Did anyone else have low ejection fraction post mitral valve surgery? Heart rate still high. Blood pressure low. juggling meds to lower heart rate but not ...Read more
Did anyone else have low ejection fraction post mitral valve surgery? Heart rate still high. Blood pressure low. juggling meds to lower heart rate but not BP. Doing cardio rehab. Hoping exercise will lift the EF.
George Gardopee Karen: a decrease in the EF is pretty common after surgery. There is a video on this site that discu ... Read more
George Gardopee Karen: a decrease in the EF is pretty common after surgery. There is a video on this site that discusses this phenomenon. It will often improve with time as the heart adjusts to its new “normal”.
https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - Why can the ejection fraction fall after heart surgery? What can be done to increase the ejection fraction and remodel ...
George Gardopee I also had reduced EF after surgery along with low BP and high rest heart rate. My dose of beta block ... Read more
George Gardopee I also had reduced EF after surgery along with low BP and high rest heart rate. My dose of beta blocker was increased and with cardiac rehab, things settled down in a few months.
Jill Porter I had a meeting with my surgeon today and he mentioned that lower EF is common after valve surgery be ... Read more
Jill Porter I had a meeting with my surgeon today and he mentioned that lower EF is common after valve surgery because you heart is kind of getting use to a new normal.
Entering into 5th week post mitral valve repair and I have awful pain in my heart as if someone is gripping it tightly - all the time! Cannot take deep breaths ...Read more
Entering into 5th week post mitral valve repair and I have awful pain in my heart as if someone is gripping it tightly - all the time! Cannot take deep breaths without pain. No AFib detected and rythmn normal. Trying to do walking every day but getting increasingly more difficult. Anyone else experience this post surgery?
Rose Madura Karen, that sounds awful. I'd continue to pester your doctors. Be your own advocate. Nobody knows you ... Read more
Rose Madura Karen, that sounds awful. I'd continue to pester your doctors. Be your own advocate. Nobody knows your body like you do. If something feels wrong don't stop until you get an answer. God bless you. Please keep us updated.
Deena Z Karen, definitely speaking with your surgeon and cardiologist. It may be a tight chest muscle, but i ... Read more
Deena Z Karen, definitely speaking with your surgeon and cardiologist. It may be a tight chest muscle, but it is always best to ask and get it checked.
Patricia Miller Karen- I echo contacting your cardiologist as well. I experienced chest pain/discomfort several wks ... Read more
Patricia Miller Karen- I echo contacting your cardiologist as well. I experienced chest pain/discomfort several wks post surgery. I also had some restrictive breaths some of the time as well. Mine ended up being pericarditis. All resolved after a few months of Colchicine. Let them know you are having pain and tightness. Perhaps inquire about checking inflammatory markers. I'm so glad you found this site. It is empowering and reassuring.
Robert Miller I have not experienced this. As others said, talk to your surgeon and cardiologist. Is it really the ... Read more
Robert Miller I have not experienced this. As others said, talk to your surgeon and cardiologist. Is it really the heart or the muscles that were cut when opening your chest?
Karen Hanna Update. Cardiologist ran a CT angiogram pulmonary to be sure there was no PE. It pictured the heart ... Read more
Karen Hanna Update. Cardiologist ran a CT angiogram pulmonary to be sure there was no PE. It pictured the heart also and there is no inflammation or pericarditis. I have been taking Tylenol regularly now and the pain has dissipated. Most of the pains and spasms I get have been diagnosed as musculoskeletal. It was pointed out that even though the external healing has almost completed, the internal healing can take at least couple months! I also have a chronic lung condition that requires me to clear my lungs daily by coughing. that cannot have helped the muscles!! Thanks all for your perspectives.
Grace Mason Karen, so glad they didn't find PF, pericarditis or inflammation. I have read posts from former hear... Read more
Grace Mason Karen, so glad they didn't find PF, pericarditis or inflammation. I have read posts from former heart surgery warriors that they have found it very important to stay well hydrated too. Not sure it will make a difference for you, but definitely something simple to try.
I am almost 4 weeks post surgery and my bpm's are still high. I was 68 bpm resting prior to surgery and now cannot get it lower than, at best 105 bpm resting. ...Read more
I am almost 4 weeks post surgery and my bpm's are still high. I was 68 bpm resting prior to surgery and now cannot get it lower than, at best 105 bpm resting. Cardiologist simply says it will take time, up to 6 months to feel 100%. Anyone else experienced this post surgery and how long did it take for heart rate to get back to normal. I am getting panicky!
George Gardopee Hi Karen. I experienced this also, albeit with a BPM not as high as yours. It took a combination of ... Read more
George Gardopee Hi Karen. I experienced this also, albeit with a BPM not as high as yours. It took a combination of adjustments to my metoprolol dose and 6 weeks of cardiac rehab (and about 3-4 months) to get back down to pre-surgery levels. My surgery was in November of 2021 and I just this week was given the OK by my cardiologist to stop metoprolol altogether - I had been reducing the dose from the highest level (100 mg/day) about every 6 months. You didn’t say if you were on beta blockers (or something else) but it is not unusual to have to be on some meds for a few months.
Tracy Chang George, did you get temporary faster heart rate for a day or two each time when you lowered the dosag ... Read more
Tracy Chang George, did you get temporary faster heart rate for a day or two each time when you lowered the dosage? I was on 25mg metoprolol and had to stop taking the pill for one day for stress test. My heart beat went up and I felt palpatation that entire day until I took the pill after the test. I want to wean off the drug but am scared to do so because of that bad experience.
Allen Carkner My heart rate took a few months to normalize. I was sitting around 90 for a week or two then graduall ... Read more
Allen Carkner My heart rate took a few months to normalize. I was sitting around 90 for a week or two then gradually went back to normal.
George Gardopee Tracy - I have not had anything similar when the dose was reduced. I just this week reduced it again ... Read more
George Gardopee Tracy - I have not had anything similar when the dose was reduced. I just this week reduced it again (to 1/2 of a 25 mg pill) and I’ll let you if there is an increase. Nothing so far after two days.
Klara Čičić Hi Karen, I had mitral valve repair 8 months ago. Since 2 months ago I feel 100%. It took a long time ... Read more
Klara Čičić Hi Karen, I had mitral valve repair 8 months ago. Since 2 months ago I feel 100%. It took a long time to get my pulse back to normal. You are still very early in your recovery. Listen to your cardiologist and try to be patient, I know that is not easy. But it will get better.
Karen Hanna thanks for the responses. My sitting heart rate is now even more elevated (115-120). I am not on a ... Read more
Karen Hanna thanks for the responses. My sitting heart rate is now even more elevated (115-120). I am not on any beta blockers partially due to prior surgery low bp (Average 90/60). I did not have any Afib. Seeing cardio nurse today. Wonderful forum for positive feedback. Thanks! Keep you all posted.
Kathy Ozio I had same issue after surgery for awhile and when I started tapering down my meotprolol and verapami ... Read more
Kathy Ozio I had same issue after surgery for awhile and when I started tapering down my meotprolol and verapamil (150 mg metop and 80 mgs x 3 verapamil originally), it went back up to around 95-100 resting (50 mg metop and verap twice a day).I worried but it is starting back down agsin. I learned it's common for it to be high after surgery but always good to check.II'm guessing it just takes a week or two to adjust when you modify your meds.
Karen Hanna Saw cardiologist today and I have been put on 25mg of Metoprolol. Will adjust if BP gets too low. I ... Read more
Karen Hanna Saw cardiologist today and I have been put on 25mg of Metoprolol. Will adjust if BP gets too low. I have low BP anyway. Hoping for a good nights sleep. Any side effects anyone experienced?
George Gardopee I don’t think I had any significant side effects, but fatigue and a little depression are often rep ... Read more
George Gardopee I don’t think I had any significant side effects, but fatigue and a little depression are often reported. But, fatigue and depression also can accompany OHS.
Klara Čičić Dear Karen, good he put you on beta blockers, I am also on bisoprolol despite my BP never being over ... Read more
Klara Čičić Dear Karen, good he put you on beta blockers, I am also on bisoprolol despite my BP never being over 90/60mmHg. Its BP lowering effects aren't that big. I have orthostatic hypotension so must be careful when getting up, not do it fast. You are doing great. It is still very very early, your body, your heart is healing form a huge surgery....
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