time to see if your sternum feels any discomfort. This might serve as an indicator of how quickly/slowly it's...
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