Originally Posted by
MoAlpha
I ride with a guy with a prosthetic valve due to a congenital defect. When I met him, the thing was leaking and he was due for a replacement, so I could out-climb him. Once he got the new one he started cleaning my clock. He's a few years younger than I, but definitely stronger.
One post-op adjustment was getting used to the ticking. Losing muscle mass in my chest didn't help with muffling the sound. I started sleeping with a pillow clutched to my chest and did for a long time, mostly out of habit.