Dena's Journal

Matthew Malooly  YES.  Maybe I just missed reports of this before surgery, but ever since it happened, it seems like it's SO common.  I 100% understand.

Rose Madura  Hi Dena, have you been checked for Afib or Aflutter? When I would go I to one or the other, my BP would go down and heart rate would go up. Just a thought. I sure hope you feel better soon.

J Alexander Lassally  So true - there is no such thing as a "minimally invasive" surgery - they all are invasive and difficult.  Do chat with your Dr or nurse about beta blockers with a resting HR >100.  (And yes. recliner is key! Did it over 6 weeks)

Yumiko Ishida  I heard minimally invasive procedures are extremely painful. I think 2 weeks is probably too early for the pain to be gone. I know that’s probably not helpful, but maybe a little helpful to know it’s normal?

About your heart rate - were you prescribed a beta blocker like metoprolol (or some other -lol)? If you are already on one I will stay on it. I am told the heart rate takes a VERY long time to normalize. Beta blockers lower your BP. So do opioids, if you are still on them for pain management. So do anti-anxiety meds, muscle relaxers, etc. If you are not on any BP lowing drug and BP 94/70 is not normal for you, then you should consult your cardiologist.

I was on metoprolol right after the surgery but was taken off of it pretty quickly because my BP was too low. (My BP has always been very low.) When I left the hospital I was not on any beta blocker but HR was always above 100 and was told it is high but normal. It was uncomfortable, though. So I asked my cardiologist if I could go back on propranolol, which I was on before the surgery, and he said yes. I take enough of the beta blocker to keep my HR below 95 and systolic BP above 95. (I sometimes need to take midodrine to bring by BP up.) Not ideal, but it keeps me functional.

High HR is exhausting, but you should give cardiac rehab a try. Movement and improved circulation helps reduce inflammation and pain. They monitor your HR and BP to make sure you don’t over extend yourself, which I find helpful. I am still anemic 10.5 weeks post surgery, on too of the highish HR, and find three times a week of rehab too much, but try to go twice a week.

Yumiko Ishida  I should add - if BP 94/70 is not normal for you, they probably won’t let you exercise at cardiac rehab, so might as well postpone it until you figure out why it’s low. I think 100-110 for HR is pretty common, so I won’t worry too much about that unless it is wildly fluctuating. No one has remarked about mine when it’s 100+, but I always have to assure them that BP 95/55 is normal for me and that I am not lightheaded or nauseous before they let me exercise.

Grace Mason   My heart rate was high for 10-12 weeks. Close to 100, sometimes more just walking around house. I was also told it was normal at that stage while your heart in healing. I wouldn't hesitate to call and check in and ask if you might need an adjustment in meds though.
Hope you are feeling better soon ❤️‍🩹

Jill Porter  I love this site but one thing was I had unrealistic expectations of the time frame in which I would feel better for me. Many people found great improvement after only 4-6 weeks. Honestly for me it was more like 4 to 6 months. Two weeks is very early days. Give your body time to heal.

Marie Myers  Your profile says you had surgery on February 15 th….And,  It is highly unlikely you were discharged 2 days after open heart surgery. Are you feeling a little confused for some other reason?

Yumiko Ishida  What type of surgery? If it was transcatheter a quick discharge is possible. For the fever and body ache I would go to urgent care if not ER. Whatever it is, you want it identified and treated ASAP. 

Susan Lynn  I had minimally invasive mitral valve repair on a Friday and was released on Monday.   Your symptoms sound more like a cold or flu, but a call to the surgeon is advisable. Best of luck to you. 

Yumiko Ishida  If it’s any kind of infection, even if it turns out to be just a cold, you want it checked out. I had a skin rash with a 100 degree fever a week after my surgery. Surgeon told me to see my PCP but of course I couldn’t get a last minute appointment, so I went to urgent care, who promptly sent me to ER. It was a local skin infection but they didn’t want it to go to my heart, so they put me on antibiotics before the infection became systemic.

Sue Maize  Err on the side of caution Dena—OHS is a big deal so anything unusual is worth checking out. I had a bad stomach flu for 2 days and I still went to hospital; it’s about peace of mind. 

Dena Porter  Sorry guys. My surgery was moved to March 14th. I am new to this page and learning how to find my way around. I had the minimally invasive surgery to repair my mitral valve.  Not sure I would call it minimally invasive because woah......It was quite painful.  Also, I will check my profile and correct it . 

Sue Maize  One of the first things I was advised to get was a comfy power recliner to sleep in for the first month or so because it’s very difficult to lie flat on a bed, also a wedge pillow for the transition to bed, big loose T-shirt’s, I’m also stocking up on heavy things like kitty litter. I just read in Adam’s book, the Patient’s Guide to Heart Valve Surgery (highly recommend it) that it’s good to have someone stay with you for the first 14 days at least as even opening a fridge can be painful. You should look at Grace Mason’s journal from her hospital stay—she has a great list of items to take to hospital and others make many great suggestions also. I plan to get my hair done right before so I’m good for that too for a few months—not really a necessity but I know I’ll feel better. ☺️

Rose Madura  It may help to prepare some meals ahead of time and freeze them if you are able. Move things down on the counter that you usually have to reach up for in cabinet. Have some things in mind for your 9 year old to do to help you. Being helpful may be just what he/she needs to cope with the change  I'm sure others will chime in.

Dawn Neal  Dena, I’m so sorry that you have had such challenges in your life. I’m sure you are a giving, loving person to everybody. I am just a week post op from my minimally invasive mitral valve repair (robotic) and I highly recommend you get some in-house help for at least a month including your time in the hospital. I cannot imagine taking care of 2 little kids while recovering.  You must have help. God bless you, Dena. I can give you more details about what I have been able to do if you like.

Laura Bickford  Hi Dena- wishing you success with your surgery! I had my heart surgery 2 years ago. I had a mitral valve repair at the Cleveland clinic at age 57 due to severe regurgitation. Right now, in the days before surgery, is the scariest time. Recovery wasn't bad, easier than I thought. Sending you prayers and best wishes

GARY STANKO  Everyone is different.  I had mitral valve repair in 2017 at Mayo Rochester. I was 67.  A complete sternotomy.  Since I lived in a 2 story I bought the power recliner but was able to walk the stairs once a day so I didn't sleep in it. I did use a wedge pillow.  I only used tylenol for pain.  I was determine not to use the narcotics.  I didn't lift anything over 10 pounds.  I was mostly weak and tired for some time.  I had help 24/7.  Started rehab after 4 weeks, drove myself to it.  I was really limited in my stamina so I was aware of how long I would stand or walk.  Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Karen Hommel  Reaching out with prayers for you today 2/15 🙏. I also had breast cancer, 4 yrs ago and wondered if radiation caused mitral valve issues. My surgeon said probably not. I had mitral valve replace 10/6.