Running after bypass

[RickP]

I am a 45-year old marathon runner.  I ran my last marathon about 2 years ago at an 8:30 pace. After 2 years of decreased performance (I was down to running 3 miles at a 9:30 pace and feeling exhausted--my HR was 176 at this pace) a heart cath detected blockages.  I had quadruple bypass in February.  I began jogging at 7 weeks and have been building back up for 4 weeks now.  My performance seems to be returning to the pre-operation level rather than showing any improvement (I ran 5 miles yesterday at a 10 min pace and my HR was 156.  A 9 min pace puts my HR over 170).  Do you have any data on runners that have undergone bypass or know where I can find some?  My hypothesis is that I should be able to regain some of my fitness of 2 years ago.  My concern is that perhaps some of the grafts didn't take.  Thanks

[BillC]

I'd like to compare notes / trade questions periodically WRT recovery and athletic performance.  Feel free to email me:
***@****

[BillC]

You too Rick...email me if you're interested in occasional email correspondence

[Fairport Brian]

Your comments caught my attention.  I'm a 43 year old male who underwent valve surgery in January at the Cleveland Clinic to repair a bicuspic aortic valve.  I've been a highly competitive athlete for a number of years and typically engage in half marathons, biking, aerobics, weightlifting.  My surgery ended up ok but my 3 month echo shows some slight leakage again.  On the running front, I'm working hard at getting my running back to pre op levels but am "stuck" at 10 minute mile pace.  It's only been 4 months from the surgery but I'd like to keep in touch and see if there are any breakthroughs you experience.

[BillC]

Rick - I'm having a similar experience - valve repair surgery in Jan 2002, trying to get back into bicycling and triathlon.  I was expecting a pickup in horsepower w/ repair of a severe valve leak...but I still can't perform as well as I could before the surgery.  But I've been keeping a log of my exercise and performance, and do appear to be making very gradual improvement, particularly over the last month.  I've found some Internet pen pals who are valve-job-marathoners, and all tell me that it takes several months to recondition the heart.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed...hope all we need is a little more patience ;-)

[Macevedo]

I asked the same question to my cardiologist in Worcester, MA. last week: why do I feel short of breath under sudden exertion? Well, he simply said it is a normal reaction anyone else would experience, that perhaps I am more aware and sensitive of my body reactions. But my personal opinion is that when we go running, we give our body more time to warm-up and therefore adequate time to our blood vessels to open-up, expand and increase the supply of oxygen to our bodies.

[barnyard]

I am 51, I had quint bypass 1 1/2 yrs ago. My cholesterol level was good, but doctors said it was genetic.  The problem I face , and I was wondering if others do, is that I can speed walk and jog for 45 minutes on a treadmill on a steady basis, but get pretty winded if I climb two flights of stairs. I do not understand this and was wondering if any one else has experienced the same problem.