Joanna's Posts

Joanna - Actually many of us have had minimally invasive surgery - I had a mitral valve repair done that way. We also have folks who had full robotic and TAVR for their procedures. It might be helpful to ask your question and one of the folks on the site can answer it for you. I'm sure you will find that minimally invasive procedures are specific to certain surgeons and patient eligibility. There are still surgeons who prefer the quickest way in and out which in the sternotomy or mini-sternotomy. Good luck!

I had post op afib for one day in the hospital. Amioderone took care of it. I also had a couple of hours of afib more than 2 years post op. Already on a blood thinner(mechanical valve ) and beta blocker so the er gave me one dose of flecainide to get back in rythmn. Been fine ever since (6+ months ).

I experienced Afib also my surgeon gave me Amioderone twice a day, aspirin once in the morning, and Metoprolol Tartrate half a tablet twice a day. He told me 30% of patients get it but that it corrects itself in a few weeks he reassured me I woul be fine and taken off these meds as my heart regulates itself and I continue my Cardic Rehab. You are going to be fine Joanna I have talked to several others went through the same experience, God Bless you my dear

I also had post-op afib for one day. It was the night after I was moved from ICU. What is weird was that I had two 3 hour stretches of great sleep that night! Since I have a low heart rate, I never noticed any difference. I also was given Amioderone which resolved it.

Thanks for the video info! My mother's afib has never gone away. She had a pacemaker installed a few months after surgery. Her "electrician" can monitor her afib through a wireless gizmo next to her bed at home. She also had cardioversion this year. Felt great for about 24 hours, then fell back into some afib. Takes Eliquis. There has been some improvement. Persistent afib is debilitating mentally and physically. It's also very discouraging for some patients. I think doctors should talk about it more with patients before surgery.

Thanks Adam for the video and all who have replied here. It is so reassuring when we pull together for our experiences. I can't thank you enough and how blessed we are for this blog. Since posting this I am happy to report that it has been a month and a few days that I am free from AFIB...what a relief! I was taken off the blood thinner Xarelto as well but still on my extended release Metoprolol Succinate at 100mg per day. I reduced it to 75 mg per day but my heart sometimes needs to stay at 100mg per day. I wonder now when I can be off of this med too. I agree Jean Raber, that not enough is said about this AFIB phenomenon before surgery as it truly depressing mentally and sure is an uncomfortable physical issue all the way around. My AFIB did not start until I was released from the hospital only to go into it just in the first two days at home--it freaked me out! Off to the ER I went and another two times after that within 30 days since the surgery. Now I am 2 months post op. Exactly what I was told if the AFIB is surgery related that most people will be free of it between 6-8 weeks. I pray it stays away...I pray that it goes away for all here experiencing this menace!

i think it depends on the doctor how long the cut is some doctors make a 6 inch cut and some doctors make a 7-8 or 9 inch cut not sure it may be the the size of there hands or some other reason maybe the size of your chest what ever the reason they do give you a new heart valve and keep your heart pumping blood to your body hopefully giving you a long life

Joanna, I have went back and forth with the options on prosthetic valves of porcine/bovine material or mechanical. Do you go ahead and do a biological valve and hope for medical advancements in 8-15 years, or do you go with a mechanical valve that, while durable enough to last a lifetime, requires life long anti-coagulant therapy that will constantly need checked and adjusted and always be at risk for bleeding events that can be life threatening? I do know with the TAVR procedure (I have seen you mention this in another post), the valves they are implanting using this procedure are biological, but aren't currently rated to last as long as other bovine/porcine valves. The manufactures of these valves are saying 5-7 years. While you can do valve in valve TAVR treatments in the coming years, their is a theoretical maximum to this as the old valve isn't removed with this process.