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red sox
Member Username: Red_sox
Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2010
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 07:09 pm: |
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Hello everyone, im a young guy in my middle thirties. Before i got sick i was very active in running, basketball, & soccer. Now im starting to wonder if i'll be able to work out after my heart tx and to what extent? Sure would love to hear some feed back.... |
Russ
Member Username: Rjwitte
Post Number: 49 Registered: 06-2009
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 07:21 pm: |
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Hey Red Sox, Sounds like my situation! I was 32 and ran a 10K 3 months before being told I needed a heart transplant due to viral cardiomyopathy. I'm now 11 years post transplant. I just (a few minutes ago) got back from a 40 minute hike up and down our local mountain. I swim 2-3 times a week and basically do whatever I want. Have had a few side effects from the meds and a couple of normal aging changes, but the heart beats great and it really has given me a new lease on life. I work full time, travel quite a bit, have a few volunteer activities and have two very active kids, the youngest of which is 2 and a real delight. The one thing I still have to keep in mind is that I must warm up a bit slower. No matter how hard I work out, I can't get my heart rate above about 130 and it takes me a while to get there. No jumping out of bed and going for a sprint ... it's because they cut the nerves to the heart and so it doesn't have a "throttle" to tell it to speed up/slow down with exercise. It does it anyway, due to other ways of feedback, but those are slower. Best wishes.
Russ - Heart Txp, 1-1-1999 Univ. of Michigan |
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DAP1122
Forum Leader Username: Dap1122
Post Number: 1793 Registered: 05-2008
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 07:34 pm: |
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Red Sox, Yes, you'll be able to work out, virtually as much as you want / your body can stand. How soon after transplant depends on a number of things, primarily your recovery. I was 56 at the time of my transplant and spent a month flat on my back before going home. It took a while to even walk. At the end of my first month post transplant I was walking 2 miles a day. I started Cardiac Rehab Phase II @ 1-1/2 months out. At the end of the second month I was walking 5.5 miles a day. When I completed rehab I joined a gym and have been going 3 to 4 times a week ever since. I primarily focus on cardio, but I do some lifting. Basketball ~ One down side. I used to have a pretty good outside shot and a heck of a hook shot that I could hit from 18' out, and 90%+ from the foul stripe ........ Now, once in a while after my cardio and lifting I'll hit the hardwoods (if NO ONE is there) ........ I now have NOTHING ~ 10% from the line, and at times can barely hit the backboard, let along make anything from the outside. I blame it on loss of upper body strength, but who knows. I know I'm not going to worry about it at my age. No ne will ever confuse me with LeBron, LOL
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Russ
Member Username: Rjwitte
Post Number: 50 Registered: 06-2009
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 07:44 pm: |
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Hey Red Sox, Sounds like my situation! I was 32 and ran a 10K 3 months before being told I needed a heart transplant due to viral cardiomyopathy. I'm now 11 years post transplant. I just (a few minutes ago) got back from a 40 minute hike up and down our local mountain. I swim 2-3 times a week and basically do whatever I want. Have had a few side effects from the meds and a couple of normal aging changes, but the heart beats great and it really has given me a new lease on life. I work full time, travel quite a bit, have a few volunteer activities and have two very active kids, the youngest of which is 2 and a real delight. The one thing I still have to keep in mind is that I must warm up a bit slower. No matter how hard I work out, I can't get my heart rate above about 130 and it takes me a while to get there. No jumping out of bed and going for a sprint ... it's because they cut the nerves to the heart and so it doesn't have a "throttle" to tell it to speed up/slow down with exercise. It does it anyway, due to other ways of feedback, but those are slower. Best wishes.
Russ - Heart Txp, 1-1-1999 Univ. of Michigan |
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John D
Member Username: John_d
Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2011
| Posted on Monday, September 12, 2011 - 11:53 am: |
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If you wonder about whether you can exercise after a transplant, check out Kyle Garlett. Here is his website http://www.ironmankyle.com
Heart transplant March 16, 2010 Cleveland Clinic |
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