December Mitral Valve repair

[aviation1]

Hi everyone - Discharged Xmas eve I am now 14 weeks post-0p ..... I walk at least 4 miles everyday at a reasonable pace and feel like I could start doing a little cardio with my own body weight - are there any tutorials please?

Also, I still experience nausea (but not been sick) which is not helping - this the Dr has says is due to the daily meds (statin, 80mg - b blocker, 2.5mg and blood thinner Rivaroxaban 20mg) - has anyone experienced this.

Finally - If I miss out on my sleep which I do occaisionally but I don't know why (say 4 hours instead of my normal 7)- I feel completely wiped out the next day - is this normal?

Please note - I am 66, sporty and not over weight

[Nelson71]

blimey you’ve just described me exactly except I had 3xCABG and was discharged Xmas day. Feel great, walk or do cardio rehab exercises every day but occasionally I don’t sleep as well and next day I’m wiped out after my walk. I presume it’s because the OHS is a hugely traumatic event and I’m still not 100% over it. They do say it can take up to a year to recover fully so although we feel well the body is still repairing itself. It’s a marvelous machine so on the days when I’m tired I take a nap and don’t let it worry me. I’m usually fine the next night

[aviation1 in reply to Nelson71]

So do I - I succumb to lethargy after a bad night and have a couple of "naps" the following day to recharge usually followed by a good nights sleep

When did you start any light cardio exercise/drills?

[Nelson71 in reply to aviation1]

I started at about six weeks. The nurse gave me some tiny weights that I laughed. However as we’ve had our chests cut open these would be a good start. She knew her stuff, the next day my chest and shoulders were very sore. However near the end of my sessions the nurses increase your effort you put in. I also use these exercises twice more per week so my tolerance has built up nicely. After this I’m referred onto a council gym where there’s a specially trained cardiac PT.

Attached is the sessions the rehab team have set up. It doesn’t include a gentle warm up and warm down (10 mins each) so it’s about a 50 min session including stretching .

There are also cardiac rehab exercises on the YouTube which are very useful to show you the form needed for the various exercises. I’ve found that lower weights and proper form is much more beneficial than bigger weights and sloppy form. Hope this helps

See notes

[aviation1 in reply to Nelson71]

Excellent - thanks - I will put a plan together

[Traveldreams]

8 weeks post mitral valve repair for me. Not as experienced as you but my sleep pattern (although so much better now) is still not great and I can wake worn out at 4am but too wired to go back to sleep.

Can I ask if your 4 miles is in one stretch? I’m currently doing 2 lots of 1.5 miles at the moment.

There are work outs on BHF website. They may not be suitable for you. Also, my local NHS are linking me to an online course in lieu of in person cardio rehab.

[aviation1 in reply to Traveldreams]

I usually do 2 stints starting off at a normal to gentle and increasing my pace near the end

[aviation1 in reply to aviation1]

I could probably do more now but everyone says take it easy and don’t hurry

[Traveldreams in reply to aviation1]

Thank you, that’s very helpful. I feel I could do more but my pulse post op is wildly erratic. Nice to hear how other people are progressing.

[aviation1 in reply to Traveldreams]

My best advice is that we all have our own journey to make - we are all unique, but the blips are very frustrating

[Mitchum]

Only 14 weeks is a blip. It will take six months minimum and then you'll have periods of tiredness etc. You're doing fine but don't rush it. You'll get there!

[aviation1 in reply to Mitchum]

Thanks Mitchum - by nature we want to hurry, but the opposite "patience" is best

[Warm-heart]

What beta blocker do you take, some of these meds do have side effect of nausea and there are several different beta blockers, you can always ask to try a different one? Also statins can cause nausea too. I am sorry to hear this as seems to significantly interfere with your quality of life, so I hope you find a solution.

[aviation1 in reply to Warm-heart]

Bisoporol (1.25 morning and again 1.25 in the evening) and 80 mg Lipitor (astorvastatin) - evenings (I used to be on 10mg in any case) ...... hopefully I will be off all Meds soon - but after my check up a couple of weeks ago I have gome ectopic again (post-op it had stopped) so the b-blockers I need

[Warm-heart]

Yes bisoprolol can cause nausea, but you may wish to try reducing the statin and see how you feel, there are many many things you can do to lower BP, not for me to say but it is your body. You can track yourself with a home BP machine.

[aviation1 in reply to Warm-heart]

Thanks - my BP is pretty stable (I have a machine) ..... I am seeing my GP after Easter to ask....

[Warm-heart]

Great, let us know how it goes for you