Mel's Posts

I had open heart surgery last sept replacing my aortic root, bicuspid valve, and ascending aorta. I have volumes of gratitude to have found a wonderful surgeon and to be alive today. I am back running, biking, backpacking and skiing. I am curious about some symptoms that i get occasionally and wonder if others might have some experiences that might be similar. Occasionally, about 6 times in the morning over the past year during some level of activity I needed to sit down because I feel faint. I could feel that my heart was beating normal and my rhythm was normal. Then after 20-30 seconds everything is back to normal and I continue my exercise. Another experience that I have had a few times is feeling some visual distortions, maybe a little funnel vision with a feeling of being a little dissociated. I spoke to my Cardiologist and he said that it sounded like a poly-vagal response and that was concurred by my GP. So, I have been researching the poly vagal response and it seems to align with some of my symptoms. I have never had any of these experiences prior to surgery. Both my sister and brother in law have had open heart surgery and experience similar symptoms. occasionally. I am curious if for some reason during surgery when the chest in opened and the heart is worked on it created a disturbance of the vagal nerve which run through that area to the intestines. I am conjecturing that it becomes more sensitized responding more reactively to both emotional and physiological stimuli. Any insights on this issue would be greatly appreciated. Cheers mel