Joseph's Journal

Marie Myers  I felt arrythmyias on-and-off for the first 7 weeks post op. Not sure if it was a fib or not. The longest arrythmyias session lasted for a couple hours. It was very nerve-wracking. Now I am at 8 weeks, and I haven't noticed any more irregular heartbeats. I have started cardiac rehab, and all sessions are monitored. They never caught anything on EKG while I was exercising. Hope this helps.

Jan Persico  Hi Joe. I went into AFib about a week and a half after my AVR surgery in February. I was in the hospital for 4 days. All the docs said it was normal/typical after surgery. I was a wreck. AFib is very scary. You have absolutely no control....I was very scared. Docs increased my beta blocker and that seems to have done the trick. I sometimes still feel flutters, but nothing horrible. I found once I started cardiac rehab, I felt much better since I was being monitored. Hope you're going to do rehab, it's such an important part of our recovery. Good luck. If I can be of any help, please reach out. Stay strong!

Larry Ring  Hi Joe. I had a bout of atrial flutter about six weeks post surgery that wouldn't resolve with meds...so I had a cardioversion. That did the trick and so far (knock on wood), it hasn't come back.
I'm now in cardio rehab...starting to "stress" the heart...and all is still well.
I have been told by numerous cardiologists that atrial flutter/fib is really pretty 'normal' after OHS/AVR, and it most often resolves once the heart tissue heals.
That's what I'm hoping for.
If your cardiologist suggests a cardioversion to get you back into normal sinus rhythm, I wouldn't hesitate to do it. I had no issues with the procedure. You do want to g3et the A-fib addressed...it is hard on the hear muscle and you have a higher risk of stroke due to the fibrillation. I'm no doctor...but that's what I've been told.

Catie B  I hear you, Joe. Do they have you on Amiodarone or another rhythm med? I started into afib the day after surgery. It is both common and scary. I had kind of a wild ride, getting it under control and getting the right dose of beta blocker to not slow my heart too much. Heart rate went up and down like a yo-yo and there were some ER visits due to the afib and copious palpitations. Someone described it to me this way--that surgery greatly irritates the heart and it's almost like it's angry for awhile. Most post-operative afib does resolve on its own in a few weeks; mine did. If your problems persist, consider seeing an electrophysiologist. Heart rhythm is their specialty. My EP doc was helpful!

Cathy Zuber  Was out of AFIB for a whole 3 days!! I'm 9 weeks post mitral valve replacement. Working with the " electric" docs. Had a hospital stay and ER visits. So....at least know you are not..not..alone!! Cathy

Joseph Antonio  I would also like to thank Dr. Allan Stewart at Mt. Sinai in NY. Him and his team were the best. Thanks Again!!!!!!