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[Mamanurse]

Hello, new here, trying to get back into fitness, started C25K last week and completed week 1! I was diagnosed with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve in 2019 and have been in denial for a bit ever since. Unsure about what I can and can't do with regards to strength training as been told no weightlifting so thought to start with cardio to try and start building stamina and lose weight and learn along the way what I can and cannot do... any suggestions will be well received!!

[LadyZ13]

Hey Mamanurse, I was diagnosed with a congential ASD 6 weeks ago and had the same advice on weightlifting. I used to do a lot of strength training so this has taken me out of my normal gym powerlifting class. It's not so much the lifting itself that's problematic apparently but the straining to lift that can force blood the wrong way (??).

I'm still going to bootcamp and lifting smaller weights there, doing kettle bell swings, Boxercise and Legs Bums and Tums as well as jogging 5km and cycling. I was also told to avoid HIIT training as it pushes your heart into peak and back again repeatedly and given that my right heart is massive, maybe I would be better not putting it under too much strain. But it's super important to stay fit!

I'm expecting to need Open Heart Surgery, maybe this year, and I understand that being a healthy weight will put the odds more in your favour, plus having good strength across the rest of your body and core will aid your mobility while your chest is healing.

I would think brisk walks, jogging, swimming, cycling etc would all very heartily encouraged by a clinician but if you have detailed questions I found the BHF nurses helpline enormously useful.

Hope that helps a bit! X

[BowlerA1]

Hi Mamanurse. I was diagnosed with a congenital bicuspid valve when I was sixty. I had mine replaced last year when I was sixty five. My advice to you is to carry on doing what you are doing. The fitter you are before any operation the sooner you will get over it. As my valve got more clogged up the more tired I became. This May or may not happen to you. I assume you are being monitored yearly or every two years to see how your valves health is. Unfortunately for me Covid meant my valve was not checked for three years and my valve had clogged up badly enough that it needed replacing. Your body will tell you whether you are over doing it. If you get any pain in the chest area do not work through it stop and do not hesitate to contact your doctor. It sounds like your valve is working well and you should have many years without a problem. My other advice is to watch your diet. The British Heart Foundation has some great books on heart healthy diets. The less harmful fats you eat the less deposits can attach themselves to your valve. I wish you all the best and enjoy keeping fit.

Mike

[Droege]

Hi Mamanurse,

Can only confirm the others.

Key is that you get checked on a regular basis. Since around 1% of population has a bicuspid valve it is evident that not everyone developed severe symptoms.

I did not realise I had it, and did regular cycling and jogging. However I had then an episode of fainting and they diagnosed severe stenosis. That was last summer, since then I got a new valve and I am more or less recovered and planing to start jogging again. I just got 60 last year.

I am sure the relative fitness helped me to get over operation more or less quickly.

What I also want to say is that if you bicuspid valve works ok, there is no problem to do exercise. Key is that they check it regularly to tell you in case you need to be careful.

All the best