2 years and frustrated.

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I had an tissue valve replacing my BAV nearly 2 years ago I am 43 male
The problem I have that every time I exercise I don't get any fitter and my heart rate reaches 175 in seconds if I do more than a gentle jog
I am an ideal weight and eat well and was so much better before the op and not sure if it just takes time, my immune system is also appalling and if i overdo it at all I'm treated to a debilitating virus.
My gp has no idea what to suggest and the heart consultant sent me for a stress exercise test and heart monitor all of which were fine so I am at a complete loss...
 
You don't mention your state of conditioning prior to valve surgery. Were you highly fit? Were you a non-exerciser? In between?

First discuss things with your cardio. If cardio is OK with it, maybe consult a trainer, hopefully one who is experienced in helping heart patients return to condition. Start slowly and build gradually. That worked for me.

Also, did you go through cardiac rehab after surgery? For me, that was my re-entry to physical activity. The therapists there knew how to tell just how much to push each patient to help them return to full activity. If you missed this, maybe ask your cardio if they can prescribe a few weeks of rehab to help get you started.
 
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I was 43 at the time too. Prior to AVR I was running 5K in 21 minutes, afterward I never did any better than 27-28 min. Prior, a mile in 6 min., after, 8 min. Sometimes that's just the way it is.
 
I was the original poster (not sure why it says guest)

Pre op I would have good and bad days but never experienced the jump in heart rate , they did valve replacement before the heart became too enlarged so never had severe symptoms.
I can run 5k + non stop but very steadily, what i cannot do is increase speed or sprint without a giant spike to maximum heart rate and having to stop,
 
I'm out here with Boomanchu. I've been taking beta blockers since my valve replacement. We have reduced the dosage to one-fourth of what it originally was, but it still limits my heart rate to upper 130's or at best lower 140's. My cardio doesn't really want me going much higher, so I've learned to accept what it is.

Prior to surgery I was running 7:30 miles, right up until a month or two before surgery (age 63 at the time). I had some complications in and after surgery, and by the time I was thinking I was ready to get back to running, my knees had decided that they were not. The few times I've tried jogging, my heart rate goes up to its working limit, but I can't keep up the pace. I can definitely ride a stationary bike at 15-16 MPH for 15-20 minutes straight with no issues, and I regularly "power-walk" at 4.5 MPH on a treadmill at 13% incline. I've just learned to accept what I can do, and to add other exercise, like long walks, weather permitting.
 
Very similar stats; 16 months ago I had a tissue valve replacement, I am now 40. I ran marathons, ½ ironman triathlons and competed in long distance open water swims. I ran a ½ mile in 1:45 and 5k’s in 22 minutes.
About 3 months after surgery I started running on a treadmill. My goal was an ironman after surgery. I ran 12 min miles got it down to 9. I was also getting sick with upper respiratory issues. I would fall off and begin again. My average HR was much high than I would tell my wife or my cardio.
Then I started exercising for fun, not for an ironman. I ran a couple local 5k, first in 35 min then 32, a couple months later 30 min. I finished one 5k in 29 something, 20 months after surgery. I currently do not have any ironman or marathon goals. I run 2-3 times a week and swim 2-3 times a week. I feel grateful I can run and swim. I figure I am in better shape than most 40 year olds and I will keep getting in better shape over time. Maybe 2016 or 2020 I will finish that ironman, but I as long as I can run/jog swim/paddle I will be happy. Keep exercising, it will come.
 
It's the lack of knowledge that is frustrating, i get arrhythmia occasionally and on meds to stop that but I'm seeing an arrhythmia specialist who says too risky to do an ablation.
I don't really want to accept that I can only jog at a mild pace and will be floored within seconds after a Short sprint, I feel healthy enough but just can't seem to get the correct advice on going forward, if someone tells me this is the way it is then fair enough, but no one seems to be able to put their finger on as echo sees a perfectly functioning heart.
 
I have just seen the cardiologist and they are a bit baffled to why this is happening, they think it could be other factors other than the heart as I am outwardly in good condition
They are going to put me on a Holter monitor for 48hrs in the next few months and want me to exercise as hard as i can whilst wearing it, which will be interesting.
Also egfagan I agree that we should be happy but all I want is a little progressive improvement and have no massive goals.
 
Hi peners - I had lots of problems post surgery, a lot of breathlessness and lack of stamina. I too had my aortic valve replaced before I had any symptoms so getting symptoms post surgery was really frustrating and annoying. My cardiologist could come up with nothing regardling my breathlessness and lack of stamina…, he did loads of tests. Nine months post op my endocrinologist, who is the cleverest doctor I know, suggested that the problem was to do with my lungs. I saw respiratory consultant and had chest x-ray which showed air trapping. Air trapping would cause breathlessness and lack of stamina. I increased steroid inhaler and got back to almost pre-surgery fitness. You may not have a problem with your lungs, but my point is that you could have a problem anywhere which was set off by the surgery. You need a doctor who can think outside the box to help you work this out. Good luck !
 
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 supplement your training. It is a lot of fun and when you stop your hard efforts, you are still at speed and can soft pedal until another hard effort. I'm pooped after 30 minutes of jogging 9-10 minute miles but I feel pretty good after 3 hours of riding at an average 14 mph with some hard efforts mixed in climbing or keeping up with the group.
 
Eva;n855588 said:
My two cents thoughts.: would rest until the virus is gone completely and make sure you are drinking enough fluids and not much caffeine.
I'm going to back this point up ... its worth re-iterating.
 
I would just like to update, i have recently been running slower and keeping my heart rate under 155 for longer periods upto 9k instead of running in the 170's and have found recovery and general fitness is improving,
I had a 48hr holter monitor fitted a couple of weeks ago and awaiting the results
 
I would just like to update, i have recently been running slower and keeping my heart rate under 155 for longer periods upto 9k instead of running in the 170's and have found recovery and general fitness is improving,
I had a 48hr holter monitor fitted a couple of weeks ago and awaiting the results
 
My Cardio told me pre-op that with a mechanical valve, the valve cannot stretch and allow as much blood through it as a native valve can. As a result people can sometimes feel like they are stuck in second gear. What your describing might be something to do with that?
 
I had mitral repair 1.5 yrs ago and have ongoing issues that make a return to regular training difficult (52yr old male). I thought my vasculature would adjust to the new heart faster, but my resting heart rate is 85bpm (standing 95bpm) and exertion quickly brings me to my max heart rate. I had been very fit my whole life, apart from the congenital valve problem, with a resting heart rate in the low 50s. So now I feel like I’m jogging all day. I swim in the mornings because by 6PM I am completely exhausted, and I really haven’t done that much.
It took me a little over a year to join a Masters swim team (I swam competitively for about 10 years); I had some post-surgery depression, working memory and cerebellum damage from the surgery, and scar pain that impeded training. I used to workout 3.5 hours/day (cycling/xc-skiing), but I don’t seem to get much of the exercise euphoria now – lost a lot of motivation. I think the remarkable thing is how long it takes to recover from a workout, more than 24 hrs...sometimes longer. The stress piles on top of itself, despite meditation, naps, a good diet with probiotics, chiropractic support, and acupuncture. I wake up unrested. I spend a lot of time with a foam roller, working my back and opening my chest. I need more electrolyte tabs than I used to (Hammer or Nuun, not sweet).
I wear ear-plugs and reflective goggles because I suddenly became severely sensitive to light and noise post-surgery. I’ve changed my stroke to engage the right pectoral less where my scar is; the scar keeps thickening without treatment (graston). I have been swimming as slow as possible, working on long relaxed exhales while trying to keep my heart rate under 150 (target: 120-130). When I hit 150 I force myself to skip a lap. When my face starts to screw up because of the stress, it is already past time to leave the pool. I typically only get thru 1,500m of a 3,000m workout 3-4 days/wk. The strategy is to do a lot of interval work, but not getting too mentally stressed, and over several months get my resting heart rate down, regain strength/flexibility and recondition my vasculature. I find the slow exhale and breathing less frequently while swimming decreases stress and allows me to train longer. I usually don’t leave the pool too physically tired, but I frequently struggle with the mental strain. I find I can loosen that knot with humor and meditation – something about how dopamine triggers vasodilation and reduces vascular inflammation. I can’t drink beer anymore; all I’ve got is a joke about this duck walking into a bar…
 
Agian;n857155 said:
A horse walks into a bar, the bartender looks at him and asks 'Why the long face?'
this guy is in a bar and another fella yells to the barman: "Hey, donkey, bring me another beer"

when the barman comes back the fella says to him "why do you let that guy talk to you like that?"

The barman replies (with a strong stutter) "I dun nn no ... he aww .. he aww he aww he allways calls me that"

(rimshot)
 
Hi

Capizzi;n857153 said:
I had mitral repair 1.5 yrs ago ...but my resting heart rate is 85bpm (standing 95bpm) and exertion quickly brings me to my max heart rate. I had been very fit my whole life, apart from the congenital valve problem, with a resting heart rate in the low 50s. …

it took me a good few months of deep slow breathing to bring it under control. I don't know if it was luck or that my body learned. I would breath in as deep as a I could and hold it. Within a few beats my HR would drop in pace by an amount. I'd repeat that a few times a day.

Still however alcohol brings my HR up and pounding ... so I guess that's my AA alternative
 

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