Margaret's Journal

Allen Carkner  Hi Margaret, some physicians aren’t very, let’s say, expressive, for something being in the normal range. Often they seem to be on the it’s either good or bad news train. I prefer to focus on the actual numbers, gradients, valve area, velocity, and Ejection fraction. These are more tangible and you can be in the none, trivial, mild, moderate, severe, sometimes critical range, at least for stenosis and regurgitation. They also often will say mild-moderate or moderate-severe sort of language. I’ve probably learned more about this stuff over the years than I should have haha. I read for example the whole guidelines for aortic stenosis progression and treatment. Hope it’s nothing to worry about. Take care.

Richard Munson  No idea if you have a patient portal but i was able to access my echo results and the comments by the radiologist that performed it. Once i met with my cardiologist to review it, i pretty much already knew what he was going to say. 

Rose Madura  Good and well sounds....well...good and well. That sounds great to me. I agree with Allen, doctors don't seem to get as excited as we do about our good and well echos.  

Marie Myers  I would be perfectly happy with “good” or “well”. Much  better than “bad or deteriorating”…Unfortunately, i know that my tissue valve may deteriorate with time.

Rose Madura  I received both Pfizer vaccines as well as one booster with no issues. I did fine.  Vaccines are a personal choice (in my opinion) and should be discussed with your doctor to determine what is best for you.

Marie Myers  I have received the 2 Moderna vaccines plus the 2 available boosters, My last booster was April. I asked my general practice doc and he recommended I get the second booster, so I did. I had no serious side effects from any of the shots. I am more concerned about Covid effects on the heart rather than possible side effects of the vaccine.

Klara Čičić  I recieved  both Pfizer vaccines and a booster, had no serious side effects. Myocarditis and other heart issues are more common after virus infecion in unvaccinated people (although still are rare) than as a side effects of vaccines. It's a personal choice one makes after carefully examining facts, statistics and after alking about those facts to their doctor... Good luck whatever you choose :)

Civita Fahey  I had my first vaccine back in Jan 21 and 5 days later I tested positive for Covid. Mainly just a stuffy head and cold like symptoms, with some fatigue.  I got the second and third shot and outside of some chills and aches, I felt fine.  No issues with my heart from Covid.  I'm debating the 4th shot only because I've done some research on how long it lasts and I'm not sure that its worth the short amount of time it does for me anyways. I have both natural and vaccine immunity and I feel with the less pathogenic Omicron I should be fine if I get it again.  We all make our decision for our own reasons, good luck on whatever you chose. 

Richard Munson  Hope your puppy is well. So where does it end is my concern. 4th shot, 5th shot, Pfizer gets rich , the idiots in Washington feel good and we get zip. 

Civita Fahey  Exactly Richard.  each vaccine has less and less effective time. I've read that the 4th vaccine has only 4 weeks of effectiveness. To me that's not enough.  As far as I'm concerned, I've had enough. I had Covid, had 3 shots. That's it for me. Cairo is doing well.. still as rambunctious as always.  But, I know after having 4 German Shepards, that the first two years they are pretty much like T-rexs.  He will calm down and be as calm and gentle as the other 4.  Your pup is gorgeous.  Enjoy him.. 

Adam Pick  Hi Margaret, I completely understand. If you - or anybody else in our community - would like to learn more about the vaccine, I'll post some educational info below. We recently posted 2 stories about the C19 vaccines.

  I just got my first vaccine on this past Tuesday. It was the Moderna. I had no symptoms from it only a sore arm. I will get the second one on March 10. We are all different and react differently to vaccines. I’m glad I got it, as for me the alternative is worse. I have kept myself inside my house and continue to take the CDC guidelines of wearing a mask, washing my hands etc., so far so good. Glad Adam has provided all this information for you.

Pat Bluemel  Have you researched the cardiac blues? Depression and feeling low is a common side effect. Read up on it and talk to your doctor about intervention therapy if everything else is checking out.

Marie Myers  I agree that it might be depression. Like Pat said, it is not uncommon after heart surgery. Please speak to your primary doc or cardiologist about this and keep us posted on your progress.

Rita Savelis  7 months is very early. I was tired for a very very long time. Didn't feel like I had any energy till well over a year after my surgery event though I was back at work and seemingly carrying on with my life. You have every right to be a "downer". This experience is/can be so very very difficult. It can take so much longer to heal than one expects. I was glad that my doctors told me that I would be tired for an indefinite amount of time. They never said I'd feel normal after 6 months or any specific timeframe. It was hard for me to look at this site because I could never understand those who talked about their energy being quickly restored. Were they hiding something? Or was I an oddball? Now I know that everyone heals at their own pace. And expressing yourself in a safe place is important. Sometimes those around you think everything is "back to normal" because your surgery was a success. But there is still so much healing to do and you have to get accustomed to a different normal, a different type of energy. I feel for you. It's been 5 years since my surgery. I needed over a year to feel somewhat "normal" again. Take care, Margaret.

Lindsay Rouse  I haven't gotten a flu shot in many years and declined every time they offered it to me this year before and after surgery. I will also say though that I have a fairly strong immune system overall and work independently in an office and am not around children much. If any of those factors change, I will not hesitate getting a flu shot.

Adam Pick  Yeppers! Here's a great Q&A with Dr. Gillinov about that topic - https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2019/10/21/flu-shot/

Rose Madura  I was on Amiodadrone for about six weeks after surgery. I know it's the "go-to" drug for post surgery afib. And it does help but not without side effects. I had a lot of complications from the surgery and I did not like the Amiodadrone. Glad you are working closely with your doctor about it.

Margaret Shook  Thank you Rose. I didnt start having the side effect until 2 weeks ago. I didnt really have any complications other than the afib. I was started on the Amiodarone from the very start. I wonder if they should have chosen something else. Its been almost a week on 100mg Hopefully I will feel a difference soon. Greatful dor this community. I know I'm not alone. Thanks again.

Catie B  Margaret, I trust they're keeping a watchful eye with you on the afib. Hopefully, it won't persist for long. If at any point you feel you need additional help, there also are electrophysiologists, the cardiologists who specialize in heart rhythms. I hope things calm down for you soon.

Margaret Shook  Thank you Catie. The afib is resolved for now. Hopefully I can come off the Amiodarone by the 12th week.

Adam Pick  Hi Margaret, Have you seen this video yet? https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2017/11/15/atrial-fibrillation-after-heart-surgery/

rich monoson  Margaret, this was only complication I had to an amazing surgery (mechanical aortic valve replacement). The surgeon and staff emphasized it usually resolves in short order (weeks to 3 months). While experiencing severe A-Fib it was greatly concerning. I had great faith in the doctors but this post surgical complication was unlike anything I've experienced before and despite the reassurances of the staff I was very alarmed. The medications Amiodarone and Metoprolol may have mitigated symptoms but it was unpleasant to experience this. One month post op I did not experience any more AFib. The heart felt amazing. It made great logical sense about being cut wide open and the electrical system was disturbed. Also the cardiac inflammation was an aggravating factor. The resolution was exactly as the doctors described (tough to process everything when your heart is going haywire and three nurses come running into the room) but everything turned out great. I never imagined feeling so good in such a short period of time after OHS. The AFib was the only unpleasant post surgical experience but now 8 months later I never imagined feeling so incredible after OHS. Best of luck Margaret and I'd expect your Afib to resolve shortly!

Rob Sparling  Margaret, Adam and Rich thanks for posting. I was just coming back to the site to post a question to the community about a-fib. My mother-in-law is having trouble rebounding and I wonder what role a-fib might be playing. Time for more research and some feedback from HW’s! Once again, the site is invaluable with the connections and people so very helpful.

Catie B  Margaret, so sorry you're experiencing this. And Rob I hate that your mother-in-law is too. As Rich shared, I found high rate afib to feel very alarming. A couple of incidents sent me to the ER. Though not a pleasant drug, amiodarone helped much, as did finally stabilizing a metoprolol dosage. True, gratefully it usually eases up and disappears soon. I came off the extra meds for it it just past the three-month mark after surgery.

Rose Madura  Yes, it is common for about six weeks or so. I had a lot of complications and you can read my journal if it would help. Hopefully you will be done with it soon. I was on megadoses of Amiodadrone and Metoprolol until it subsided . Then I was weaned off Amiodadrone and now only take 12.5 of Metoprolol twice a day. Amiodadrone has a lot of side effects so be aware..

Rob Sparling  Thanks, Catie. Always a help to get info from you. I hope you are squaring up your next moves in Texas and getting a plan of attack. I’ll email to get the update...

Barbara Wood  Hi Margaret, I had a mitral repair & a maze procedure ( ablation) 2 1/2 years ago. I had no afib in hospital but about a week after I came home I did. I had a cardioversion & was put on amiodorone for 6 months.
- have never experienced afib since. Since you had an ablation I'm assuming you had afib before surgery? Best wishes!

rich monoson  Adam, the video you posted with Dr Gillinov should be mandatory viewing for everyone on the site (please substitute highly recommended for mandatory). Dr. Gillinov gave such a reassuring and confidence inspiring description of post surgical A-Fib. TEMPORARY is a beautiful word to hear but it is still very concerning when experiencing it and understanding potential causes (mechanical, electrical and inflammatory) make great sense. Have confidence in the doctor even while going through the storm of A-Fib that it almost always resolves itself. This video was great and I wish I viewed it prior to my surgery but I'm not sure I would have appreciated the full impact unless I experienced the Afib myself which I did big time. The surgery has been amazing and with a 10 months post operative perspective, the Afib was handled adroitly and confidently by a top medical crew (Cedar Sinai). Thank you for posting this video. It is so reassuring to hear a highly credentialed professional inform us that it is temporary.

Susan Lynn  Margaret - there's something called MitraClip that might interest you. Most mitral valves are repaired rather than replaced, so it's generally a annulplasty ring or the MitraClip. Best of luck with your research. Please let us know if you have any questions. There are many mv heart warriors on this site. ❤