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Diagnosis: Aortic Regurgitation, Coronary Artery Disease

Member Since: April 14, 2025

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John Cook got a guestbook from Scott Mills

2 months ago (February 20, 2026)

Hi John, I wanted to follow up, see how your recovery was going? Also, question for you. I've found myself with a number of episodes of light headedness. My iron number are still very low, wondering if it that, or the beta blocker? Any dizziness on your end? Is everything... Read more.

John Cook

Iâ€™m still doing good on my heart recovery. I still have occasional dizziness when I stand up. It was much worse right after surgery. I think Iâ€™m finally getting used to my resting BP being around 105/60. I thought I had was developing a low blood pressure once but figured... Read more.

John Cook got a guestbook from Scott Mills

4 months ago (January 12, 2026)

Hi John. I feel from your posts that you were / are an active guy. Iâ€™m wondering what guidance you were given regarding use of weights in fitness post surgery. I was told no heavy lifting that would require holding my breath (no Arnold Swarzteneger type stuff). I prefer specifics... Read more.

John Cook

I try to be an active guy but I donâ€™t really lift anymore, at least not beyond increasing mobility with functional strength training and yoga. My doctors called it the â€œValsalva Maneuverâ€ and also told me not to do it. My recollection is that it was only for the first... Read more.

Scott Mills

Cool. I still like and plan to lift, but have been using the guidline of "if I can breath through it, you're good". If any lifting, even body weight begins to approach a grunt / breath hold, I stop. Hope the recovery continues to go well. I run my first... Read more.

John Cook

Thatâ€™s great news.

John Cook got a guestbook from Richard Munson

6 months ago (October 17, 2025)

I saw your post on thumb and index finger numbness and my first thought was carpel tunnel which i had on my right wrist, and still do. My ipad i suspect is a contributing factor I do exercises for it. So far not hugely successful. I wear a meuller wrist... Read more.

John Cook

Thanks for your concern. Carpel tunnel sucks. Iâ€™ve not had it but my cubital nerves get pinched when I do things like play billiards or do pushups. Iâ€™m pretty sure this is a surgery issue. I never had problems finger sensation until I woke up from surgery and Iâ€™ve had... Read more.

Richard Munson

Arthritis can cause that for sure. I have it everywhere being 83 but i try not to let it keep me down. Hence my 4 mile walk today with shadow. That nerve by the way is enclosed in a sheath that can become inflamed and puts pressure on it. Its... Read more.

J Alexander Lassally

YESSSSSSS! I caught this thread John... I managed my sternotomy fine at Cleveland Clinic and then had a skin cancer done in Seattle 6 months after where the Dr was careless and positioned me poorly for an hour and have had all sorts of shoulder/arm/hand/finger nerve issues since - with... Read more.

Melinda Donahue

John, I had cubital tunnel surgery and carpal tunnel surgery in both hands and elbows prior to ohs and in comparison itâ€™s a walk in the park!! I waited too long and suffered nerve damage and lose of muscle in both hands and arms near wrist. Donâ€™t wait - get... Read more.

John Cook

Melinda, I gave up billiards and pushups years ago. Nothing else seems to aggravate it. Richard, my fist doesnâ€™t hurt doing that, but I havenâ€™t been able to do much of a fist for about a year. Along with my PsA, I found out I also have ankylosing spondylitis in... Read more.

John Cook

Alexander, Iâ€™m sorry you went through all that. They told me it may or may not completely go away.