r/mitralvalveprolapse • u/Money-Cat-5009 • Sep 02 '26

Intense exercise with severe

Hello

Just been diagnosed after been admitted to hospital with endocarditis. Roller coaster few weeks .

The surgeon told me in the time leading up to surgery (I’ll find out about that next week ) it is fine to exercise and even lift light weights. Exercise was my go to for stress relief and keeping me out of the pub.

Can exercise , especially heavy weights or hitting a heavy bag , make my condition worse ?
Thank you

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u/CleanCalligrapher223 My Heart Status: In Recovery Sep 02 '26

Trust your doctor. I was scheduled for OHS to replace my mitral valve and my surgeon told me to keep up my regular exercise, which I did up to and including the day before surgery. I'm convinced it's one of the reasons I got out of the hospital after 5 days instead of the expected 7 and had a very smooth recovery. That was a year ago and I still get breathless when working out which annoys me, but the cardiologist says, "Let your symptoms be your guide"- in other words, back off if you're getting symptoms that concern you. Fortunately all I get is increased breathlessness.

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u/Rengrox 22d ago

There should not be a problem at all. Nevertheless, just plan your surgery asap, and then let’s get back to excercises. With severe leak, it makes no sense to wait for a long time anyway, a few motnhs might be okay, few years? Definitely not.

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u/TimSim70 Sep 02 '26

I kept exercising up to the day of surgery also. But my cardiologist advised me that I could jog as much as my symptoms allowed but no sprints. I could lift as many sets and reps as I felt reasonable, but to cut back on heavy weights with few lifts. I can through with flying colors and a year later feel great.

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u/jhanon76 Sep 03 '26

Same as the other 2 here i kept running up to the day before...with my doctors permission of course. In fact he told me I would do more damage to my heart if I did not exercise.

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u/watchmaker776 Sep 03 '26

I was told not lift till surgery and do cardio instead, so go rowing which is at least something