It can take a year to recover. The surgery can save your life but then you’re a candidate for long term care.
And I’m in my 50s.
I had open heart surgery to replace a bad aortic valve when 64, a runner and half-marathoner. While in there they did a triple by-pass to my surprise.
Because my heart was in such good shape, I left hospital in 3rd day, was walking 1 mile/day 7 days after surgery (many still in hospital then) - 3 miles/day 2 weeks after surgery, 5 miles/day 3 weeks after surgery, back to running about 5 months after surgery and ran a 10k 9 months after surgery. God was kind to me.
That was 9 years ago. Pig valve will be good for another 3-4 years, then I’ll need another one.....hoping they can do it through the femoral vein....or artery, whichever it is.......sure don’t want open heart again....