Operation EVAR

Wish you all the best !

Try not to stress !! You’ve got this!!

Love your attitude and humor. These simple procedures (sure, if want to believe that) come with our real and imagined worries. I say what’s the alternative? Got to trust you’ll be on the golf course lickity split. I had open heart four-way bypass surgery four years ago where the surgeon also found my aneurysm and now I’m scheduled to see another surgeon to fix my clogged carotid artery. Sounds simple like router rootering a drain but it’s connected to so many other things. I’m 77, still walk upright and know my name. I just keep skipping and humming.

I had a similar sized aortic aneurysm and underwent a 'modified Yacoub' procedure the end of Feb. It was a big deal (I an 65) for me and I had a host of post-op complications including AFIB, but when my heart was beating normally, I felt decent... At 2 weeks post op, I was walking 10k steps/day, at 4 weeks it was 15k steps but expect to be very tired after any exertion. I am at 14 weeks post op and am out doing pretty much everything I did pre-op including weights, hiking and biking. Be patient, dude... you don't want to be that guy that strained his incision too soon and has to go back to get your chest repaired as that will reset your recovery back to t=0... Good luck!

That surgeon sounds a bit optimistic but that may be his experience with his patients in good physical health.
A diabetic elderly cousin in bad shape just had this surgery by a Mayo trained surgeon in a community hospital (yup!?!?). He is doing well; was home within a week; no complications. So best wishes to you! Focus on the good! Keep us posted!!

Hello,

I just went through a modified Yacoub procedure myself (10/14/24), and was told before surgery that I will have a 40-lb weight lifting restriction for the rest of my days (I'm 67 now, but have been an avid weightlifter since I was 21). May I ask what restrictions you have and/or were told about?

I had a Type A aortic dissection on June 28, 2015, at age 50. I underwent emergency open-heart surgery where they replaced my ascending aorta and part of the arch with a Dacron graft. Like you, I had been very active before the event, so the shift in physical expectations was tough to absorb.

After surgery, I was told to avoid any activity that causes strain or Valsalva-like pressure—no heavy lifting, no breath-holding while exerting, and no deep twists or isometric strain. No deadlifts, no planking, etc. The weight restriction I was given was 30 pounds max, indefinitely. But more important than the number was the how—slow, deliberate movement, exhaling during effort, and always listening to my body. I was also strongly advised to keep blood pressure under tight control, especially during activity. I am still very active. I have built several decks on my house, throw with the dogs, and go up and down lots of stairs in my house where I office all day. I do NOT snowblow or shovel (my uncle died of an aortic dissection at 67 snowblowing in LI, NY in March).

Being a lifelong weightlifter, I imagine you're recalibrating everything now. It's hard, but knowing about the risk means we get to live smarter and longer. Feel free to ask anything about recovery or how I’ve adapted. Here's how I try to pay it forward: Volunteering to check people in to the Red Cross Blood Drive every 2 months. Peace.

Good for you. My husband has donated over 250 units of blood over the course of his lifetime. He's had to stop now, but I'd say, he's done his bit. Transfusions saved my life when I was born and my husband's life 7 weeks after we were married 20 yrs. ago. Now he has dementia and aFib. The fun never ends.

That is awesome of him! I'm sorry to hear about the health issues, though.

Well, for at least 5 months post surgery, I was VERY careful with my exertion, especially with weights, so I did a lot of walking, hiking and biking instead. However, as my pain decreased, I increased the weights to about 75 pounds or so (I don't consider myself a weightlifter)... I just do a bunch of reps at low weight and call it good. I am now at a year post surgery and can do most anything I want to do physically (but again, I don't do very much weightlifting).