rose's Guestbook

Hi Rose, I am 5 weeks post-op from an AVR and thoracic ascending aorta aneurysm replacement. I am 63 and although I only had one bout of a-fib day 4 post-op, I too have a lot of heart pounding. I take a beta blocker morning and night {25mg} and that helps especially when I try to go to sleep. I quit taking ativan but I agree it is difficult. Considering your history of dissection and a-fib, might want to get a second opinion. I hear the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio is tops for A-fib among other things. It is very frustrating when the Dr. looks at you mystified and says they don\'t know. My surgeon said the pounding is different for everyone and couldn\'t give me an estimate of when it would improve. Best of luck and let me know how it goes. Pat Culley Santa Maria, Ca. Best of luck

Hi Rose, I am 8 weeks post op from mitral valve repair. Two or three weeks after surgery went into a-fib. I was put on Metoprolil and coumadin. I was taken off the Metro/beta-blockerlast week. I remain on coumadin a little longer. I am no longer in a-fib, but I have such a rapid pulse compared to before. I was always in the 60\'s. I am now in the low 80\'s and can get up to 100 when I am active. My resting pulse is in the high 60\'s or low 70\'s. I am told it is regular. I do feel PVC\'s now that I was not feeling on the medication. Will the rate slow down on its own? I am walking 1.5 miles everyday after work. I did not mind being on the medication. I had no uncomfortable side effects. Jane

Hi Rose, Hope you are feeling better. I have you in my thoughts and prayers for a full recovery. I too, had surgery at Northwestern with Dr. Malaisrie. I am 8 days post op. Janis Kielbasa

Hi Rose, I had my mitral and tricuspid valves repaired on October 20th. Around Thanksgiving, I started going in and out of a-fib, and I had a lot PVC\'s and PAC\'s. This lasted for about 2 or 3 weeks, and now it is better. The a-fib is gone, and the pac\'s and pvc\'s are fewer and farther between. They don\'t bother me nearly as much anymore. I believe mine got bad when I was taken off the amiodorone and metropolol, and it just took awhile for my heart to adjust. It still doesn\'t beat normal, but it is a whole lot better! I\'m now 10 weeks out. Deb Ziegler

Hi Rose Just to let you know I am in a-fib and on coumadin (warfarin) and life goes on. You\'ll make a few adjustments and get used to the testing and dosing changes until your INR stabilizes. Ask me any questions you want, I had a mitral valve replacement (bovine) and a tricuspid repair last year at the Cleveland Clinic. Awesome hospital. Fran

I wish you continued recovery and best wishes. I am scheduled for mitral valve surgery at Northwestern/Chicago December 28th. I look forward to your updates. Take Care, Janis Kielbasa

Rose, I will keep up with your journal and keep you in my prayers. Download CCF\'s motivational messages on your MP3 player, put your own on there and I went to sleep every night for 3/4 weeks listening to these and of course, I stayed in His word - I couldn\'t believe how calm I was when they rolled me away from my husband. When I woke up in the ICU, I had no pain - they make sure they keep you comfortable and they are constantly talking to you. The surgery in 1984, the ICU was dark, I was freezing and trying to talk to tell them this and it was like they didn\'t hear me. Totally different this time, I was comfortable and they were talking to me and they let my husband back - I mean it wasn\'t a walk in the park but I had no afib or paddles this time in recovery, I did the first time, so a plaque in my kitchen says \"You do your best, then say a prayer, and let GOD do the rest\". Emilyrae Helfen

Rose, I also just went through my 2nd open heart surgery last July 2011 at CCF- previous one was in 1984 to repair a hole (born with) that was 27 years ago. July surgery was to repair a leaking (severe) mitral valve. I still remember some things from my first surgery 27 years ago that made me anxious and did not want to go through again. Dr. Gillinov\'s secretary Cathy told me this one should be easier because of the improvements during the last 27 years. And I will tell you, the 2nd one was easier - even though have the chest split open the second time I believe it is taking longer for the nerves to adjust but it has healed nicely - only problem at 12 weeks is when I overdo in Cardiac Rehab, I can feel it in my incision. probably because bones are older and it is the second time opened - however the good news is I got rid of the stables from the first surgery and they put me back together this time with glue - no uncomfortable stables. GOD does not have a limit on miracles - trust me His grace poured all over me during this ordeal and I will pray that you will have that too. GOD bless Emilyrae Helfen

Hi Rose Hope you feel better now that you know what needs to be done and why and that you have a definite date. I had to wait 2 1/2 months because of my surgeon\'s busy schedule. I did get the relaxation/visualization cds that were made available from the Cleveland Clinic and that, along with prayer made the time go by faster. Will be thinking of you. God is good. Fran