Aortic Valve Replacement - 34 y/o Male. Rehab for sport

[Anfeardearg]

Hey everyone,

New member here.

In January 2020 I presented with palpitations (and in hindsight shortness of breath and tiredness) and found out that I had a bicuspid valve and that I already had very severe stenosis and moderate regurgitation of the aortic valve.

9 days ago (21st Feb 2020) I had a valve replacement. I decided to go fo for the inspiris resilia valve for two main reasons:

1) I want to continue to be very active with football, cycling and hiking and so didn't want blood thinners just yet. I understand blood thinners are much more easily managed these days though so I didn't rule out mechanical until nearer the time

2) The possibility for valve-in-valve replacement. We don't know how long inspiris resilia will last - please god it's as good as they're hoping and by then advances will have been made to make the choices easier next time...

My post is mainly to say hello and share my experience. I've started my walks and 3 days after getting home am walking 1.5 miles a day (split over three walks) and it feels comfortable so far. My sternum is obviously sore still and sleeping can be difficult but it's not beyond what I expected before surgery.

I wanted to know if there was anyone else out there who returned to football, cycling or hiking. That's really the main thing for me - getting to kick a ball with friends again!

Thanks in advance - and happy to answer any questions from anyone who is contemplating surgery.

Stephen

[Anfeardearg]

Thanks very much Joe - and absolutely I can reassure you it'll be based on advice of the professionals!

And yeh, I'm hoping to take up the cardiac rehab offered locally.

Thanks

[IanGordon]

Some 30 years your senior, I'm now nearly 2 years post -AVR and hiking , cycling, windsurfing, snowboarding and playing tennis three or four times a week - that's just the tennis!

Nothing short of complete revitalization for me which became apparent probably from about 10 weeks after surgery.

At the time of my surgery, the availability of the Inspiris Resilia valve was limited , so I opted for a bioprosthetic valve from the same US manufacturer.

Regular warfarin and other constraints influenced this decision plus my cardiologist was in agreement with me.

So 10, 15 years life in my valve maybe with reports of some lasting 20 years.

My rehab took place in the spring so pleasant but incrementally stretching walks, using a heart rate monitor (recommended).

Some bad days, where my body told me 'too much, too soon' so an occasional recovery day worked well for me. Just make it a regular discipline and by all means use the support and structure offered by cardio rehab.

For me, I was well on my way by the time I had my first meeting with a cardio nurse progressing some way beyond the chair-based exercises advocted in a BHF DVD.

As a relatively young man, Anfeardg, I doubt you'll have any difficulty with rehab and reaching a level of fitness that you can maintain, gifting you an active lifestyle.

Good luck, but don't rush it. Think'marathon' not'sprint'