life after valve repair recovery
Having a heart valve repaired may cause you to think you need to greatly change your lifestyle. Instead, you’ll probably feel much better physically with continued improvement several weeks or months after your surgery. As you feel better, you may want to talk to your doctor about resuming daily activities.
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 your valve repair recovery, you should be able to enjoy traveling. Remember, however, that certain destinations may harbor bacteria and other microbes that could be dangerous for your heart. Talk with your doctor if you're planning a trip.
If you've 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 you register, you'll get a free identification card that can tell other people you have an implanted device. This can be important information for medical personnel in case of an emergency. You can register online or call Medtronic LifeLine at 877-526-7890.
DENTAL AND MEDICAL PROCEDURES
Tell your dentist or other doctors that care for you about your heart valve surgery. You may have to take antibiotics before getting dental work or even routine cleanings. This is because bacteria can be introducted into your bloodstream, which can find their way to your heart valve, causing an infection.
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY
Your 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. Contact Medtronic LifeLine Cardiovascular Technical Support for more detailed information.
You may go through airport security after your heart valve repair. Your Medtronic heart valve products should not activate airport security alarms, depending on the sensitivity of the security system settings.