Let me try to make a long story semi short… One year ago I was a pretty competitive masters level powerlifter… My numbers were not spectacular but I was strong and getting strong following the Bridge (580lb Squat, 690lb DL, and a weak 315lb Bench) … Well last August I got sick and on the advice from a friend who happens to be a PA I went to the ER… Well as soon as I was given an EKG lots of people started going crazy… Turns out I was in Atrial Flutter. After a few days in the hospital and a Cardioversion procedure I was sent home and told to take it easy and started working with a Cardiologist. I spent about 6 months with the Cardiologist while continuing to lift very sub-maximal weights… In late December I started feeling flat out awful, and rather than proceeding with the planned Ablation procedure to address the Atrial Flutter , my doctor chose to do a heart catheter so he could get a better read on what was happening. Well with insurance and scheduling this was all pushed until late February, so for 2 solid months I really felt AWFUL… Well on the day of the catheter I woke up to some of the worst news I have ever heard I was being sent to Morgantown to see the heart surgeons there (Great reputation) as I needed near immediate open heart surgery. My mitral valve simply wasnt working properly and I had what appeared to be several blockages. I head to Morgantown and the choose to do another catheter procedure for more measurements, and I am told that the Mitral valve has to be replaced entirely and that they will be doing 4 bypasses… Mind you this is fairly shocking to me as I had no idea and I live a pretty healthy overall lifestyle… That is when I am told based on my history they believed I had a condition call Radiation Valve Disease (which once they opened my up was proven 100%) in large part due to the treatments I had recieved for my cancer (Hodgkins Disease) 20 years prior… Anyway I go into surgery, get a shiny new mechanical heart valve (ticking like a watch is weird) and they perform the bypass surgeries with minimal issue, 2 weeks later they went ahead and did the Ablation procedure and gave me a pacemaker as the original electrical issue was still present. After finally being discharged from the hospital , I came home to finish healing and followed all the recommendations, I did my cardiac rehab, I returned to a local crossfit gym so I could start recovering… Which has going fairly well overall, I was way ahead of my rehab schedule and doing pretty well. Well my weight restrictions have been lifted for a few weeks now and I have started working under the bar a little again. First of all I knew I would lose a lot of strength (lost 40lbs in this process) but it is still shocking and I am still fighting my way back… Anyway now that I am back under the bar, I am kinda lost as to where to go next? Should I return to the Bridge as RPE lets me adjust quite a bit? Do I see you guys out as coaches? What are legitimate expectations for my strength after all of this? Or should I step away from this type of strength training. I am coming to you guys because you live in both worlds… My cardiologist says yes strength training is good on one hand, but doesnt think heavy lifting is smart? He tells me I dont have restrictions but that is all he says. Honestly, I am confused by it all and would like to re-build my strength… At only 40 years old I dont think I should be “Done” … but I also want to be somewhat safe about my approach. … Thanks DJ
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