Mark Denault - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

24 days ago

Pvcs??? Anyone have these after stopping beta blocker

John Cook I haven’t had PVCs but I know they treat them with beta blockers. So it’s definitely in the realm ... Read more

John Cook I haven’t had PVCs but I know they treat them with beta blockers. So it’s definitely in the realm of possibilities.

Corey Potter Yes, I took Metoprolol for a few years and got off last February while increasing my dosage of Losart ... Read more

Corey Potter Yes, I took Metoprolol for a few years and got off last February while increasing my dosage of Losartan. The PVC's came back right away. I was put back on Metoprolol after my AVR surgery in July and the PVC's are calming down but still there.

Mark Denault posted an update

46 days ago

Rose Madura, Yumiko Ishida reacted to this

So, I am not on here that much but wanted to update my situation. Had AS valve replacement in Nov. 2024. Since then have been fighting with meds. See some ...Read more

So, I am not on here that much but wanted to update my situation. Had AS valve replacement in Nov. 2024. Since then have been fighting with meds. See some of my posts. Today's good news is a have a new cardiologist and I am off all meds except aspirin and magnesium taurate. All number are good. Heart rate a bit fast and get minor pvcs. Cardio said no worries. Still looking into a few things but start to feel like myself again... wish you all well. This site has been a great place for me...

Rose Madura Mark, glad your new cardiologist helped you get off the meds. I'm working on a plan in coordination ... Read more

Rose Madura Mark, glad your new cardiologist helped you get off the meds. I'm working on a plan in coordination with my cardiologist to get off mine as well. News at 11 on that! But for you, congratulations!

Marie Myers Sometimes it takes a new pair of eyes to look at the situation and listen to the story..

Mark Denault Thank you both for your interest. Hope you path is smooth as you move through this journey

Mark Denault posted an update

54 days ago

Anyone ever develope PVCs after starting diltiazem or stopping beta blocker

Mark Denault Cardio told me nothing to worry about. Started me on magnesium taurate to see if it will help. Take ... Read more

Mark Denault Cardio told me nothing to worry about. Started me on magnesium taurate to see if it will help. Taken off all other heart meds

Susan Lynn Yes, I did. I have been on metoprolol succinate ever since to keep them to a minimum. I wish my c ... Read more

Susan Lynn Yes, I did. I have been on metoprolol succinate ever since to keep them to a minimum. I wish my cardiologist would have offered me the magnesium before prescribing a beta blocker. I will likely ask about it at my next appointment.

Mark Denault Well I am trying this magnesium taurate 200mg for now. I was on metoprolol but never again beta bloc ... Read more

Mark Denault Well I am trying this magnesium taurate 200mg for now. I was on metoprolol but never again beta blocker are a real problem for me. These pvcs started after stopping meds. But I am a very stressed person in a high stressed job. Hoping for relief as pvcs are my only issue since replacement

Mark Denault posted an update

60 days ago

On 180mg for three days know feeling palpitations

Rose Madura Have you contacted your cardiologist?

Mark Denault Yup went in ekg was normal . As possible I have a pacemaker. They advised it maybe a temporary side ... Read more

Mark Denault Yup went in ekg was normal . As possible I have a pacemaker. They advised it maybe a temporary side effect. Also starting with a new cardiology office Tuesday. I am hopeful to get back to life. Been 10 months..

Mark Denault posted an update

60 days ago

Anyone have heart beat skips on diltiazem

Richard Munson I take amlodapine which sounds similar, relaxes blood vessels, and it did help to lower my blood pres ... Read more

Richard Munson I take amlodapine which sounds similar, relaxes blood vessels, and it did help to lower my blood pressure. I will admit. At this point, i am on so many different pills, i sometimes wonder what i felt like before it all started. Being 83 i say, maybe its just old age but who knows. How many different ingredients can you mix in the soup before it loses its taste.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz Richard I'm feeling in the same mood. Too much chemistry, but what could do, I try to take after the... Read more

Fidel Martínez Ruiz Richard I'm feeling in the same mood. Too much chemistry, but what could do, I try to take after the soup anyway

,lol.

Richard Munson Sounds like we are both in the soup. Beta blockers, calcium blockers, cholesterol blockers. I feel li ... Read more

Richard Munson Sounds like we are both in the soup. Beta blockers, calcium blockers, cholesterol blockers. I feel like a football lineman.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz Yes, we keeping on blocking ...

Richard Munson But are we really block heads? I know we have both been around the block a few times.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz Even though we have been around the block, sometimes one feel like a "block head". Life surprises you ... Read more

Fidel Martínez Ruiz Even though we have been around the block, sometimes one feel like a "block head". Life surprises you and you have to accept it. I think we're always learning.

Richard Munson No more learning for me, fidel. I just want to drive my car, walk my dog and work till i can’t anym ... Read more

Richard Munson No more learning for me, fidel. I just want to drive my car, walk my dog and work till i can’t anymore. I went to get my 6 month psa blood test after the doctors office assured me the order was in today. Nope. After driving all the way there. Monday something is going to hit the fan.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz
I didn't know you were still working. If you like it, it's not a ... Read more

Fidel Martínez Ruiz
I didn't know you were still working. If you like it, it's not a bad thing. Regarding the PSA, it doesn't matter if the PSA result is delayed for a few days. I try to be positive, although sometimes I get it more than others.

Mark Denault posted an update

78 days ago

Is it possible to continue to have side effects from beta blockers months after AS surgery

Richard Munson Years after

Mark Denault Well I am to the point of quality of life is worst than before replacement. I am going to request to ... Read more

Mark Denault Well I am to the point of quality of life is worst than before replacement. I am going to request to med change to a calcium channel blocker. Not even sure why on these meds as my value is replaced And I have a pacemaker. Ty

Marie Myers You can try a switch between beta blockers. My cardiologist switched me to bisoprolol which may bothe ... Read more

Marie Myers You can try a switch between beta blockers. My cardiologist switched me to bisoprolol which may bother you less. Or like you suggest, your doc may agree to total switch to another group of meds.

Mark Denault Try metroprolol which was crazy bad. Now taking labetalol which is less symptoms but still having the ... Read more

Mark Denault Try metroprolol which was crazy bad. Now taking labetalol which is less symptoms but still having them.

Richard Munson Is there a heart medication out there with no side effects?

Fidel Martínez Ruiz I think not. first victim: the stomach. It´s a lesser evil.

Mark Denault posted an update

160 days ago

Past my 6 months since my arotic value replacement. Been lots of ups and downs. Meds seem to be my biggest issue. Not to sure why I am taking some. Anyway ...Read more

Past my 6 months since my arotic value replacement. Been lots of ups and downs. Meds seem to be my biggest issue. Not to sure why I am taking some. Anyway still ticking

Marie Myers Do you have a “patient portal” where you can send messages to your doctor? You can review with th ... Read more

Marie Myers Do you have a “patient portal” where you can send messages to your doctor? You can review with the doc what meds you are on, and whether they are still needed.

Rita Savelis Every time you see your cardiologist ask why you are on the meds you're on, what they are for and how ... Read more

Rita Savelis Every time you see your cardiologist ask why you are on the meds you're on, what they are for and how long you are expected to keep taking them. Some meds are for a limited time, some are forever. You need to bring this question up because the doctor might not. Then write down the info so you remember it. And know why you take what you take. Also mention any side effects you have.

Mark Denault Ty both worked on this today. Received some info...

Mark Denault posted an update

164 days ago

Anyone have trouble on high dose Metroprolol after value surgery?

Rita Savelis Oh yes. I didn't like being on a betablocker (metroprolol). Some patients do well on them but they ma ... Read more

Rita Savelis Oh yes. I didn't like being on a betablocker (metroprolol). Some patients do well on them but they made me feel so tired and slow and down. Your dose might need to be changed/lowered or a different betablocker tried. Let your doctor know how you feel on this med. Everyone is different. I took metroprolol after triple valve surgery for one year and was so happy when I got off it.

Richard Munson Too much of anything to not good. Except maybe coffee ice cream.

Mark Denault Thank you cut back to 50mg from 100mg and starting to feel better already. Been two days.

Mark Denault Was on 200mg right after tvar for aortic value replacement.

Marie Myers Luckily my dose of atenolol was only 12.5 mg twice a day, with no problems.

Rose Madura My case was not your run of the mill case. After surgery, I was on 200 mg and slowly tapered off. Now ... Read more

Rose Madura My case was not your run of the mill case. After surgery, I was on 200 mg and slowly tapered off. Now I take 25 mg Metoprolol succinate (sp) and tolerate it well. Everyone is different and I'm glad you are feeling better.

Andrew Dial I was on 100mg/day and my BP was way too low and I was getting tunnel vision when standing, etc All s ... Read more

Andrew Dial I was on 100mg/day and my BP was way too low and I was getting tunnel vision when standing, etc All sorts of stuff. Had to adjust a couple times. I’m now 3 years out and on 25mg once a day.

Mark Denault posted an update

168 days ago

Did anyone get put on eliquis and have neurological issues. Vision,headaches etc

Mark Denault posted an update

210 days ago

Good evening all,I am 4 months out from aortic valve replacement thru tvar. I am still having oracle headaches about once a week and eye disturbances. Other ...Read more

Good evening all,I am 4 months out from aortic valve replacement thru tvar. I am still having oracle headaches about once a week and eye disturbances. Other than these issue feeling great. Complete cardiac rehab and am working out three times a week. Anyone else having this experience with eye disturbances or headaches.

Mark Denault If anyone has info on this I would appreciate it. I live in Massachusetts and my surgery was at Bays ... Read more

Mark Denault If anyone has info on this I would appreciate it. I live in Massachusetts and my surgery was at Baystate medical.

Ty

Michael Ponzio Yes I am having some eye disturbances also. What are yours like? I get like blackout spots

Mark Denault Mine are light flashes and oracle headaches

Mark Denault Trouble focusing or like clouded vision

Rose Madura This topic comes up a lot on this site. I had, what I call auras, most of my life. Some sever with m ... Read more

Rose Madura This topic comes up a lot on this site. I had, what I call auras, most of my life. Some sever with migraine and others not. They got worse after my surgery then seem to have tapered off. My cardiologist said it has nothing to do with the heart. My eye doctor said it's because the vitreous gel thins as we age. I'm not sure I'm buying that because so many people on this site get them. But that's all I know about it. I don't know if that helps you guys or not, but there it is.❤️‍🩹

Suzette Schear I had them for awhile after my OHs it was so annoying, and they went away. I think my body had so mu ... Read more

Suzette Schear I had them for awhile after my OHs it was so annoying, and they went away. I think my body had so much meds pumped into my system, being put out for 6 hours with my head in the same position during surgery, Once in awhile now I’ll see a floater or the waves but its only when I’m on the computer too much. I tried researching pump head and pots but for me that wasn’t it.

J Alexander Lassally Lots of visual disturbances at first. they go away !

Marie Myers Same as above for me. Lots of auras mostly immediately after surgery. They taper off with time…

Mark Denault Thank you all. So it sounds like these are a normal deal and should go away. Which is reassuring... ... Read more

Mark Denault Thank you all. So it sounds like these are a normal deal and should go away. Which is reassuring...

Richard Munson They go away in time

Pamela Gregory I got them a lot after surgery. Still get them but less

Ana Brusso For me they come and go.

Sue Maize Hi Mark,had these as well, though I didn’t think to connect them to my surgery. “Floaters” or b ... Read more

Sue Maize Hi Mark,had these as well, though I didn’t think to connect them to my surgery. “Floaters” or black spots, sometimes almost like cobwebs, may be nothing but worth a trip to the optometrist. I was told that flashes could indicate a detached retina so I would definitely look into it.

Mark Denault posted an update

321 days ago

I got a follow up post echo. My ava number was .93 cm squared which is low on the ASChart all other numbers are good.should I be concerned

Mark Denault Before tvar ava was .3

Mark Denault posted a photo

339 days ago

Kimberly Eisenhut, Marcus Krauss, Rose Madura and 1 other reacted to this

Richard Munson God bless america

Mark Denault Can't wait to be back...

Richard Munson Back in uniform. One of my friends growing up was a great guy , leo denault ( R.I.P ), so you have a ... Read more

Richard Munson Back in uniform. One of my friends growing up was a great guy , leo denault ( R.I.P ), so you have a name that brings back fond memories.

Mark Denault So glad that my name did that for you. Alway good to remember the positives in our lives.

Richard Munson Yup, that is for sure.

Mark Denault posted an update

339 days ago

Anyone notice changes in fitbit watch results after tvar

Marcus Krauss What kind of changes? I didn't have TAVR, but a Ross Procedure with a full sternotomy almost 4 weeks ... Read more

Marcus Krauss What kind of changes? I didn't have TAVR, but a Ross Procedure with a full sternotomy almost 4 weeks ago. I wear a Garmin watch for fitness tracking, and I've noticed that my Heart Rate Variability is way lower than it was pre-surgery. It used to be in the 60s and 70s on average, and would drop into the 50s if I was strained or overtraining. Now it's in the 30s and 40s. It's been helpful to monitor, because I've been pushing myself to increase walking distance every day, so if I see my daily HRV start to dip for a day or two I back off on longer walks to give myself a recovery day.

Mark Denault I noticed have increased from teens to 20's on my fitbit.

Mark Denault Description said the higher number is good.

Mark Denault Today is day 8 my biggest concern is a still get bouts of lightheaded and nausea.

Mark Denault Read this is most likely normal

Richard Munson Yes, normal. Heart surgery is about as serious as it gets but the odds of a positive recovery are up ... Read more

Richard Munson Yes, normal. Heart surgery is about as serious as it gets but the odds of a positive recovery are up there. However there can be hiccups along the way.

Mark Denault Richard ty for that made me relax about the symptoms...

Richard Munson I had a couple of very serious bouts of vertigo after my surgery which thank god have not returned. S ... Read more

Richard Munson I had a couple of very serious bouts of vertigo after my surgery which thank god have not returned. Sounds a little like you have a mild case. Not uncommon.

Mark Denault Ya, more like lightheaded than spinning. I have had vertigo before. Sucks... as long as it is noth ... Read more

Mark Denault Ya, more like lightheaded than spinning. I have had vertigo before. Sucks... as long as it is nothing serious or abnormal I will get though it.

Mark Denault posted an update

340 days ago

Anyone experience oracle headaches after tvar. I am having a few and light flashes. Dr does not seem concerned.

Pamela Gregory Yes! About 2 years worth of them, but much fewer and farther between as time marches on. I think a lo ... Read more

Pamela Gregory Yes! About 2 years worth of them, but much fewer and farther between as time marches on. I think a lot of people on this site get ocular migraines after open heart surgery. Not sure why.

Mark Denault Ty for the info. Just glad to know it is not to unusual.

Mark Denault They have eased up a little and I am only one week out

Rose Madura Yes. Me too. I've actually had them for most of my life. Someone recently suggested to stay hydrat ... Read more

Rose Madura Yes. Me too. I've actually had them for most of my life. Someone recently suggested to stay hydrated. Not sure if that helps or not but it's always good advice. A

Mark Denault Yup I was told about dehydration too. Lowered Lasix which seems to be helping.

Mark Denault I have had a few in the past but not for years.

Kimberly Eisenhut My opthamologist just told me the other day to add electrolytes to my water bottle once in a while (l ... Read more

Kimberly Eisenhut My opthamologist just told me the other day to add electrolytes to my water bottle once in a while (like liquid IV) as we do not get enough electrolytes either in our water. Just a thought, or ask your Dr about it. Celtic salt also good for getting our minerals. Just a couple of granules though, as of course we do not want too much salt. Not medical advice, but something you can research on your own if you'd like. I have had those weird colorful things happen to my eyes several times in the past and I do notice I have gotten them more when I am stressed or sleep deprived.

Mark Denault Ty

Jennifer reynolds I went to a neurologist after getting ocular migraines without pain after mitral valve replacement a ... Read more

Jennifer reynolds I went to a neurologist after getting ocular migraines without pain after mitral valve replacement and she put me on 400 mg magnesium and it has lessened the frequency

Marie Myers I had dozens of ocular migraines daily after my heart surgery. They lessened with time, and I am bac ... Read more

Marie Myers I had dozens of ocular migraines daily after my heart surgery. They lessened with time, and I am back to just an occasional one.

Mark Denault posted an update

341 days ago

Today is day 7 after tvar and pacemaker inserted. I am healing well. All looks good so far. Docs are all happy and looking to return to normal soon.

Mark Denault Symptoms have resolved. Wishing all the best..

Kimberly Eisenhut Mark, So glad you are doing well, and look forward to your contiued good health :) Wonderful news to... Read more

Kimberly Eisenhut Mark, So glad you are doing well, and look forward to your contiued good health :) Wonderful news today!

Mark Denault Ty

Susan Lynn Woo-hoo! Great news, Mark!

Richard Munson Nice.

Deena Z Hardest part is over. Congrats. Such a good feeling.

Dan Fouratt Keep on getting better!

Mark Denault Ty

Mark Denault posted an update

344 days ago

Rose Madura reacted to this

Would like to have a discussion now and then.

Mark Denault I am only three days post procedure. Having similar lightheadness as before procedure. I was wonderin ... Read more

Mark Denault I am only three days post procedure. Having similar lightheadness as before procedure. I was wondering if anyone know if that is normal

Richard Munson Might be medication

Mark Denault Well I did restart all meds but bp and heart number look good.

Richard Munson Keep in mind your timeline. Your heart is still trying to recover. As my surgeon once said “ your h ... Read more

Richard Munson Keep in mind your timeline. Your heart is still trying to recover. As my surgeon once said “ your heart is angry after surgery”. My point: give it some time.

Susan Lynn Mark - Try not to get up from a sitting or reclined position too fast. Be sure you feel stable bef... Read more

Susan Lynn Mark - Try not to get up from a sitting or reclined position too fast. Be sure you feel stable before standing. The lightheadedness is most likely temporary. Time will help.

Rose Madura I was unsteady and dizzy especially when getting up. Agree with Susan! Hang in there. OHS is tough ... Read more

Rose Madura I was unsteady and dizzy especially when getting up. Agree with Susan! Hang in there. OHS is tough and we tend to be super aware of any physical changes. Call the cardiologist if need be to set your mind at ease.

Mark Denault Thank you all. Spoke with Cardo yesterday changed by Lasix. Most likely dehydration.

Richard Munson

Mark Denault Here one thing I was wondering if anyone knows. I notice my resting heart rate is between 70's and lo ... Read more

Mark Denault Here one thing I was wondering if anyone knows. I notice my resting heart rate is between 70's and low 100's I am 5 days out from tvar. Is this normal

Rose Madura I think it's normal for your heart rate to be a little higher after any heart procedure like TAVR.

Mark Denault Thank you. Was in a follow up appointment. Cardiology Doc told me it is normal.