Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Considering the recent Swine Flu outbreak, I’ve received several emails about flu shots and heart valve surgery.

I just opened a note from Jackie that reads, “Hi Adam - I recently had mitral valve replacement with a pig valve due to severe regurgitation. I’m curious to know if there is any reason I should not get a flu shot or an H1N1 vaccine? Thanks! Jackie”

As I really do not like being sick, I’ve always been a flu shot fan. However, after my heart valve replacement surgery, I found myself wondering, “Could a flu shot cause some form of complication after open heart surgery?”

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I just received a set of emails from Robin about a metallic taste in her mouth after heart valve surgery. So you know, Robin is not the only patient to send me questions about this strange, surgical after taste.

In his first email, Robin writes, “Ever since my aortic valve replacement surgery I have had a nasty metallic taste in my mouth.  It gets especially bad if I eat anything sweet. The cardiologist theorizes that it is a by product of the heart-lung machine. Anybody else experience it? Anybody have any ideas of how to get rid of it? Thanks, Robin”

Then, I received a follow-up note from Robin with a short-term remedy to this issue.

Here is what Robin writes, “Since I last wrote to you I found a website that suggested gargling with water and a 1/4 tsp of baking soda.  It worked!!!  It brought relief at least for a few hours.  Ultimately, the bad taste did go away on its own, but the baking soda gets a great assist. Robin”

Thanks Robin for sharing your remedy!

Keep on tickin!

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About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.

Given the recent post about endocarditis, swine flu and heart valves, I’ve received several emails about these topics. Laura just sent me an interesting question asking for your help about dental cleanings, gum bleeding and atrial fibrilation.

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I just received a great email from Janice about directions for the incentive spirometer after heart valve surgery in which the heart-lung machine was used.

She writes, “Hi Adam - I just read your blog about the incentive spirometer, fluid in the lungs and pneumonia. I’m 64 and going in for mitral valve repair next week. I’m curious to know how patients actually use the spirometer. Can you help me prepare? Thanks, Janice”.

In the past, I would immediately direct Janice to a blog titled, “How To Use An Incentive Spirometer?”. Today, however, I decided to see if there were any online videos that could help Janice out. It took about five minutes, but I was lucky to find a pretty good video that addresses Janice’s question. Although the production of this video is relatively amateur-ish, the quality of instruction is very good. That said, I hope you enjoy it.

FYI, if you have never heard of an incentive spirometer before, patients use this breathing tool after cardiac bypass surgery to (i) prevent pneumona, (ii) reduce fluid in the lungs and (iii) protect the alveoli.

Alveoli Shown In Respiratory Tract

I hope this helps!

Keep on tickin!

P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.

About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.