Home > Community > Patient News Feed > Tracy Chang

Tracy's Posts

Diagnosis: Aortic Regurgitation, Mitral Regurgitation, Aortic Aneurysm

Member Since: July 7, 2022

Send Tracy a Note

My Posts

Tracy Chang posted an update

2 years ago (April 29, 2024)

For those heart warriors who had Bentall procedure, do you know if the standard measurements (listed below) still apply to us after the procedure? I had ohs for aortic valve replacement(tissue value) combined with replacement of the ascending aorta and the underside of the aortic arch with a Dacron graft... Read more.

Ana Brusso

This question is for Marie. I had the Bentall but can't answer your question.

Marie Myers

Good question, and I don't know the answer. Will try to find out…

Shelly Hubbard

I also had Bentall with aortic valve replacement a year ago and would be curious as to what you find out

Anna Ma

I would like to follow what you find out too...

Marie Myers

I am not finding any answers yet…

Tracy Chang posted an update

2 years ago (March 5, 2024)

Is anyone out there taking glucosamine/chondroitin supplements after the heart valve surgery? I had my aortic valve replaced with a tissue valve two years ago. Upon discharging from the hospital, the nurse practitioner told me to hold glucosamine/chondroitin supplements from my drug list because she wasn't sure about its effect... Read more.

DeWayne Adamson

I have read both positive and negative articles on glucosamine and the heart, but mostly positive articles on Chondroitin.

Sue Maize

That's a good question Tracy—I take them both pre-surgery now, but hadn't considered about later. Sometimes I even forget to include them on my list of meds so thanks for drawing it to my attention.

Tracy Chang posted an update

2 years ago (February 1, 2024)

It's been about two years since my valve surgery. I am feeling pretty good heart-wise except for frequent PVCs. I belong to the group of people who have very low blood pressure so low dosage of oral medication (metoprolol) is not enough. I am not ready for an ablation yet.... Read more.

❤️ C W reacted to this

C W

Hi, Tracy. Sorry to hear you are still dealing with this. I have a Fitbit Charge 5 (which is not the latest, maybe it's better now) and it has never once caught an irregular heartbeat. I have PACs all the time, and have had PVCs. Last time I wore a... Read more.

C W

Also the EKG generated by the Fitbit Charge 5 does not have very much information… my cardiologist won't even look at them! He does seem to have more respect for the Kardia output.

Barbara DeLoache

I have a smart watch my children got me because of my heart issues. It is good at catching a fib and pulse rate, o2sat but it cannot detect any other rhythm irregularities. I do love it because I wear it all the time and it will call 911 if... Read more.

Tracy Chang

I use my Kardia only when I feel my heart rhythm is "very" unusual. I like the ECG it generates. My doctor thinks continuous monitoring would be better in order to catch things that can be serious but I may not be aware of. I don't know what smart watches... Read more.

Greg Lewis

Hi Tracy! PVCs are no fun at all, and it sucks that you have to endure them. But...don't lose hope!! I have had a lot over the last couple years, but ( fingers crossed always ) I have been having a really long stretch without any. Like a year, I... Read more.

Yumiko Ishida

I think most of the newer generations of Apple watch can monitor afib. Make sure it has the ECG app. The basic SE model can detect irregular heart beat but doesn't have the ECG function. I don't think they detect PVC, though. Is your low blood pressure symptomatic? Do you... Read more.

C W

The Fitbit Charge will not do what you want, for sure. It only monitors for AFib, not all irregular heartbeats; does not monitor continuously; does not generate an ECG; and doesn't even send you a notification right away so that you can take an ECG at the time it is... Read more.

How do Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications check for atrial fibrillation (AFib)? - Fitbit Help Center

https://support.google.com/fitbit/answer/14236719

Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications analyze your heart rhythm data for signs of AFib.Expand all Collapse all What is AFib? Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of irr

C W

Also this page says "The Fitbit irregular heart rhythm notifications feature is not continuously looking for AFib. This means it cannot identify all instances of AFib, and you may not get a notification even if you have AFib." www.fitbit.com/global/us/technology/irregular-rhythm

C W

Greg — glad you are on a PVC break. I hope it's a permanent one!!!

Tracy Chang

Thanks to all for your reply. Yumiko - Yes, once a while I get dizzy but I am used to it. I knew I had low BP at a very young age, but it hadn't been a problem until I experienced irregular heartbeat after valve surgery. My doctor did talk... Read more.

Upcoming Surgeries