Bill's Posts

Hi Bill, well... my thinking is that 6.5 months is a short time in the healing process. I might expect that there would be feelings of things going on. So saying, what are doctors for but to listen to our health concerns and reassure us? I vote to make an appointment with the cardiologist, and at the very worst (which would be the very best) he will tell you that all sounds good and you will feel better just because of your visit instead of worrying. Sending best wishes.

Thanks Marjorie and Bonnie. I had a few more palpitations (at least that's what I think they are) while watching tv tonight. I dont feel dizzy or anything and my heart rate doesn't really increase, but it's still an unsettling / scary feeling. I'll call the cardiologist tomorrow. Hopefully the mitral valve repair is holding up strong....

Hi Bill I have had palpitations for the past three years or more almost every day and they would go on for 10 - 20mins at times feeling like my heart is rocking in my chest. Until recently I read online about taking magnesium powder so I tried it and now I only have small flutters every now and then. I am pre surgery though and best to check with doctor if okay for you to take. But my cardiologist said was fine and it works great. Worth a thought 😊

Yeah. I think occasional palpitations are common post OHS. I went to the doctor the first time and did a 24 hr holter monitoring, which showed no problem. Now I just let them happen. It really is rarely a sign of a problem with your valve, but just a common aftereffect from trauma to the heart from surgery. Some develop atrial fibrillation which feels much worse than occasional palpitations and needs to be checked out by a doctor.

Hi Bill, I started having palpitations about 8 months into my AVR surgery.. I had a 24 hour monitor and I had over 20,000 in a day, so they put me back on the metropolol ( 25mg) and they have calmed down.. I went to an electrophysiologist and basically I was told that these things happen, could be stress, could be anything.. but they like to seem less than 10,000 a day.. its nothing to do with the valve surgery, they just show up.. they come and go, ebb and wane. They want them less than 10,000 a day as it MAY cause some issues in years to come if you have too many.. but , if you feel them a lot you should talk to your doctor.

Hi Bill, glad to hear you are doing well, sorry about the palpitations. I agree that they are probably very normal, I'd call my cardiologist & run it by him/her. I was bothered by those for the first 8-10 months after surgery, now they are gone. Yes, it could be from stress, caffeine, food additives etc & yes magnesium can be helpful too. Best wishes, let us know how it goes :).

Thank you everyone for the posts. I feel like I am feeling them more often today and it's kind of freaking me out. I just hope the valve isn't becoming leaky already just a short 6.5 months since a successful repair. I have an appointment with my cardiologist tomorrow morning at 8:45am. I'm supposed to go on a business trip on Thursday and return on Sunday, I wonder if I will still be able to go...

Just left my appt with the cardiologist. He listened to my lungs and heart with the stethoscope and also did an EKG. Said everything seemed normal and not to worry. He said he thinks it might be premature heart beats and that's nothing to worry about. Should hopefully be a temporary thing, could be caused by stress - who knows. I hope so because they kind of bother me, but now that I know they are, maybe I'll forget about them. Thanks everyone for your input, this community is amazing. God is good. Hope everyone has a great day.

Bill, they bother me too.. I feel with the metropolol they have slowed down. I don't feel them as much and much less "hard" when I do.. I did also start a low dose anti anxiety pill since I have been going through some stress in my life.. and that's helped also.. As I said I went to an electrophysiolgist who specialize in heart arrythmias and she wasn't that concerned.. she said the metropolol would help.. and again there isn't much they can do unless they become so bad that it causes a quality of life issue and for me these two meds have helped.. I tend to be an anxious person and have always been able to control my anxiety but since my surgery I've felt more anxious which I've been told is normal, some people do.. so, I gave in and started taking 5 mg of Leprexo.. its the lowest dose but it helps.. I was focusing on the palpitations all day and it was making it worse.. so, yes do what you feel is best for you, maybe taking the metropolol at a low dose will help. I take 25mg once a day.. let me know how you do.. best civita

mine were.. what I was told they can ebb and wane throughout life.. so just keep an eye on them and if it makes you feel better to be on a low dose metropolol you can ask your doctor.. i know its helped me.. I dont like it, but not much I can do.!

Hi Bill, your post is so timely I had to respond. I was at my cardiologist appointment yesterday and we discussed reducing my dosage of Metropolol as well. He explained to me that I might have some spikes in my blood pressure with a little arythmia during this period of adjustment- and that it was normal. Still, (and without offering unsolicited advice) I would let your Dr. know what your experiencing so it can be carefully monitored. Best of luck...

Thank you all for your responses. I talked to my cardiologist on the phone yesterday and as many of you confirmed, he said this was normal. I asked him if my resting heart rate would go down over time, and he said maybe it would go down to the upper 70s someday, but he said a heartbeat in the 80s is nothing to worry about. He said if it is over 100 then to call him. Prior to my OHS, my resting heart rate was around 65. Now that the heart is beating 20 times more per minute, I asked him if it would have long term effects such as reduced life span from wearing the heart out quicker, he said no. So I guess I have nothing to worry about? I could have sworn that he and other HCPs told me my resting heart rate would go back closer to normal over time...