Chris's Journal

Marie Myers  I asked a similar question 3 years ago, but did not get any answers. I think the bottom line is you never know how long a biological valve will last. And ... Read more

Marie Myers  I asked a similar question 3 years ago, but did not get any answers. I think the bottom line is you never know how long a biological valve will last. And the younger you are, the shorter is the life span of a biological valve .

Rita Savelis  I've had 2 mechsmical valves for 5 yrs so far but have read about those who have 30 year valves put in before INR testing even existed. Who can ever know? ... Read more

Rita Savelis  I've had 2 mechsmical valves for 5 yrs so far but have read about those who have 30 year valves put in before INR testing even existed. Who can ever know? Things happen and are out of yr control. No right snswers. One day at a time. I rarely think about my 2 mechanicals anymore...

Marie Myers  2 articles that I looked at stated that Ejection fraction can take up to a year after surgery to improve. One study found that whether your EF was low or ... Read more

Marie Myers  2 articles that I looked at stated that Ejection fraction can take up to a year after surgery to improve. One study found that whether your EF was low or normal before surgery, all subjects improved over time. I would say that you might be too early in your recovery to see an increased EF yet. I had a normal EF (>55) prior to surgery, and I never even asked what it was post op. I felt good, returned to work and played a little tennis after a year. I still don’t know what my EF is today. As long as I am feeling good, I am trying not to sweat the details. Hope that helps in some small way. Wishing you an ever-increasing EF!

Chris Calhoun  Marie thanks!! I think the only reason I am concerned is because the tech that did the echo kind of freaked out and did not like the low 34% reading - her ... Read more

Chris Calhoun  Marie thanks!! I think the only reason I am concerned is because the tech that did the echo kind of freaked out and did not like the low 34% reading - her being concerned made me very anxious even though I feel great and am jogging 3 miles with no issues

Chris Calhoun  Rose - thanks !! I have another echo in 4 weeks - I have been jogging 3 miles - (3) times a week and feel very strong - we will see how it's progressing and ... Read more

Chris Calhoun  Rose - thanks !! I have another echo in 4 weeks - I have been jogging 3 miles - (3) times a week and feel very strong - we will see how it's progressing and I will update - it was a mental curve ball - going in feeling fantastic and the tech looked like she had seen a ghost

Marie Myers  Keep in mind that echos are a good screening tool, but not a perfect test. The results can vary with the technique/ skill of the person performing the test. ... Read more

Marie Myers  Keep in mind that echos are a good screening tool, but not a perfect test. The results can vary with the technique/ skill of the person performing the test. It would take a TEE to get a more exact measurement.If you are feeling strong and being active without problems, I would not worry about it. Another thought is that the tech may be relatively new or inexperienced, which could lead to an overly dramatic reaction to what she saw on the screen.

Catie B  Chris, yes! This happened to me also and it's a good thing to be aware of. Marie's exactly right--those should be your external temporary epicardial pacing ... Read more

Catie B  Chris, yes! This happened to me also and it's a good thing to be aware of. Marie's exactly right--those should be your external temporary epicardial pacing wires. (In case you ever need to look them up.) I actually had some problems with mine and ended up in the ER one morning. I had used a monitor with a chest strap. The end of one of the wires gave me massive pain while breathing for a few hours and it took some doing to figure out what was going on! In my case, I believe they were left in because I was on Warfarin due to post-operative afib when I left the hospital. Clipping them was one of the last things they did... Also, I had to document to radiologists that the pacing wires were safe when I needed to get an MRI.

William Hirshman  I don't know what my ejection fraction was before my last OP in May for a Bentall procedure (fixed aortic root aneurysm and replaced St. Jude mechanical valve ... Read more

William Hirshman  I don't know what my ejection fraction was before my last OP in May for a Bentall procedure (fixed aortic root aneurysm and replaced St. Jude mechanical valve that I had had for 25 years with bio valve, unfortunately also requiring implantation of a pacemaker). But my ejection fraction was down to 25%, I believe, after the OP. It is currently at 45%, halfway between the 55% considered the low end of normal and the 35% considered the high end of problematic (someone correct me if my percentages are not correct). I will have another echo in early December. I must admit to being a bit worried about my stamina - for example, I can still bicycle as before my OP, but I feel a heaviness in my legs when I bike uphill, something new to me and demoralizing. I am hoping I will hear that my EF has improved after the upcoming echo. No one has told me yet whether an improvement is possible. Would be happy to hear from others on this topic, including both HeartValveSurgery members and cardiologists. Anyway, I share your concern, Chris.

Susan Lynn  Chris - I was put on metoprolol, along with several other drugs after leaving the hospital. At my one month follow up appointment with my surgeon, I was told ... Read more

Susan Lynn  Chris - I was put on metoprolol, along with several other drugs after leaving the hospital. At my one month follow up appointment with my surgeon, I was told I could stop taking it. My dosage was gradually reduced over a few days. A few weeks later at an appointment with my local cardiologist, he told me that my ejection fraction was below normal, and he wanted me to go on metoprolol and lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) to aid in what he called "heart remodeling." He told me there was a window of time where this treatment would be effective and if I waited, it might not work. I was reluctant to go back on medication, but agreed to do so if I could have another echo in three months to determine if it was working. I had the echo, but couldn't get the cardiologist to return my repeated calls for the results. I finally had to leave the practice, had my records transferred (including the echo from that follow up appointment), and found out almost eight months after beginning that Rx combination, that my echos (all of them) never showed a below normal ejection fraction. My new cardiologist told me I could stop both medications immediately which I did. I had an echo recently and my ejection fraction is still normal.
In your situation, this protocol may be effective. I understand that the combination I was on was tested in clinical trials that indicated it could improve ejection fraction. I believe these might be considered "off label" uses for these drugs since they are designed for other purposes. I wish you the best in finding your effective approach.

Chris Calhoun  Susan/ William - thanks for the info - I can certainly hope the tech that looked like she had seen a ghost when coming up with my 34 EF has made a mistake ... Read more

Chris Calhoun  Susan/ William - thanks for the info - I can certainly hope the tech that looked like she had seen a ghost when coming up with my 34 EF has made a mistake - I was like 58% before my new valve and I feel really good - zero symptoms can jog 3 miles just 60 days after procedure and feel very strong -

Susan Lynn  Chris - My ejection fraction dropped after a mitral valve repair, but I was still in the normal range. My cardiologist put me on low dose metoprolol and ... Read more

Susan Lynn  Chris - My ejection fraction dropped after a mitral valve repair, but I was still in the normal range. My cardiologist put me on low dose metoprolol and lisinopril to facilitate heart remodeling. I went off both drugs just over a year ago and doing fine. Is your cardiologist recommending any treatment?

Joy Vera  Yes, Chris. My EF was normal before my heart surgery in 2010. It has been below normal ever since & I've been on meds to reduce the strain on my heart for ... Read more

Joy Vera  Yes, Chris. My EF was normal before my heart surgery in 2010. It has been below normal ever since & I've been on meds to reduce the strain on my heart for several years now. I'd hoped that my second OHS this last May might help that but, as of my July echo, it's at 35%. Adam, I'd be interested in knowing what one of the surgeons has to say on this. I'm grateful for what you do to put us in touch with each other & while I don't visit as much as I did in the days surrounding my OHS, I do read when I can & comment from time to time. Thank you!

Chris Calhoun  Adam - thanks for the reply - I had an On X Aortic Valve done on Sept 12th this year. Had my first echocardiogram 2 days ago and the tech looked like she had ... Read more

Chris Calhoun  Adam - thanks for the reply - I had an On X Aortic Valve done on Sept 12th this year. Had my first echocardiogram 2 days ago and the tech looked like she had seen a ghost when she read the results - her concern alone scared me - I have not been able to get a phone call back from my cardioligist yet - was just told he read the results and did not think I need to be hospitalized - and I have a follow up next Tuesday - it will be a long weekend wondering - so absolutely I would like to hear from one of the Surgeons - I can tell you I feel pretty good and have been jogging 30 mins without trouble

Chris Calhoun  Thanks to Susan and Joy - again I feel great but I felt great before I had a stroke and subsequent valve replacement too - so I am praying that feeling good ... Read more

Chris Calhoun  Thanks to Susan and Joy - again I feel great but I felt great before I had a stroke and subsequent valve replacement too - so I am praying that feeling good and feeling strong counts for something !!

Chris Calhoun  Adam - were you able to ask a surgeon about reduced ejection fraction after Aortic Valve Replacement? went from 58% to 34% - surgery was on Sept 12th - just ... Read more

Chris Calhoun  Adam - were you able to ask a surgeon about reduced ejection fraction after Aortic Valve Replacement? went from 58% to 34% - surgery was on Sept 12th - just had the echo this week showing the poor EF - I am 52 years old

William Hirshman  I don't know what my ejection fraction was before my last OP in May for a Bentall procedure (fixed aortic root aneurysm and replaced St. Jude mechanical valve ... Read more

William Hirshman  I don't know what my ejection fraction was before my last OP in May for a Bentall procedure (fixed aortic root aneurysm and replaced St. Jude mechanical valve that I had had for 25 years with bio valve, unfortunately also requiring implantation of a pacemaker). But my ejection fraction was down to 25%, I believe, after the OP. It is currently at 45%, halfway between the 55% considered the low end of normal and the 35% considered the high end of problematic (someone correct me if my percentages are not correct). I will have another echo in early December. I must admit to being a bit worried about my stamina - for example, I can still bicycle as before my OP, but I feel a heaviness in my legs when I bike uphill, something new to me and demoralizing. I am hoping I will hear that my EF has improved after the upcoming echo. No one has told me yet whether an improvement is possible. Would be happy to hear from others on this topic, including both HeartValveSurgery members and cardiologists. Anyway, I share your concern, Chris.

Chris Calhoun  Mike - that is what I have heard a bit via massive amounts of googling it - I hope you are right - 34 is very low- but as has been the case all along I feel ... Read more

Chris Calhoun  Mike - that is what I have heard a bit via massive amounts of googling it - I hope you are right - 34 is very low- but as has been the case all along I feel great - my entire experience I have been asymtomatic - so I know all too well feeling great doesnt mean there are no issues