John,
Been on metoprolol since I found my dilated root 18 months ago. Hate it; crushed my libido, constantly aware of my own heart beat, constantly feel like ...Read more
John,
Been on metoprolol since I found my dilated root 18 months ago. Hate it; crushed my libido, constantly aware of my own heart beat, constantly feel like heavy sighs, I finally am on a dose that I can tolerate better. Metoprolol is better than other beta blockers I have tried though. Glad your surgery went well. Still waiting on word from Cleveland about when I may need to have surgery. Stay strong...
Jim in the \'Nati
I got so dizzy and lightheaded and nearly fainting a couple three weeks after my surgery that one weekend I sat down at the computer and researched all the ...Read more
I got so dizzy and lightheaded and nearly fainting a couple three weeks after my surgery that one weekend I sat down at the computer and researched all the meds they had put me on. I decided that metropolol was the villain and stopped it. My cardiologist and surgeon almost had heart attacks themselves, but the dizziness and lightheadedness stopped immediately. I wouldn\'t recommend anyone else do what I did. They say you have to taper off, but I felt that if I did not stop it I\'d pass out and that would be worse. It all worked out. Want to see a doctor turn white and almost pass out himself? Tell him you stopped a heart medication without asking.
By the way, I\'m still on digoxin and don\'t mind it a bit.
Terry C.
Good luck with yours.
My experience with metoprolol, a beta blocker:
I was prescrived it following my valve job on Mar 11th. It is supposed to help keep my heart rate down, which ...Read more
My experience with metoprolol, a beta blocker:
I was prescrived it following my valve job on Mar 11th. It is supposed to help keep my heart rate down, which resting has been generally in the high 90s since surgery. I\'m on 12.5 mg twice a day now, although I started at 25 mg twice a day. It seems to be doing its job. Yesterday, at the cardiologist follow-up, the tweaking of hypertension management started again adding back nifedipin, a calcium channel blocker, at 30 mg time release, and it seems to be working. I suppose five or six years ago a cardiologist had me on the beta blocker, the cardiologist I \"traded in\" for the current one that understands athletics. This young guy pointe out to me the beta blocker is not appropriate for someone participating in athletics and can cause damage. Otherwise, I suppose it is OK, or like in my case currently to manage keeping the HR down some while my heart recovers from the insults it has recently had. That\'s my limited experience with the beta blocker. Best to you as you continue to recover....Barry on the mtn in NM
Hi John,
You\'re HOME already???? Wow! I\'m impressed. Congratulations on coming through this so well and I wish you a quick recovery. Be patient. You can ...Read more
Hi John,
You\'re HOME already???? Wow! I\'m impressed. Congratulations on coming through this so well and I wish you a quick recovery. Be patient. You can tell ME that after my surgery. lol
Ruth
Hi John - Randa from Connecticut again. I meant to ask earlier - did they find the scar tissue from the Hodgkins hindered anything at all? That is the big ...Read more
Hi John - Randa from Connecticut again. I meant to ask earlier - did they find the scar tissue from the Hodgkins hindered anything at all? That is the big unknown with my surgery and the main reason I picked Boston as they work with Dana Farber, which is where i went for my Hodgkins treatment 20 years ago. Were there any implications from the Hodgkins that presented this time? Thanks!
Randa G
John Thomas Randa:
Sorry to hear that we seem to have shared a similar experience 20 yrs ago.
John Thomas Randa:
Sorry to hear that we seem to have shared a similar experience 20 yrs ago.
For me, all of my docs concur that my treatment for a significant Hodgkin's tumor in my chest in 1988-89 is the reason for my heart failure today. But to be fair it was all they had to offer at the time, and frankly I was glad to get it as I remember how awful I felt. It made this heart stuff pale in comparison.
Going into the surgery the biggest concern was not whether the surgery would be a success but how difficult it would be to get into a position to facilitate all the work that needed to be done once they opened my chest. The primary concern seemed to be regarding my pericardial sac having dried up and become something like a glued latex to the heart itself. It would have to be peeled back first.
As one of two significant blessings during the surgery, once they got in... they determined my pericardial sac was not in fact dry but somewhat functional. thus not creating the extra work they had previously envisioned.
One last thing that I'm sure your doctors will do with a heart catheter prior to surgery is scout the arteries on your heart. My heart catheter determined that I also needed a bypass for a narrowed artery (also caused by the radiation). This sounds like an additional large procedure, but from the doctor's point of view it only made sense to address that issue when they addressed the others.
Great Pics - Thanks for posting. Did you end up going with a tissue or mechanical valve?
Glad you are home!
Randa Gaalswijk
John Thomas Randa: For me, I went in fully expecting two mechanical valves as 1) my age pushed me towards the lo ... Read more
John Thomas Randa: For me, I went in fully expecting two mechanical valves as 1) my age pushed me towards the longest lasting valve possible for my aortic stenosis and 2) my pre-op heart cath indicated that the measurement of my mitral valve distance almost insisted upon a mechanical valve.
However, in the end and I guess that is all it ever comes down to, the doc was well into the surgery and determined that my mitral valve was repairable. Sooo... I came out with an aortic mechanical valve and a mitral valve repair.
It was a great piece of news once I was out, as my research always turned up comments that a replacement and a repair were much more preferable vs. two valve replacements.
Question - Pictures
John, I know they put elastic stockings on pts. after heart surgery, but why are your legs wrapped the way they are? Your right leg seems ...Read more
Question - Pictures
John, I know they put elastic stockings on pts. after heart surgery, but why are your legs wrapped the way they are? Your right leg seems to be wrapped with an ace bandage????
Thanks,
Ruth Howell
John Thomas Hi Ruth: This is a situation that is related to how my heart came to be problematic in the first pla ... Read more
John Thomas Hi Ruth: This is a situation that is related to how my heart came to be problematic in the first place.
When I was in HS, had to have radiation treatment on a Hodgkins tumor in my chest. The radiation greatly reduced the tumor but significantly affected my heart as well. The result was 1) the damage to my aortic valve and 2) damage to some of the arteries on the heart as well. One artery was significantly narrowed and less elastic from the radiation. That combined with age and the choices of young adult hood (i.e. tex-mex every other day of my life) and I needed a bypass.
Thus the leg that is wrapped is where they harvested the vein used in my bypass. To be honest, for me, the leg has hurt worse than anything associated with the heart surgery. I may throw up a pic of that little piece of art work, so people can know what to expect there as well.
Congratulations John!!!! Glad you\'re feeling well enough to post. I\'m going to look at your photos as I too have been curious. I hope to hear some details ...Read more
Congratulations John!!!! Glad you\'re feeling well enough to post. I\'m going to look at your photos as I too have been curious. I hope to hear some details about your experience when you\'re feeling up to it. Best wishes to you.
Ruth Howell
I am from: Phoenix, Arizona
