hi. In 24 hours, it’ll be 10 weeks since my AVR and root enlargement, and although I fully expected the tiredness, constant napping and exhaustion in the first few weeks, I would’ve thought that by now my energy levels would’ve increased and I wouldn’t be feeling quite as tired.
Some days are better than others, and I can walk2-3 miles (very steadily), but the very next day I’m yawning by 11 am, and I’ll have zero energy by 3–4 p.m.
I wonder if I’m expecting too much at this stage? All the reading I did up to my operation let me to expect a surge of energy once the valve been replaced: “you’ll feel like a new man” was the common theme. I’ve not yet started cardiac rehab, but I fully expect a call in the next couple of days having had my follow-up surgeon department last week. Everything’s looking good from his perspective, all the numbers are in the right areas., so do I need to be a little more patient,& more importantly, is there anything I can do to help my body out? .
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JDDrummist
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Unlike other muscles, your heart doesn't really get the chance to take the day off to heal. My cardiologist said it would take 6 months to a year for my heart to completely heal and remodel. (I had AVR, mitral valve repair, myotomy and myectomy, and LAA resection.)
I’m about ten weeks post AVR too and am really keen to get moving, but have fell foul of overdoing it and it sounds that this maybe the case for you too.
I had my first rehab appointment last week and was told I’m doing what they call boom and bust, I have days where I feel amazing and like I’m on the road to recovery and try to do all the things, then end up paying for it for a few days.
I’ve tried to really rein in my walking to a consistent manageable amount that I can do every day, though this is difficult with having to go for appointments and so on, along with trying to be present for my kids. I still tend to need a nap in the afternoon and am trying to get my mind into a position where this is normal for now, but I’ll be back to pre-illness levels of activity eventually.
I'm 12 years down the line post mitral valve repair and it was a good year before I started to feel less tired all the time and having regular afternoon naps of 3 or 4 hours.My improvement seemed down to many things,a review of my medication in particular 1) moving from beta blockers to Ivabradine that slows my heart rate but not making me exhausted.2)cardiac rehab and cardiac gym.3)being diagnosed with sleep apnea and then using a cpap machine.4) the passage of time and good follow up. 5) not comparing myself to others who seemed at times to feel great very quickly and accepting it was a major operation and everyone recovers differently.
You may find once to start cardiac rehab you will see the wide range of stages of recovery and feel more normal and less worried.
it is very much still early days for you. I recall having many days where I never felt I coudl get out of bed much, and if I did, I wanted to go back not long after. I would guess it was at least 6-8 months before I certainly started to feel like I could do a lot. I started cycling with a friend little-by-little, and built up to 42 miles over about 6 month. By then I was more than a year post op.
It is now 6 years for me and there are still days I do too much. I am 55, though, so maybe that plays a part too
6 months post op, I don't have a sleep now during the day but I do have a quiet hour or two in the afternoon. If I overdo it I need a quiet day. Yesterday was my last day of official employment, I haven't worked since my op, but my employer has let me " leave the business due to ill health" because I would not be capable of doing what I did and there are no light or adjusted duties available. So at 10 weeks I would say you're doing fine, just don't overdo it or else you'll go backwards.
Hi, this sounds reasonable from what I remember, certainly at 12 weeks I still struggled following a day of too much activity. Try not to push too hard but I do remember it was great when I started to feel like I had more normal energy levels, or thought I did!It does improve but the level of improvement does slow down. I guess it must have been getting on for about 10 months to feel completely normal energy and exercise wise.
As someone else mentioned we are all different and recover accordingly. My best advice is to listen to your body.
It is still very early days for you. You haven’t said what medication you are on, if any.
I’m 21 months on now from ACR and a single CABG. I’m on a beta blocker and it took me about a year to stop napping in the afternoon every day. Even now I still can get very tired occasionally but I would say that I feel fitter than I have for years.
I guess I was lucky, I started rehab at about 6 weeks, I was signed off by my surgeon at 7 weeks and started doing a regular 5k run every Saturday at exactly 3 months.
10 weeks is still early days, I had a tissue Aortic valve and bypass surgery 9 years ago. From what you said you’re doing great. Building your stamina back up takes time. Every thing about open heart surgery takes a toll on our bodies and our brain. I was told listen to what your body is saying, if it says I am tired you rest. You will get stronger month by month. When you are doing cardio rehab you will meet up with others who have been through the same thing and hear their stories, you will hear so many “ me too “ . Keep doing what you’re doing, and welcome to the heart mended club.
I had a tissue valve and aortic root enlargement: the original plan was to do 2 or 3 bypass grafts too, but the surgeon decided my arteries were only moderately affected so elected not to ( he said they can easily be sorted with stents as and when).
I was pleased about that, as I didn’t have a leg scar to deal with.🙏
Thank you. I have 3 days to decide. I constantly shift from choosing tissue to mechanical. I will keep reading. At 73 you have an obvious choice. I'm 63.
Hi JDD, I hope you are feeling slightly better by now . AVR is a majore procedure and if I am not mistaken , it is a open heart surgery. Firstly I would like to know it if it was metallic valve or an organic valve. Like any other OHS it takes time and 10 weeks may not be enough. When you saw the surgeon, he said all the numbers are okay and does that include full blood count. I am saying that because after OHS ,patient tend to develop anaemia . Please check it.
Yes it was open heart surgery with a full median sternotomy, 10 weeks ago today.
I had a bovine tissue valve due to my age, which the surgeon reckons will give me another 16-18 years. That would take me to 90+ which would be delighted with, as I would get to watch my grandchildren grow up🙏
My partner had AVR and root replacement surgery in Dec and he still gets very tired. He has started rehab and the nurses told him its perfectly normal to be tired at this stage and it will continue for a few months more. It is a massive op and 10.5 hours on the table (his 3rd AVR) naturally takes its toll on the body. I hope you find the rehab beneficial, it really does help mentally and physically.
I’m not on the rehab program yet but I’m going to chase the community cardiac team today or tomorrow, as you’re not the only one to extol the power of the program
It sounds like you’re doing really well rather than lagging behind in progress. Certainly doing a lot better than I was at your stage. I completely agree with being misled by expectations for recovery. I know everyone is different but it’s a long haul. I felt constantly impatient and frustrated from around 6 weeks as thought I’d be feeling better than my old self by then. Cardiac rehab helped me a lot. (And time.) Hope you’re able to get a referral for a group. Best wishes. You will get there.
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10 weeks in, not feeling great
My AVR TALE
OPERATION DATE GIVEN FOR MY AVR !!
Stent 3 weeks since it has been done still pain in my chest
