life after valve repair recovery
Having a heart valve replaced may reflect that there is a need to greatly change ones lifestyle. Instead, as the recovery progresses, the patient will probably feel much better physically with continued improvement several weeks or months after the surgery. As the patient begins to recover from the surgery, please talk to the doctor about when daily activities can be resumed.
EXERCISE and diet
You and your doctor will determine which activities are safe for you and which foods and habits to avoid. Tell your doctor if you're experiencing pain or other symptoms.
TRAVEL
After the valve repair recovery, the patient should be able to enjoy traveling. Remember, however, that certain destinations may harbor bacteria and other microbes that could be dangerous for the heart. Talk with your doctor if you're planning a trip.
If the patient has received a heart valve repair product, it's a good idea to register it. Only mechanical heart valves require registration, but Medtronic offers registration service to all heart valve device patients. After registering, the patient will get a free identification card that can tell other people they have an implanted device. This can be important information for medical personnel in case of an emergency.
DENTAL AND MEDICAL PROCEDURES
Tell your dentist or other doctors that care for you about the heart valve surgery. You may have to take antibiotics before getting dental work or even routine cleanings. This is because bacteria can be introduced into the bloodstream, which can find their way to the heart valve, causing an infection.
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY
The repaired heart valve is compatible with cell phones, electric toothbrushes, and magnets. These items are not known to cause problems with Medtronic heart valves.
Medtronic valve repair products are compatible with x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations under specific conditions.
The patient may go through airport security after the heart valve repair. The Medtronic heart valve products should not activate airport security alarms, depending on the sensitivity of the security system settings.