Post MV surgery question

[BillCobit]

I'm curious -- after mitral valve surgery, how long was it until you felt like you felt 100% --- or at least as good as you were going to get?

It's been just about a year for me. Zero leakage, no murmur, but my exercise tolerance is still not as good a pre-op. I'm wondering if this is as good as I'm ever going to be, or if there's hope for some continued improvement.

Thx to all who respond.

Bill

 

[Marty]

Improvement after MVR

Improvement after MVR

Bill, A lot depends on the condition of your heart preop. I almost waited too long. My left atrium was badly dilated and my ejection fraction was declining. I had shortness of breath on minimal exertion and the very unpleasant paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea ( you wake up at night gasping). Even though I was 72 at the time I decided to go for the surgery. My native valve was in very bad shape and could not be repaired so I was given a St. Jude mechanical in 1998. I had no complications from the surgery and was home on post op day four. Now for the hard part .....rehab. Very slow. At eight weeks post op I started hospital supervised rehab. Then after three months I left them and went to the fitness center at my club for unsupervised work. My cardiologist outlined a program which basically prescribed 40' treadmill with 20' pulse rate over 120 3 or 4 days a week.Very tough at first and seemed to make little progress. At the end of one year I still like you, now had little energy and really didn't feel very good. However I hung in there and at the end of year two felt some improvement. Now four years out at age 76 I feel like a kid again. I'm back at work. I do well on 6 to 7 hours sleep a night and need no naps. So bottom line .... if your heart is not damaged check with your cardiologist about rehab beyond hospital rehab and stay with it. Most of my valve buddies around here think it takes at least two years for full recovery(one fellow age 50, now runs the Marine Corps Marathon and other shorter races). Let me refer you to the brief remarks in Heart Links about cardiac rehab. Dr. Cooper's aerobic book is recommended.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Bill

Hi Bill

I looked back at your User cp to get some info. so you are around age 42/ BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU LIVE.I am almost 9 months post-op....Was lucky to have pretty weather in the spring to walk in Ga....I feel good, other than weight gain back since the weather turned colder...and really got lazy...but then I am age 62 with a mech. valve..so I really don't care to go out and make a mark for myself...like winning any races, ect. Just want to feel good enough to enjoy the Holidays, my grandchildren, ect....but yes, I have my mind set on the 25th of March when I will be 1 year post-op....then hit the walking trails again here in North Georgia... Bonnie

 

[Dave M]

Bill,

Most folks who are the point of needing surgery for valve disease have had years of extraordinary stress on the heart muscle. It only makes sense that it takes at least a year or two for the heart muscle to respond fully to corrective surgery.

Before I began having symptoms, I was able to outrun and outplay my athletic 18-year old son in just about any sport (I am 43). Once symptoms set in, my endurance went downhill quickly. After surgery and the 6-week recovery, I could not even jog one lap around the track w/o quitting. Now, 1 1/2 years after surgery, I am able to run/jog 2 or 3 miles non-stop. I am also now working on improving my time in the mile run (I was a long-distance specialist on my high school track team).

Bill, it is a delicate balance of pushing yourself without overdoing it and becoming discouraged. Take it a day at a time and slowly progress. Not everyone agrees, but I have found that a serious heart-healthy diet also goes a long way in speeding the recovery process.

 

[BillCobit]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for the responses and encouragement...

 

[ORACLETEN]

What to Expect!

What to Expect!

My surgery was for an Aorta Heart Valve (St. Jude - Mechanical) and seems to have been successful. I did not start feeling like I was "the best I could expect" until about four months.. It has been 10 months now and I hardly ever think about being limited. I have not gotten back into weight training yet, but "when I get time" I will do so.

I think your age and condition at the time of surgery is a BIG factor. I was almost 60 years old, but was in good physical shape at the time of the operation. Either way, you should start feeling like yourself again between 3 and 6 months. Do not "rush" back to work if you can avoid it. I took six full weeks off and am glad I did.

Later,

The Oracle in Jacksonville

 

[LA_Cruiser]

Hi BillCobit...

Hi BillCobit...

RE: "I'm wondering if this is as good as I'm ever going to be, or if there's hope for some continued improvement."

Your question and the replies got me thinking.

When I used to live in Denver (the mile-high city, 5,200 feet altitude) and took trips to El Paso, TX (3,000 feet altitude) I noticed that I 'felt' better, more energy in El Paso.

When I got a chance to travel to coastal southern California (before I returned to Denver) I noticed that I felt better then in El Paso.

When I'd return from 'zero' altitude to ?mile high? I'd notice the difference in my energy level (read, thin air, smaller percentage of oxygen).

In Denver I once read a story about accountants from Leadsville (about 7,200 feet altitude) 'rolling' down to Denver 'to close' their clients' books, something about their being able 'to think better.'

That's when it dawned on me that maybe the 'thicker' air in coastal California increased my body/brain oxygen supply (yes I also noticed I had a 'clearer' mind).

Sorry If I got 'off the track'

God Bless all

 

[Jim]

Hey Steve

Hey Steve

Steve,

I went in for a simple physical two years ago and my doctor discovered a murmer. I was 36 yrs old at the time and was somewhat active. My reaction was a lot like yours. I always took pride that I had a healthy heart and good blood pressure.

Two weeks later, I got an appointment for an echo. Results: Mild to moderate Stenosis and moderate regurgitation. My cardiologist said that "it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. It is my job to advise you on when." He said the Stenosis and the size of the left ventrical was what we need to pay attention to. When the heart muscle increases in size, it is a sign that it is compensating too much and I would need surgery. What a wake up call! He also stated that this is FIXABLE with a lot of options and that technology is improving every year.

I have had two checkups since then and the last showed an improvement in stenosis and reduction in the left ventrical size. Everything improved except for the regurgitation which went from moderate to moderate/severe.

VERY IMPORTANT: Ask your cardialogist to prescribe some form of vascular dialator, i.e. low dose of high blood pressure medicine. This will hopefully dialate the blood vessels to improve the stenosis over time and relieve the work on the left ventrical.

I probably had this since I was a kid since I had several occurances of strept throught. I too showed no signs other than being out of shape. I still snow skiing, run and bike and have no problems while working out. My doctor simply said as long as I don't show any symptoms and the heart muscle remains the same size, I would be OK. However, everytime I see him, he reminds me that I will need an operation sometime in the next 20 years.

I found this site extremely useful and was able to get a lot of great information from the experience of others. The people hear are very encouraging and you will find that there are a lot worse things to have in life. I have found interesting items and brought it to my cardiologist's attention and he is always surprised about the useful information I pick up. Good doctors like to work with informed patients.

My wife's uncle died on Dec. 24th this year from a massive heart attack at the age of 58, probably an annureism since he had very high blood pressure. If only he got an echo, they may have caught it in time!

My advice, stay informed by reading this site so that when you do need to make a decision, you will have the best information to make the right decision for YOU.

Regards,
Jim

 

[terry40]

Billcobit

Billcobit

I'm still not there, and I had my surgery on 10/24, I do however start cardiac rehab on the 6th, I hear the rehab really makes a difference.

I've heard so many different reports, I guess everyone is different, I've just been so impatient with this recovery process, it just seems to be taking a lot longer than I thought, my family doesn't see it that way, just me.

Terry40