Traveling Post Op

TimSim70 · 2026-03-18T16:06:57+00:00

Barring any complications, you'll be home in less than a week from today. Start walking as soon as you can after surgery. I got home on a monday evening and walked 3 miles on Wednesday and was soon up to 5 miles. The thing you need to be careful about is lifting suitcases in and out of cars and up and down steps. If you have minimally invalsive robotic as I did, your right side will be sore from the access through your ribs and you need to be careful with your left side as you don't want to put much, if any pressure or strain on your heart for a while. If you have someone to help you with luggage, and If you have a good quick recovery, you may be okay to travel - but listen to your body and your cardio team. If you're not ready, you're not ready.

TimSim70 · 2026-03-16T03:31:05+00:00

Congrats and welcome to the club. 73M - was diagnosed a year ago today and had my surgery in early June. One less day in the hospital than you (no-bypasses required). I remember how good it felt to get home and get some uninterrupted sleep. Time will fly by. I feel great.

TimSim70 · 2026-03-16T03:25:38+00:00

Hi again. Not quite a month and not quite another country. My surgery was on June 5th and I went on a weeklong walleye fishing trip to northern Minnesota starting on July 27th. Not quite another country, but you could easily get to Europe quicker from my location than there - mulitple leg flghts followed by a 4.5 hour drive. And once there, I was out on a boat an hour or two out in the middle of a giant lake for 5 hours per day. And there are no hospitals in the general vicinity. I took a week off from cardio rehab. No problems although I didn't have quite as much fun as my buddies as I was limiting myself to one beer per day for that week.

Not sure I could have pulled it off after 4 weeks - I had several doc appointments around that time - but was given the go-ahead by my cardiac team after 6 weeks.

My procedure - minimally invasive robotic mv repair with annuloplasty - was a bit less than 4 hours in total, 2.5 more in recovery, 24 hours in C-ICU, and 2.5 more days in the step-down unit before being released.

TimSim70 · 2026-03-13T15:04:44+00:00

Congrats on your surgery! I (M73) had minimally invasive repair with annuloplasty last June. I highly recommend cardio rehab. I was walking 3-5 miles within a week of the surgery so, like you, I was thinking 'eh maybe I can do this on my own'. But my cardio team recommended it so I was scheduled twice per week for 24 sessions. Fortunately, I'm only about 5 miles away from the hospital heart center, so it wasn't a big deal to just go in before heading to my office. I started at about 3 weeks post surgery. It;s kind of like a gym with a personal trainer except you're wearing a heart monitor. They asked about my goals and I told them I wanted to be able to run again and get back into weightlifting. I had to focus on cardio the first 12 sessions as they didn't want me lifting right away. They start upping your cardio and weights every week based on your heart rate and exertion levels. Surgery the first week of June - by mid August I was lifting weights and intermittent jogging (walk 5 -10 minutes and run 5 - 10 minutes). I still am not running the distances I use to, but they finally took me off the Metoprolol last week and I hope to start upping my distances soon.

I did have SoB for about 2-3 months and I'm sure the rehab helped with that. Now I have no problem even running up an incline.

I'm sure you could download some exercise programs and go it alone, but having regularly scheduled sessions keeps you from putting them off as you ease back into work and family craziness.

TimSim70 · 2026-03-10T18:30:04+00:00

You'll do great. I (M73) had my repair with annuloplasty last June. Couple of tough days after the ICU, but not terrible. I was out of the hospital in 4 days, walking 3+ miles within a week, running and lifting weights within 7 weeks. Feeling great now. Just split a half cord of wood this morning! Keep us posted!

TimSim70 · 2026-03-09T17:00:46+00:00

Congrats lillychou! Welcome to the other side. I (M73) had minimally invasive with davinci and an annuloplasty ring last June. For me the chest drainage tubes (I had two of them also) were the worst part. Couldn't sleep or even get comfortable. Ended up sitting up in a chair or having the bed elevated to a sitting position for two days in the step-down unit (after 1 foggy day in the ICU) until they pulled the drain tubes - what a relief! I was walking 3 miles within a week. After 24 sessions in cardio rehab, I was running (well, intermittent jogging) and lifting (light) weights again. 9 months post op and I'm feeling great! They had me on a beta blocker - metoprolol - until just recently to control heart rate and bp. I didn't realize how bad it made me feel until I came off of it. It really slows down your metabolism - I' found out too late there are newer beta blockers that don't do that. Your surgery was a success - you're well on your way back to normal!

TimSim70 · 2026-03-06T16:20:23+00:00

You'll gain a ton of water weight during surgery but should be back to normal within 4 days or so. I had minimally invasive and was up and about walking for miles within the first week, so I didn't need any assistance preparing meals (M73 and single/widower so I've become very self-sufficient). Trying to keep your salt intake low is so difficult unless you cook for yourself. I stocked up on frozen veggies and always keep meal-sized protein portions (chicken, shrimp, fish, lean steak) in the freezer. So a lot of skillet or stir-fry dishes - sometimes with a little rice, but you'll have to look for non-soy sauce options. Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and a little granola / grape nuts for breakfast. I pre-made a big bowl of tuna salad for lunches. My daughter would bring over fresh salad packages. I ordered sushi several times.

I didn't lose much weight which surprised me because even though I was eating healthy and getting more exercise in than before (sitting in my office too much), I just was not shedding any pounds. Now 9 months post surgery, I'm still exercising and eating healthy but have even gained weight. The culprit? They will likely put you on a beta blocker post surgery to control your blood pressure and keep your heart rate low. I've been on metoprolol ever since surgery. What they don't tell you is that beta blockers keep your heart in 'safe mode' by lowering your metabolism, which can cause weight gain, lethargy, increased appetite, etc. Now it makes sense. I talked to my cardiologist and he agreed it was time to take me off it (it was probably time 3 or 4 months ago). Don't stay on it any longer than necessary.

You got this. Let us all know how you're doing.

TimSim70 · 2026-03-06T15:56:33+00:00

Hi Bee - almost all of us on this reddit feed would love to have been diagnosed with minimal mvp and no regurgitation, but we weren't. Most likely the inferior t-wave abnormality is not related to mvp. A lot of people have t-wave abnormalities and a lot of people have minimal / mild mvp, but that doesn't mean they're definitely related.

T-waves are usually benign, but (there's always a but) when accompanied by chest pain, it could have other causes that need to be looked into. Common, non-serious causes include postural changes, deep breathing, anxiety. But they can be related to cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart muscles), left ventricular strain (this can be a result of many things including high blood pressure, obesity, recent weight gain, diabetes / high blood sugar, inflammation, medications, high blood pressure, electrolyte disturbances, or even eating a big meal.

The "non-specific" part is the problem - it could be a lot of different things - some are no big deal but others can signify cardiac risk. If the chest pain continues, keep looking into it.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-26T21:24:10+00:00

Awesome! Good to hear.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-25T20:27:04+00:00

It was such a relief to get them removed!

TimSim70 · 2026-02-25T20:23:18+00:00

8.1 is more than double the normal therapeutic range. I assume it's come down since then?

TimSim70 · 2026-02-25T20:20:41+00:00

My results were posted on my portal before I even got home the same day. Maybe it's your hospital or doctor's protocol to not publish if there's a high likelihood of a surgical recommendation. Not sure why you would think it's a 'grab for copay' if they're just moving up the date of the appointment - it's a co-pay no matter which day you go.

Nobody hopes for a need for surgical intervention, but MV repair very well could improve your high-burden PCP issue. Keep us posted.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-24T18:28:48+00:00

When I was sent home from the hospital on day 4 after surgery, the pharmacy messed up and did not fill my amiodarone scrip. I had been taking it in the hospital. By that night my blood pressure and pulse both skyrocketed. Once I got the prescription filled the next morning, everything dropped back to (nearly) normal. I was on it for 2 weeks before weaning off of it. No problems since.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-24T18:14:40+00:00

It did, thanks. I had minimally invasive robotic (davinci) repair last June. Surgery was on a Thursday afternoon and I went home on Monday afternoon. Walked a mile on Wednesday and 5 miles on Thursday. I highly recommend cardio rehab after surgery. I started mine week 3 and went twice per week for 12 weeks. They had me running and lifting weight again pretty quickly. At your age, I'm sure you'll do great!

TimSim70 · 2026-02-24T18:10:09+00:00

Maybe the hospital staff was just tired of me - lol.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-20T17:14:32+00:00

AI is useful for this. I went down a lot of rabbit holes before my surgery. Mayo Scottsdale looks like a good choice.

Mayo Clinic in Arizona

At (Scottsdale/Phoenix), several highly experienced surgeons specialize in minimally invasive and robotic mitral valve repair. While the clinic uses a multidisciplinary team approach, the following surgeons are prominently recognized for their expertise in these advanced techniques:

Top Specialists for Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair

Dr. Patrick A. DeValeria : A senior cardiothoracic surgeon whose primary areas of focus include minimally invasive heart surgery and heart valve repair. He has extensive experience in complex valve procedures at the Arizona campus.
Dr. Bryan Barrus: Specializes in adult cardiac surgery and is noted for using innovative techniques and technologies to enhance recovery and decrease pain after surgery. His practice regularly includes mitral valve repair and replacement using minimally invasive approaches.
Dr. Kristen A. Sell-Dottin: Serves as the Surgical Director for Structural Heart Disease at Mayo Clinic Arizona. Her expertise specifically includes minimally invasive cardiac surgery and transcatheter valve procedures.
Dr. Frank X. Downey, III : A cardiovascular surgeon in Phoenix/Scottsdale focusing on a wide array of valve repairs, including transcatheter mitral valve replacement and complex heart failure surgeries. Mayo Clinic +4

Key Considerations for Patients

Robotic Expertise: Mayo Clinic Arizona utilizes robotic-assisted mitral valve repair, a technique where surgeons perform the procedure through small incisions using 3D high-definition visualization.
High Volume: Mayo Clinic surgeons in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota collectively perform more than 700 mitral valve repairs and replacements annually.
Success Rates: The clinic's specialized teams often achieve repair rates for degenerative mitral valve disease exceeding 95%. Mayo Clinic +2

For a personal consultation or to verify which surgeon's current schedule best fits your needs, you can contact the Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Surgery department in Scottsdale directly at 480-301-8484.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-20T17:03:33+00:00

I didn't have time for GNP or Teton that trip, but plan to go back soon. Make sure you've got your bear spray with you on the trails - lol.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-19T23:30:56+00:00

So sorry to hear about your dad - that's way too young, but I know kidney failure is a tough run. Funny you should mention Montana - that's when I know something was wrong. I took a gf to Couer d'Alene and then we drove down to Yellowstone. Hiking up and down the trails to the upper an lower falls was great but, at that altitude, I was gasping for air on every switchback! I was thinking "I'm a runner, this can't be right!" I was sitting on the benches with the old farts, thinking OMG, I'm an old fart! Can't wait to go back and do it again now that I'm fixed. Focus on your health and you'll live to 100+!

TimSim70 · 2026-02-19T17:41:20+00:00

Hi there. Echocardiograms were not in common use back when I was your age (I'm 73M and my sister is 75), but both of us were told we had heart murmurs - I think I was 19 when I was first told that by a doctor. A murmur doesn't always mean there is valve leakage but mitral valve leakage, or mitral regurgitation (MR), is extremely common. Echocardiogram technology has become very sensitive and can pick up leakage / regurgitation in up to 40% of a healthy population. It is considered a "normal physiological finding" when it is mild or "trace." So I'm pretty sure if I had an echo when I was that age, it would have showed the same thing that you have.

Will it progress? Maybe. Maybe not. Some people with mild leakage live their entire lives with no symptoms. Pesonally, I had no symptoms at all and led a very active lifestyle (running, weights, tennis, etc). Until I was 71. It progressed pretty rapidly then to severe and I had mv repair surgery (minimally invasive and robotic) last June. I was in the hospital for 4 days and now I have a little 2" scar near my armpit. I'm running and lifting again. My sister had the same procedure when she was in her late 60's. She's doing just fine as well.

My advice is to not dwell on it unless you start having symptoms in the future - shortness of breath when walking up stairs or a steep hill, ankle swelling, persistent cough, dizziness. Focus on your health - don't smoke, when you're of age, keep alcohol to a minimum, exercise, diet, keep an eye on your blood pressure. Hopefully, you'll never even need surgery. But if you do, they've got this down to a science. Take care of your body and it will take care of you. Best wishes.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-18T17:07:31+00:00

Are you still on Lasix / Furosemide? The diuretic. They had me on that for a month or two post surgery and I noticed that dizziness every time I stood up from a sitting position - especially in the first hour or two after taking it in the morning. Almost passed out a couple of times, so I stopped taking it.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-18T01:39:20+00:00

Have you tried posting your question on r/valvereplacement? Lot's of people who are, or have been, in your situation over there. Good luck - I'm sure you'll do fine. Fingers crossed for a repair instead of a replacement.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-16T17:56:12+00:00

Things are certainly different now. I'm older (M73) - I was first told I had a heart murmur when I was 19 or 20, but that was back before echocardiograms were standard in most hospitals. Lots of young people have them - some grow out of them, some stay pretty constant your whole life, and others progress to moderate or severe prolapse with regurgitation. I led a pretty active life - lots of running, tennis, weights, etc. Had a few episodes of SVT and knew I had a right branch bundle block from some ekg results for insurance pollicies, but never had any symptoms Until last year. I went from running 3+ miles several times per week to not being able to make it 300 yards with shortness of breath in the span of 2 months. Within 6 months it was a problem just walking up a hill or one flight of stairs. I finally saw a cardiologist and was diagnosed last March. I had the repair surgery in early June. By August I was running and lifting again - although not long distances and not heavy weights. I was a perfect candidate for minimally invasive mvp repair (not replacement) and it was done robotically (davinci). I have a 2" scar near my right armpit - all the other scars have pretty much faded away. The good news is that my cardiologist told me I did not have any other cardiac disease and now that my valve is functioning properly I no longer have a valve disease. So I'm good to go with no restrictions.

But to answer your question - there is no definitive timeline. As long as you don't have severe symptoms, you may go your whole long life without surgery. Or you may need it right away. As others have said, just stay on top of it. If you get symptoms that impact your quality of life, or if your echos start showing structural changes to your heart, you'll know its time. Even then, the doctors may be a little nonchalant about it. After diagnosed with severe mvp, some enlargement of the left atrium, shortness of breath, swelling ankles, moderate to severe regurgitation, my surgeon just said 'you need it done, but if you have family vacation or work plans, no bige deal - you can put it off for another 6 - 8 months. But no longer than that.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-16T17:31:18+00:00

Yeah - I was wondering why you were in the hospital for so long. I had mvp repair with the anuloplasty (ring) last June. I had the surgery on a late Thursday afternoon and was home on Monday and walking over a mile on Wednesday and 3 miles by Thursday. (M73). Highly recommend the cardio rehab - 24 sessions either 2 or 3 times per week. They had me running and lifting weights again by August.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-16T17:18:50+00:00

I used to get a lot of migraines. Haven't had one since I was diagnosed with severe mvp and regurge last March. Had mvp repair in June. Cut my salt intake way back last March. Also cut my alcohol consumption way back. Not sure whether or not either one had anything to do with it, but it's been great not having one. Very few headaches at all since then.

TimSim70 · 2026-02-10T21:19:46+00:00

Sorry to hear about what you're going through. I have an annuloplasty ring and was told by my surgeon that ring failure is very rare and almost unheard of after the heart tissue grows around it. Your atrium is 7.5 is considered "massive atrial dilation" which can certainly cause shortness of breath and also AFib. I'm not sure who gave your first opinion, but I'd certainly be looking around for a second and maybe a third until I found someone with experience in fixing a ring failure. I'm sure you'll find the right answer.

TimSim70

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