Dan Edle - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Dan Edleposted an update

2419 days ago

I had OHS about 18months ago to repair my mitral valve. I seem to lose my breath when going up inclines, and when bending to the ground and rising from doing ...Read more

I had OHS about 18months ago to repair my mitral valve. I seem to lose my breath when going up inclines, and when bending to the ground and rising from doing work in my garden sometimes I have to collect myself as I feel that I may pass out. Hell/// I had no symptoms before my surgery, and actually jogged the day before it. I finally called my Cardiologist, and have an appointment with him next week. Comments are welcome... Thanks!!!

Gerald Poulton Hi Dan, did you regain your lung capacity ? How is your blood pressure ?

Phyllis Petersen Good thing to get your cardiologist involved. Hopefully, he can find what's going on and it can be ta ... Read more

Phyllis Petersen Good thing to get your cardiologist involved. Hopefully, he can find what's going on and it can be taken care of quickly and easily.

Lisa Ferguson I hear ya! Why now do you have these symptoms and are they anything to worry about? I too had no sy ... Read more

Lisa Ferguson I hear ya! Why now do you have these symptoms and are they anything to worry about? I too had no symptoms before and have more now-after surgery. I've had to realize heart surgery, no matter how successful, has messed about with an important body part that still remembers 18 months ago. It certainly could be medication related and might be worth experimenting with something new. Maybe it's blood pressure related especially because of the activities you describe.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Rita Savelis I hear you Dan. Two years out since my aortic and mitral replacements and I have the exact same sympt ... Read more

Rita Savelis I hear you Dan. Two years out since my aortic and mitral replacements and I have the exact same symptoms on inclines and stairs, and bending down. My cardiologist says my heart is fine. My blood pressure has always been low so that can explain the bending down, but I think that for some, we never get our full lung capacity back (I've also had radiation on my lungs years ago, and had water in my lung linings drained after OHS). I am with Lisa on the feeling that OHS fixes some things and messes with others, so it's a give and take situation. I waited for perfection, but have decided it will not happen so this is my normal now. Wishing you the best.

Dan Edle I've been off this site >>>> For a Very Long time! It was two years this past March since I had my m ... Read more

Dan Edle I've been off this site >>>> For a Very Long time! It was two years this past March since I had my mitral valve repaired by OHS by Dr. Raymond Singer at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA.

I'm doing fairly well with it now... My cardiologist lowered my blood pressure meds about 9 month ago & it has seemed to help. I have A Fib... not sure if I had it before my surgery or because of my surgery. It happens that my heart beats 145+ / per minute for no reason about once or twice a month. It settles down after calming myself for a few minutes. Right now my Cardiologist is treating it by having my take a 81mg aspirin daily. After my surgery in March 2016 I was on Warfarin (blood thinner) for about 6 weeks... I Hopr All is well with all of You!

Dan Edleposted an update

2857 days ago

Has anyone here had "dental issues" after Mitral Valve surgery? I had to reschedule my first scheduled surgery due to a tooth going bad after a 2nd root canal ...Read more

Has anyone here had "dental issues" after Mitral Valve surgery? I had to reschedule my first scheduled surgery due to a tooth going bad after a 2nd root canal a week before my original surgery was to be done. My surgeon called me at home on a Sunday morning, the day before my scheduled surgery. He agreed that I should reschedule,, and he told me a story about a patient of his who after ignored a tooth that was bothering her before her surgery with another doctor. A year later the infected tooth had attacked her mitral valve, and she came to him and had to have the surgery all over again! anyway...I had that tooth pulled, and scheduled my surgery 3 months later on 3/04/16. Two weeks prior to this surgery I again went back to the dentist for a checkup & X rays... he said my teeth were fine.. but I went back 2 days after this exam because I thought I tooth was bothering me... he again said it was fine. It's been just over 3 months since my mitral valve repair surgery. When I met with my surgeon for the last time 5 weeks after my surgery he told me not to go to the dentist for 6 months. But in the last 2 weeks I have a tooth that has been irritating my on & off, and I'm not sure whether I should have my dentist look at it 3 months after my surgery. I just sent an email to my cardiologist, but I'm wondering if any of you have had similar issues? Thanks for your response.

Denise Campbell I know we are all scared of dental visits after valve surgery. Mine is mechanical valve. Should I ... Read more

Denise Campbell I know we are all scared of dental visits after valve surgery. Mine is mechanical valve. Should I be extra scared? Maybe the dentist can look without being invasive. Definitely wait to hear from the cardiologist. Good luck and let us know the end result. I'll say a prayer for you.

Petey Bello I have a root canal tooth that is cracked horizontally that I found out about just before surgery. M ... Read more

Petey Bello I have a root canal tooth that is cracked horizontally that I found out about just before surgery. My dentist told me that the tooth was fine but to be careful chewing on that side for now. He said I can't see him for 6 months after surgery. My mitral valve repair was April 20th...I am curious to know what your cardiologist tells you...good luck - hope it's nothing. Sinus or allergy problems can also make your mouth/teeth hurt ...

Robert Osmachenko Yes, I have had similar issues.

Franklin Wyrick I had a root canal ten days before my surgery. X-rays show that my teeth are fine now and I too must ... Read more

Franklin Wyrick I had a root canal ten days before my surgery. X-rays show that my teeth are fine now and I too must wait for 6 months before seeing the dentist again. I don't see how X-rays can hurt, but, of course see what the cardiologist says.

Dan Edleposted an update

2880 days ago

Emily Rowley reacted to this

It's been just about 3 months since I had Mitral valve surgery... My surgeon was able to repair the valve. My question is about getting your physical stamina ...Read more

It's been just about 3 months since I had Mitral valve surgery... My surgeon was able to repair the valve. My question is about getting your physical stamina back. Up until he day I had my surgery I exercised every day including jogging 2 miles a day. Presently I am still doing cardiac rehab twice a week, even though my cardiologist didn't think I needed it. I have No problems walking briskly, but when I start jogging I get winded after about 5 minutes. I have been cutting my lawn with a push mower for about the last two weeks. Today it got to about 85 degrees while I cut my grass, and found that I had to take about 4 breaks as I got winded. This Never happened before... How long on Average after Mitral valve repair surgery by the open heart method does it take before you get back "in shape". In other words so you don't get winded jogging 2 miles?

Cathleen Weed Hi :) Are you on any new meds since surgery? A beta blocker or anything? That could be affecting you. ... Read more

Cathleen Weed Hi :) Are you on any new meds since surgery? A beta blocker or anything? That could be affecting you. In general though it will take a couple more months. They stop your heart during surgery so it's like starting over with cardiac conditioning.

Cathleen Weed Oh I just read your story...Toprol is a beta blocker and will definitely do that. Maybe you can get t ... Read more

Cathleen Weed Oh I just read your story...Toprol is a beta blocker and will definitely do that. Maybe you can get that dose reduced. Do you monitor your BP at home?

Gary Stripling I was in pretty bad shape prior to my MV repair last August. Definitely not jogging 2 miles a day lik ... Read more

Gary Stripling I was in pretty bad shape prior to my MV repair last August. Definitely not jogging 2 miles a day like you. But I've found the cardiac rehab is very beneficial as it helps restore you physically and mentally. I went 3X weekly for 36 sessions. I'm 9 months post-OHS and I still get a little winded traversing through airports. But nothing like before surgery.

Emily Rowley I too had Mitral Valve Repair through OHS (4 months ago) & attended cardiac rehab twice a week. I sti ... Read more

Emily Rowley I too had Mitral Valve Repair through OHS (4 months ago) & attended cardiac rehab twice a week. I still don't have my stamina back to my active self pre-op. It takes time, we all recover at different paces. Do you feel light headed when going to jog? Rest when you need it, trying not to over do it. I know I couldn't push a mower with my Sternum, you are going really well. ☺

Wanda Mroz Beta blockers affect your feeling tired but it takes time to recover. I had mitral valve repair thro ... Read more

Wanda Mroz Beta blockers affect your feeling tired but it takes time to recover. I had mitral valve repair through OHS, almost 10 mos post op now and I still get a tad tired at the end of a day. Sometimes I'm winded when walking stairs. But it gets better. It's a huge trauma to the body. Give yourself time. It sounds like you are doing well. Also check with your dr on the meds too.

Wanda Mroz I still do cardiac rehab 3x a week. It's their prevent program after the 36 sessions paid by ins. N ... Read more

Wanda Mroz I still do cardiac rehab 3x a week. It's their prevent program after the 36 sessions paid by ins. Nominal fee it's like going to the gym... Love it.

Rita Savelis Three months is still very early and yes, meds can contribute to tiredness. Your strength and stamina ... Read more

Rita Savelis Three months is still very early and yes, meds can contribute to tiredness. Your strength and stamina will come back, but at its own pace. Your heart has been through a trauma and needs its own time.

Emily Rowley I agree with you Wanda rehab is like going to the gym, but free (here) 👍🏻 and enjoyable ☺

Dan Edleposted an update

2892 days ago

Joanne Casserly, Denise Campbell, Chris Vereb and 5 others reacted to this

Good Luck to everyone who is having Surgery in the near future... I am 10 weeks Post Op and doing well... the first few weeks were Challenging, but it Does ...Read more

Good Luck to everyone who is having Surgery in the near future... I am 10 weeks Post Op and doing well... the first few weeks were Challenging, but it Does Get Better with time...

Tim Alonso Great...mine was 15 days ago...can't wait to get back on my John Deere....

Barry Kanick Tim,,,,,just out of curiosity, Do you wear loose clothing(shirts) to easily put on around your 2nd we ... Read more

Barry Kanick Tim,,,,,just out of curiosity, Do you wear loose clothing(shirts) to easily put on around your 2nd week post op??? Are their certain routine things you still find challenging to do???