Michael's Journal

Michael Meyer  Glad to hear it. It took about 9 months for me to get back to "normal". It's amazing how much better you feel right after surgery even though you have that "a truck must have hit me" feeling.

Jacqueline Cook  Congratulations, Michael! I concur...CC and Dr. G (& Suri) are awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience with me and helping me through the decision making process! Glad to hear that you are doing so well! Wishing you the best always!

Lise Bowles  Thank you for posting this Michael! I am going to CC in 11 days and Dr. Gillinov is my surgeon for mitral valve! I am very nervous and even though I know he's supposed to be terrific I just want to pull the covers over my head and hide! I am being a real weenie at 62 years young! Did you have robotic? Thank you for posting this today, I really needed it.....Lise

Nap Garcia  Hi Michael, did you experience higher heart rate post-op compared to pre-op? If you did, how long did it take within the two years for your heart rate to go back down to pre-op numbers (60-80 bpm?). I'm five weeks post-op and my heart rate varies between mid 80-s to low 100 bpm. Thanks.

Michael Meyer  Nap, my heart rate reduced after about 9 months. I have read that some are sooner. Five weeks post op seems really early. I would get through some rehab, exercise etc. Everyone is different, just be sure to keep your cardiologist in the loop. I made sure my physician eliminated any potential issues.

Shannon Gray  Thank you so much for sharing this! Incredible information. I had a pericardial effusion 2 days after discharge from the CClinic. Ended up back in and had a pericardial window surgery. Once I left and finally made it back home, I ended up with pericarditis... Just 2 weeks after coming home. I had just finished up my medicine and it flared back up. My Dr here said nothing about how tapering the medicine is so important and wants me to exc with a pretty high heart rate. My Dr at the C Clinic pointed out how I needed to taper my medicine, but said nothing about my heart rate staying low and no intense exc. this is very helpful information that I wishe could be spread to help those of us that had this as a complication.

Jean Raber  Congratulations! I'm looking at that at some point down the road ... far down the road, I hope, but not in my hands. I may be a lot older than you, but good to know that many people have this done and that post-op symptoms eventually go away. Did you need meds for the tachy and what type?

Elizabeth Ott  Michael, I am not having the robot but rather a four inch incision on right side of my chest through the ribs. They do bypass via cross clamp of the aorta up through the groin. It's called a mini right sided thoracotomy. That's for your comment!

Michael Meyer  I hope you have an excellent outcome. The minimally invasive surgical procedure I had used the cross clamp technique (maybe one of the disadvantages) but I had no issues.

Adam Pick  Interesting. I did not know that sleep disorders had a potential connection to elevated heart rates. Please keep us updated Michael. Thanks!

Paul Vitale  Hi Michael, My name is Paul Vitale. I had the exact same surgery as you I think 2 days after yours. I had robotic Mitral Valve Repair done by Dr. Gillinov on 7/16/14. Anyway, thankfully, everything went well. My valve, I am told is down to a trivial leak from a 4+ leak. I, however have had an elevated heart rate since the surgery as well. They increased my atenolol to keep it under control. I tried to wean off of it a month ago or so and that didn't work. I believe that the elevated heart rate IS a result of the surgery. My cardiologist has said that my heart can still be healing. Keep in mind, they did repair a valve that is constantly on the move. That alone makes it more difficult to heal.

Now, I am on 25mg of atenolol per day and that seems to keep my heart rate at a more normal pace. I range from 65 to 90 depending on whether I am resting, standing, working or sitting. This is much improved from 95 plus at most times when I am off of it. I am hoping over time, I can come off of the atenolol, but I do not see that happening anytime soon.

As you have surely learned, you have to be your advocate with this sort of thing. Good Luck and thanks for your journal! Its reassuring to see that you are going through the same thing I am and our timelines are similar. Paul V.

Don LaPorte  Very interesting/concerning, as I am planned for Robotic Surgery by Dr. Gillinov on Feb 5th, and wondering if there is any deeper trend for Robotic vs Minimally invasive side incision vs Stern on follow on elevated heart rate?

Adam Pick  Michael, Great to see you back at HVJ! Good to read that your bloodwork is normal and you are feeling very good. Keep up the exercise and guard your time. YOLO. Thanks for sharing your experiences with others.

  I am interested in hearing what your cardiologist says. Keep us posted. Glad to hear your doing very well.

Lenore Mitchell  Michael - just re-read your journal, especially the well-written comments on your hospital stay at CC. I'll keep your advice in mind as I head to CC soon for MV repair, also with Dr Gillinov. Merry Christmas!

Lenore Mitchell  One more thing - love your Brittany walking companion. I have a Border Collie who'd prefer multiple daily walks, but is enthusiastic whenever I grab the leash and frisbee.

Nancy D  I am nearing the end of my rehab and know I am going to have to work even harder to make walking a routine! My normal inclination is to sit and read or play on my computer. I also need to find work in the coming weeks.....Lots of "urgent" other things that will easily distract me. For me it will be somewhat of a struggle to get my steps in........

Eleanor R  Hi, Michael. I am worrying about the same thing, how to maintain gains made in cardiac rehab when left on my own. We used to say at work that "the urgent gets in the way of the important" and that is exactly what happens. For me, I am retired and have no excuse other than complacency and the comfort of being at home. I will just need to push myself to keep three hours a week for this exercise. I'm glad you brought it up, it helps us all to focus and reinforce our commitment. Best wishes to you. Eleanor

Clare Auten  I walk first thing every day even if it means 5 AM in the dark. That way I won't have the excuses later.

Michael Meyer  Clare I walk with my walking buddy Ruby every morning at 5 am. This morning it was a little chilly 15F (Brrrrrr!!!!!).

Eleanor R  Hi, Michael. I am in the midst of cardiac rehab, I may have started it a bit later than you, but I am enjoying it. I notice when I'm about 15 min on the treadmill, sometimes my heart rate leaps up, then goes back down just as quickly. The first time I saw it, I thought it was just the heart monitor on the treadmill, until one of the nurses showed up to see what was going on with my monitor. Since then its happened other times too, causing them to fax printouts of these episodes to my cardiologist. He gave it a Latin name, meaning basically unidentified short episodic tachycardia. He didn't seemed concerned, but was going to have taken me off Metoprolol and put be back on Norvasc which I've taken for years for HBP. He decided to leave the Metoprolol in place, as that slows heart rate apparently as well as blood pressure. Do you wear a heart monitor or Fitbit, or do you just notice your heart rate and check it? I don't notice a thing when my heart rate jumps, and the jumps are huge: 74, 80, 101, 116, 127, 138 - then just as quickly, the descent, all in less than 40 seconds. Weird, huh? Let me know what your cardiologist has to say, I'm interested. Thanks, Eleanor

Michael Meyer  Eleanor:
I just check the heart rate periodically. I do not experience heart rate "jumps". I was looking into a fitbit but could not tell that it would show me a heart rate. The toprol seems to create a heart rate ceiling that I do not prefer. I am tracking my BP and HR for my physician for now and we will see where it goes.

Joan Napier  Michael, Sorry to hear you're under the weather. That's an extra challenge given you're post-op and your body is already in recuperation mode. Good plan, with extra rest, skipping rehab. You're doing the right thing in listening to your body. (Really sounding like a nurse here!) Hope you feel better soon. Joan

alan holland  My name is Alan and I'm from Marietta, Ga. Just got on Dr. Marc Gillinov's schedule to have my tricuspid valve (isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation) repaired 12/11/14 (maybe sooner if there's a cancellation). I still have good heart function but there is some dilation of right ventricle so
he recommended getting things fixed within 3 or so months. I've heard great things about Cleveland Clinic. I assume you had a good experience? Based on the records I sent him, he indicated I may not be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery but another person I talked to from Georgia who went to him said there was minimal pain from his full sternal cut. Only downside is I'll probably be down a while longer but that's ok if the surgical approach gives me the best chance for durable fix.

Michael Poe  Very good news Mike. Glad you are doing great at work. My Supervisor from work text-ed me today out of the blue, first time since they put me on FMLA the beginning of August. Said they miss me and want me back, soon. I am only 3 weeks out of surgery. I didn't have the heart (pun included) that it will probably be at least another 8 weeks before the doctor lets me go back to work. But I'll see on October 1st when I see my Surgeon since the 10th.

  Hi Michael. Thank you for the positive encouragement. Great to see you have done so incredibly well. I am slowly turning the boat around and becoming more positive, accepting and ready. I believe this website/all of you, has helped me already. Thanks again.

Adam Pick  Michael, I did the exact same thing -- half days and rehab. No need to rush it. Excellent to hear you are getting back in the groove. Keep on tickin! Adam

  Good for you Michael. That sure is progress. I like that you are going to make your healing your focus. That is the most important part of all of this. Do what is best for you so you don't undo any of what you have done to heal already. Good Luck to you.

Mary Myers  Michael, that is fantastic news about your rehab going well. Strength and stamina are so important. You are on the road to living a long and healthy life. Thanks for posting. I should start cardiac rehab soon. I am very happy that cardiac rehab is offered! I had a non invasive (they call it) mitral valve replacement. It seems like recovery has gone well for me. The hardest part was the pain the my right upper shoulder rtib area. During the procedure the ribsd are spread/muscles. The pain in that are a has left. That makes me happy!!! Enjoy each day. Keep on moving and enjoying everyday. Mia

Eleanor R  Its great you're only on Tylenol. I am going into week 8 and I stopped the morning Tylenol this week. I still take one at night "just in case" but so far, so good. Some days, with more activity, I still take one, but that is a rare event. It is truly amazing how our bodies heal, isn't it? Best wishes to you. Eleanor