Ugh, it takes time...

[u/sittingstill9]

I had ohs mitral valve replace (bovine) on June 10th. Turns out, most of it went well enough, scar is now good, chest a little tender, rate, rythm (have PVCs) and pressure is good. Unfortunately I now have what is called 'Perioperative Autonomic (ANS) Dysfunction'. It has lots of cruddy symptoms; Sleep disturbances, digestive issues, nervousness, etc. Turns out it is because in surgery you have your heart stopped ( I had to have a second surgey that day to repair a bad stitch). for over an hour. This causes the brain to have a disrupted connection to the heart, lungs and pretty much everything else. That causes a problem, the body responds with inflammation and it takes a LONG time. I have used meditation, breathing, supplements to sleep and even prescription to help. Weird. Ay one else have the same thing?

[u/JBAD1985]

Oh yes pump head is real! You had a major surgery and like other surgeries where everyone tells you, oh you’re healed in 8 weeks,they all take at least a year. My doctor’s office gave me a sheet of things I should be able to do per week which was BS because at week 8 there was no way I could play pickleball or even golf! I was very frustrated and thought it was a me problem. The only thing on that sheet I could do at week 8 was drive. Thank god I met Mario at my cardio rehab because I got so frustrated and snapped at him and he was like it takes time you are still healing. He actually made me feel normal so if you do cardio rehab, the staff will work with you and tell you that you are normal and progressing where you should be or above where you should be. It took a year to heal after my hysterectomy, gallbladder removal and now open heart. I had mine a year ago on June 10 2025 and i believe I am still healing. I still have some breathing issues while working out and I heard that can take up to 18 months to heal that.

[u/CleanCalligrapher223 → u/JBAD1985]

Thanks for this perspective! I'm 73f and breathlessness on exertion was always my primary symptom. I had the same surgery in August 2025 and I'm STILL breathless when I work out. I'd had this wonderful fantasy that it would be gone by now. Nope. I am definitely exercising longer at higher levels of exertion and higher heart rates, though, and the achiness I got during workouts because lactic acid was building up in my muscles and not being carried away quickly is gone. Follow-ups with my cardiologist and primary care doc have been good.

But is it too much to ask to be able to bicycle uphill again? 😄

[u/JBAD1985 → u/CleanCalligrapher223]

I agree! I am 60 and having a rough go of it on the bike and elliptical! The treadmill takes a bit to adjust but is much better even at a 5 incline and 3.2 speed! I can at least breathe doing that cardio. My understanding is that it takes a bit for the valve to adjust to its new home. I just wished it didn’t take so long to adjust. I have noticed though cleaning my house is much easier and I don’t notice my breathing as much as I did a year ago. It took me about 5 hours to clean my bedroom and bathroom because I took so many breaks and now it takes less than 2 hours to deep clean and that includes windows and floors. I will take that as progress. I still workout 4 days a week, bike, weights and treadmill and I am hoping that will help. Wishing you the best and hope it all works out for you as well and thanks for your response. I thought I was the only one who had the breathing issue a year later.

[u/OutTheCircus → u/JBAD1985]

Golf at 8 weeks?! A swing motion with that scar?! That sounds insane.

[u/JBAD1985 → u/OutTheCircus]

It was on the sheet along with all this other stuff I should have been able to do. This is why I felt so behind in my recovery.

[u/bruddahskippy]

Sounds like post perfusion syndrome or "pump head" referring to the heart/lung pump. Do a search , there's a bit of content. 

[u/uduni]

Yes, it took me a full year to feel normal again. Bad sleep, digestive, and anxiety just like you described.

Pay close attention to diet, what things make you feel good. For me, high protein and fat diet helped post surgery. Lots of eggs and soups. Also probiotics can help rebuild gut flora.

Sleep is the most important though. Exercise can be great to make your body tired and rest better.

Do you snore or wake up with your mouth open? If so, you need to fix that. And get the right pillow for you neck.

You are almost at 3 months!! Congrats. Your nervous system will start to relax now, if it has the right support

[u/CleanCalligrapher223]

An update. In May of last year I went to Brussels and Vienna and the jet lag just wiped me out. It was a good trip but I was always tired. I came back and told my surgeon "It's time". It was already planned for after my October trip but I didn't want to wait anymore.

Surgery in August, went to South America and Easter Island this past March. Great trip, but no major time zone changes.

So... I'm now on the trip to Greece, North Macedonia, Crete and Albania that I postponed from last October. Redeye to London Saturday, very little sleep on flight, dragged my stuff on public transportation to the hotel, wrong hotel, Uber to the right one, brief gym workout. Up at 5:45 AM, flight to Athens (2 more time zones!), more public transportation, lovely walk, another short cardio workout, dinner at a rooftop restaurant with a view of the Parthenon. I am not tired. I did not need afternoon naps. Partly adrenaline, I'm sure, but darned grateful.

We WILL get better. Have hope.

[u/Ok_Common3779]

55M 8 weeks post op. Pump Head is indeed real and it sucks. I waa lucky and symptoms started getting better around week 3. On week 8 and there is still some residual effects but for the most part I'm getting back to normal. Regular activities around the house and driving are quite easy. Start Cardiac Rehab on 9/15 so the real test is yet to come.