Brian's Journal

Susan Lynn  Brian - I'll be anxious to hear how your situation turns out, because I have the same problem. I was always 120/70 and my BP has also had some pretty big swings in the last three years. I'm from the "Class of 2017" mv and chord repair, too. Last year, I requested a stress test from my cardiologist because I also thought that I felt a bit strained during exercise - it turned out to be normal, however.

I went to cardiac rehab and the extended class for over two years (just recently stopped when they closed for COVID restrictions) and there were high fluctuations in my BP (especially before exercise) that were often chalked up by the staff as stress or salt in my diet, etc. I do know that my bp was always lower after exercise since it results in vasodialation. That could be why you feel lightheaded when you're running. The drop can be significant! You may want to try taking your BP before, during, and after your activities.

I'll be anxious to hear what advice we get from the other heart warriors. I worry about my BP being high since there are many risks associated with it. I was just placed on extended release metoprolol for a recently detected irregular heart beat - maybe I'll be killing two birds with one stone. Please keep us posted on your situation.

Brian Morrison   Hi Susan , thank you so much for your comment , if I find out Any information I will get back to you . I was wondering if the annuloplasty ring has caused a reduction in the size of the Mitral valve opening thereby restricting the blood flow a little which would explain my persistently high diastolic pressure .
Sometimes my BP can be 116/90 . I feel fine but sadly can no longer run or do very much cardio Which is sad .
I actually wish my surgeon had the ability to replace the torn chordea with Teflon string but I guess that is a highly specialized procedure .
I am reading a book called The High Blood Pressure Solution where the author talks about how imperative it is to maintain the ratio of potassium to sodium in your diet . It’s an interesting concept and one that I have been using for a couple of days I will let you know the results and if they work . He also states that you cannot move sodium out of your cells unless you replace it with potassium so a low sodium diet with insufficient potassium is doomed to failure . It’s maintaining the sodium /potassium ratio that is important
All the very best with your situation

Susan Lynn  Brian - Yes! Please keep me posted.

That's an interesting observation about the ring. I don't think anyone has asked that question on this site. I do know that there's a lot of emphasis placed on finding experienced mitral valve surgeons because there's judgment involved in repairing this valve. Since it's functional, it's different than other heart valves.
All the best to you!

Gerald Poulton  Sorry to hear about your complications Brian, maybe if they are going to fix the top sternum wire they can fix the xiphoid issue as well ? Those nasty complications 🙁

Betty Sullivan Sorge  Good Morning! So glad I found your post... I am 8 wks post op and having quite a bit of pain still around sternum ....How did u find out abt the cellulitis? I am now worried that Im having some allergic reaction to the wire,,,😳😳😳 underwent PERICARDITIS drainage procedure last fri, not pleasant, but felt better afterwards.... thought I’d be better by now, altho I do feel more like “myself”.....
The xyphoid thing sounds miserable too 😫😫😫
It would be so nice to be feeling “good” again!

Brian Morrison   Hi everyone , just to give you an up date , I am now 18 months post mitral valve surgery for ruptured chordea . I had such bad regurgitation and enlarged heart that I underwent an emergency mitral valve repair , prior to my surgery I could barely move without breathing as if I had run a marathon..
Following my surgery I had a TIA on the second day , thanks to my wife’s dedication and quick intervention insisting on a neurologist consult I survived the TIA with slight dizziness for a month or so
Following my bout of cellulitis which I seemed to have finally overcome , I was doing really well post op until a couple of weeks ago . I am not on any medication at all . I found that walking up stairs or walking up inclines I would become slightly dizzy and have to slow down or stop for a few seconds to recover . I went to the doctor who checked me over and found that my blood pressure had gone through the roof 155/115 . I have always been 118/75 for most of my life .
I have brought my blood pressure back to more normal limits and I suspect that I may have had a virus . However I still suffer a bit from walking up in lines and stairs.
I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and whether or not it becomes the new normal