Steven Novick - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1 day ago

8 months after having my Ross Surgery, I am still on Metoprolol. I had a bicuspid valve at birth with regurgitation. How much longer should I expect to have ...Read more

8 months after having my Ross Surgery, I am still on Metoprolol. I had a bicuspid valve at birth with regurgitation. How much longer should I expect to have to take Metoprolol? Do you have high performing, athletic patients that I can talk with, to share their experience.?

John Cook I wouldn’t call myself ‘high performing.’ I’m more of a slow AF duffer. That said, I’ve b ... Read more

John Cook I wouldn’t call myself ‘high performing.’ I’m more of a slow AF duffer. That said, I’ve been running on Carvedilol (a similar beta blocker) for over a year. It takes about 5 minutes to get my heart rate up to 120bpm, where I start “feeling right” in my run. Before that 5 minute mark, my muscles and lungs feel rough and sluggish.

I’m also scheduled for a Ross (was supposed to be today but got bumped to next week). I know they want to keep Ross patient’s BP under 120 for the first year as the pulmonary valve gets used to its new home. If you aren’t having any heart rhythm problems, that could be why.

It would be worth it to call your doc and ask why you are still on it and if they could switch you to something else.

Rita Savelis Some people stay on betablockers longer than others. You have to keep asking your doctor when you can ... Read more

Rita Savelis Some people stay on betablockers longer than others. You have to keep asking your doctor when you can get off or lower your dose. Otherwise they just keep you on meds/ I didn't like hiw I felt on betablockers so was able to get off them (meteprolol) after a year.

Grace Mason Similar to John's surgeon my Ross surgeon wanted me to keep my BP around 110 for the first year. I wa ... Read more

Grace Mason Similar to John's surgeon my Ross surgeon wanted me to keep my BP around 110 for the first year. I was able to do that on a low dose of Metoprolol(25mg) in the am and Losartan (25mg) in the evening. After my year check up, my cardiologist felt they were such low doses I could stop taking them if I wanted to do so. I was a little hesitant as I wasn't noticing any symptoms on them, but I liked the idea of not being on any meds. I stopped the Losartan and then about 3 months after that, I stopped the Metoprolol. I've been off all meds for about 6 months and my resting BP is within normal range.