Paul's Journal

FLASH… Cardio exercise does not cure heart disease! You may laugh, but I only realized that yesterday!

It’s been 8+ months since my MVR. For 50 years since college, I’ve been an avid runner, swimmer and biker. I was so happy that I was not going to end up like my maternal relatives and their heart issues. Their generation smoked, drank, and didn’t exercise at all. HA, jokes on me. And I was SO looking forward to my new swim times and endurance with a new valve in the pump!


I had a “small” stroke last week which has left me with double vision. The echocardiogram showed that my EF has dropped to 35% from the 46% at 3 mo post surgery (54% pre-surgery)I’ve been tired and unmotivated to work out (but very busy fixing up our new (old) home).


My cardiologist says it’s got nothing to do with intense cardio workouts, as long as you are normally active. I’ve always had normal blood pressure, but he’s now starting me on clopidogrel and lisinoprol to lower my bp and hopefully strengthen the heart.


Had to post, it’s been a rude awakening.

Saw my new Cardiologist today (since we moved). Daneen you were right. He did order an MRI. He want's to eliminate the dreaded "Pump Head" syndrome.
That's very scary. My searching isn't turning up anything about the difference between a stroke and pump head. He asked my wife if she thinks my mental clarity and memory seem worse, and she said definitely yes :-(

What IS encouraging is that he is the 1st cardiologist to acknowledge these post surgical problems! No one at Mayo took them seriously (although to be fair, apart from the Mayo surgeon, everyone else that saw me post op was either an NP or PA, not a doctor)

He also did a quick ECG and decided that my heart wasn't as strong as it should be at 6mo. I complained of continued low energy. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and Jardiance to "strengthen" my heart. He didn't think my resting heart rate should still be 30bpm faster than pre-surgery.

PS, my complaints were: relentless vertigo, and dizziness / brain freeze when standing suddenly.

6 Month-a-versary: A year ago I felt like a spry, fit 50 yo, swimming my 2000yd IM sets on the clock, biking etc. Today, 6 months after minimally invasive mitral valve replacement at Mayo, I feel all of the 70 year OLD man that I am. I continue to be plagued with vertigo which can come on anytime, anywhere (never had it before). Along with that, I get dizzy if I stand up at normal speed.
My resting HR is now 80bpm instead of the +/-50bpm pre-surgery. I am not on any cardio meds like thinners or anything.

I, like so many others, now know that cardiology only concerns itself with the proper working of the heart, but does not concern itself with all these other issues that appear post op. I've had Vestibular therapy, but the vertigo is still a big part of my new life.

We are in transition back to the PNW, so I'm away from my pool and bike trails. But I can (and DO) still pull off 70 burpees in 15min, but with way less energy. Sorry to be a bummer, but I am kind of bummed overall. Good news is that I now have a new cardiologist appointment next week near our new home in Western Washington. He'll tell me that my heart is GREAT! lol!

In praise of spreadsheets! :

We've had our problems in the past with medicare or especially BCBS not covering random hospital charges.
This time, anticipating the HUGE price tag of surgery, I started a spreadsheet when all of the line item pre-op EOBs began arriving from BCBS.
I flagged every one that left me a balance to pay. Then I called BCBS and had conference calls with them and Mayo. Without exception they always said "Don't pay that yet, we will look into it".
Then, silence... while I awaited the BIG surgery bills.
Yesterday the 1st batch of EOBs arrived. Check out the summary! :

Self Soothing during early recovery: Y'all know what I mean. We all have our healthy and unhealthy go to's.
Unfortunately for me, my surgery took place 4 days after Thanksgiving just as the holiday feasting, sugar and alcohol was getting underway.
I had gone a year sugar free and severely reduced alcohol consumption. And I felt GREAT physically and mentally. Quitting sugar was by far the hardest thing I ever gave up (I'm a die-hard desert and icecream eater). But after 7 weeks or so without sugar last year, it yielded the greatest reward: clearer thinking, awareness and loss of visceral fat.
But it all went out the window to soothe my recovery malaise during the holidays.
All that to say, as of this morning, I'm back on the wagon. Hope it won't take another 7 weeks to clear my sugar addicted dopamine receptors. It was SO worth it.

Motivation, How Long?!
At 7 weeks, I'm back in the pool and on my bike. THAT is a part of me. But that's it. I can't get out of bed in the morning OR after mid-day nap.
We are supposed to be prepping our house to sell, and I have zero motivation to do anything but lay down with my Kindle.
I can't even start juicing the lemons from our tree. Is this normal? Maybe it's my ongoing vertigo wearing me out, which I'm now taking Meclizine for. Folks further along, I'd love to hear from your experience.

Fun! Just had another round of serious vertigo. Spent over 10min kneeling at the kitchen sink, world spinning and vomit threatening. I was just making lunch.

Still on the couch over an hour later too "car sick" to want to stand.

I'm curious about those further along in recovery.   How long did it take your heart rate to slow back down?

At 1 month and 95bpm, my resting HR is still DOUBLE my pre surgery 50bpm.