recovery expectations

[TriumphLover]

Hi all

I’m coming up to 5 weeks after valve replacement, removal of web and thinning of thickened muscle. Had x ray and ecg, 60% healed and function looking good apparently. Which is great news.

I’ve been walking each day, I’m up to a couple of miles and on short hills BPM up to 130. May have overdid it a bit yesterday and felt a bit odd after.

I’m in the cardio clinic in a couple weeks. Does anyone have any guides on what to expect re exercise after 4/5 weeks?

I realise everyone is different but it would be useful to hear other experience for better or worse!!!

[Blackcatsooty]

My recovery took about 12 weeks. 2 weeks delay for two gout outbreaks, so call it 10 weeks.

I couldn’t get rehab because of Covid. But after 12 weeks I felt wonderful and pretty active.

I built up the exercise very gradually. And I heeded advice to chat whilst I walked. And I followed the physio advice with the various indoor exercises.

The hospital nurses rang me weekly and so I could monitor myself easily.

I never got to be offered rehab, I suspect that, once covid freed them up, they were fully occupied with current cases and had little or no capacity for clearing the back log.

Sooty

[Chappychap]

A lot depends on how the operation was conducted. If it was open heart surgery then you can't lift anything heavier than a kettle for the first eight weeks, and even though daily walks and breathing exercises are critically important for our recovery during this initial two month period we shouldn't do anything that significantly drives up our heart rate.

For a TAVI procedure things may be different, but I have no experience of that so can't comment.

Good luck!

[TriumphLover in reply to Chappychap]

Hi.

Thanks for that, it was open heart but a “ mini”, so open up 2/3. I believe that

No- one mentioned the heart rate increase, what’s good and what’s bad etc! I suppose everyone’s different so it’s hard for them to give clear advice!

cheers

Colin

[Chappychap in reply to TriumphLover]

Have the hospital arranged for you to attend a Cardio Rehab course? They usually start about eight weeks after the operation and they will give you chapter and verse on what you can...and cannot...do.

Good luck!

[TriumphLover in reply to Chappychap]

ah, it’s a week on Monday. Hopefully they will guide me then. Cheers.