Training after AVR

[Templar889]

Hi all, does anyone have experience of starting training after AVR?

Thinking around timescale for running and light weight training. Any info would be much appreciated.

[080311]

Hi, you have to wait 8-10 weeks for your sternum to heal, gentle walking up to then. Once you have your post op check with your surgeon, I started cardio rehab at 8 weeks and that lasts 10 weeks or mine did then it was 3 months in the gym with other Hearties building up stamina.

Have you got your date for your AVR yet? Good luck when you do.

Pauline

[Templar889 in reply to 080311]

Hi Pauline. Can you say which valve you had fitted? Mechanical or biological?

Jon

[080311 in reply to Templar889]

Had tissue valve (pigs) went with what my surgeon thought was best for me, I was 68 at the time that was 4 years ago. He reckoned on between 7-15 years, he said new ways were being researched all the time so no warfarin and so far so good😉

[Templar889]

Not yet. Ringing up today to hopefully get a rough idea of timescales.

🤞🤞

[Nic25]

Hi Jon. Pauline is right in that you'll need to wait 8-10 weeks for the sternum to heal properly. Initially (at least in my case) they suggested lots of walking (good for the cardio and breathing, as your lungs take a pounding in the op) but I guess if you felt up to it some gentle running at that point isn't going to affect the sternum.

Bear in mind however you may be exhausted for a period of weeks - I had all sorts of plans to do worthwhile stuff in my 'time off' and just ended up making a lego model of the Titanic because my brain was such a fog! - so it is often about building things up gradually and not overdoing it.

Personally, I'd be really wary of weights. I was certainly told to steer clear (but then I had an ascending aortic aneurysm, even though it has now been repaired), and certainly not until you've really healed properly (and I'd say three months absolute minimum, but that is only a guess). Very much take the lead of your surgeon or cardiologist.

Hope that helps, and that you get some clarity on dates soon. The being in limbo is so mentally frustrating!

Cheers

Nic x

[Templar889]

Cheers Nic. Much appreciated. Just found out my surgeons Secratary is self isolating so guess not much happening for a short while!😂😂

[StevepH2012]

Hi,

I think your body's readiness for increasing levels of exercise/exertion is very individual thing. For me (AVR & root graft on 25 July), a 56 y-o chap, I'm now at a point where I feel I need to start jogging (gently) or cycling as brisk walking now raises heartbeat to between 100 & 115 (it took between 6 & 8 weeks to get to sustained (1hr+) brisk pace).

I hadn't done any weights or rowing or stuff to have a benchmark for exercising chest/abs/arms but surgeon says sternum @75% healed after 8 weeks, ~100% after around 12 (assuming you've felt no discomfort, had non infections etc.)

2 of the biggest factors are (probably) your age and general health (any other issues in addition to heart?) and the length of the incision (mine is 15cm - 'medium'). as Nic says - listen to what your surgeon tells you post-op!

Good luck with not having to wait too much longer, and complication free recovery.

Steve

[Templar889]

Cheers Steve, same age and have trained all my life. Really missing it just now. Hopefully swift recovery when I eventually go on the slab!😂😂

[Smarticus]

hi, the one thing I will stress is you must (I cant highlight that enough) listen to your body! Dont plan on doing any thing much for the first three months, just pottering about the house. Try a go on little walks building up your distance every day, aim for your light-short jog about 6-9 months after! If you are into weight lifting, again, you are looking up to a year and avoid anything that involves lifting overhead eg shoulder pressing and lying totally horizontal eg bench press! incline is ok. you will find the problem will also be intra-thorasic pressure, so you need to watch your breathing, and no, dont even consider flys lol. HTH

[road2ruin]

Hi, it's nearly a year for me post Op and I still struggle to lift anything heavier then 20kg. Although in fairness I have never done weights before anyway, lol.

Don't plan to do too much too quickly, it will take quite a while to feel like it and forcing yourself may hinder your recovery.

I went for the mechanical valve as I am only 50....

[Templar889 in reply to road2ruin]

Hi and thanks for the update. Regarding your mechanical valve, do you hear it closing and if so how distracting is it?

[road2ruin in reply to Templar889]

Yes I do, but only when I am in bed. Initially it was quite distracting and depending on how I lay in bed I could hear it more. Now though it doesn't bother me at all and unless I concentrate I don't notice it. The wayfaring too has stabilised and I am now on 6 week checks and I test at home also.

[Templar889 in reply to road2ruin]

Great news. The noise issue has been concerning me with regards to mechanical valves. To be honest I’m getting fed up of researching 😂😂

I change my mind most days.

[road2ruin in reply to Templar889]

To be expected. For me, the far biggest issue was having to go through the Op again. However, we must all make our own minds up.

Best wishes to you and if you need anything else, no problems.

[Mikedabike]

Hi, I can see that you have already had some good replies. It’s good you are able to get this information before the operation. I didn’t discover this site until after my op, and I really struggled finding in depth information about resuming exercise. If I may offer some pointers. I had all intentions of resuming my activities as quickly as possible after my AVR. I felt I was recovering well and had no pain whatsoever (one of the lucky ones I guess). I would suggest for the first 3 months or so just bide your time and above all listen to your body. Your body will have been through major stress. If you feel tired rest, do not feel bad about not doing anything. Keep moving gently. I found the worst thing for me was sitting too long while on a beta blocker. Start with gentle walks, nothing more. You will receive plenty of literature and instruction about not lifting heavy objects on those first few weeks. In spite of my good intentions, those first few weeks I just spent doing huge jigsaws and Lego models just to keep myself sane. You will be given contact details for your local cardiac rehab team, though I believe they are still operating online and by phone at the moment due to the Covid. I was lucky enough to get 3 or 4 sessions of cardiac rehab before lockdown began. I found them excellent. Prior to the rehab team, other than walking I had been scared and wary of doing any form of more active exercise. Their advice was invaluable. They take your BP at the start of a session and your heart rate. They then monitor the heart rate at certain points during the session. At the end of the session they check your BP again, and will not let you leave until your heart rate has dropped to a safe level. I am not sure which method they use, but they provide you with what they consider a safe heart rate zone for exercising that seems to take into account whatever particular medication you are on. I found it very reassuring that they were happy for me to do slightly more active walking on a treadmill and gentle cycling on a static bike. They also encouraged gentle weight bearing exercises such as gentle standing push ups against a wall. As each week progresses they will introduce you to slightly more challenging versions of exercises. I found it quite heartening to see some of the other heart patients actually dong things like gentle jogging on the treadmill, so that was reassuring.

I was lucky enough to already own a heart rate watch that historically I just used to record my cycle routes and walking routes etc. I now wear it all the time and have found it a useful aid to my exercising.

In my own case, the key for me has been gently increasing walking , progressing to long walks and more challenging walks on the hills. Even then I had the odd day where I didn’t feel quite right, so I just cut the walk short and returned home. If I recall it was probably between 4 to 6 months before I was able to consider doing slightly more challenging things.

I am now almost 11 months post AVR. I am regularly doing plenty of hillwalking and cycling and gentle rowing on a machine. I have resumed gentle kettlebell exercises with a light weight. I also do some cardiac sessions with light weights. I avoid completely anything approaching high intensity exercises. I just feel the gentle, steady approach is far safer. I have learnt to really listen to my body, and unlike when I was younger if I feel slightly tired or jaded, I am not afraid to have a day or two off from exercise.

Even now I am still trying to search the internet for more specific exercise advice. There are plenty of what I would call ‘success stories’ out there, but I have found it really difficult to find anything with suggested exercise routines or strategies for AVR patients. My aim is to eventually be able to resume more challenging bodyweight exercises such as pull ups and press ups etc. I am sure it is too early for me to try them yet. I feel I need a minimum of 12 months before I would even consider trying them. Meanwhile I content myself with just gently increasing my strength and stamina.

Good luck with your progress.

[Templar889]

Cheers Mike. Sounds like your doing well. It’s daunting to think I will not be able to train for that amount of time. Even now I use my treadmill for fast walks(can’t run anymore!) then do a light weight session. I am leaning towards a biological valve (Resilia if possible) with fewer restrictions with the hope of 10/20 years out of one ( they do say up to 30) 🤞