Tracy's Journal

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

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. 

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 Zio patch, it even showed PSVTs. None were caught by my Fitbit. I do love it for heart rate monitoring though. I also have a Kardia, which can generate ECGs with more information, and can interpret PVCs if you pay extra every month (I don’t.) If you don’t pay extra, they just are labelled “Unclassified.” Also It’s not continuous  — you have to sit and take a reading.

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 I fall and don’t let it low I am OK. 💗

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 do when they detect an abnormal rhythm (if they can detect it). Do they generate an ECG or some sort?  

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 think. So maybe you will get a nice long stretch without any also. Actually...scratch the maybe. You WILL get PVC free!!!

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 get dizzy? I have low blood pressure, too, but not symptomatic. When I had persistent afib and was in the hospital a year and a half ago, it was very frustrating because they kept denying me metoprolol when the BP was low and let my heart rate run wild. Eventually they settled on a combination of midodrine (to up the BP), propanolol (reduces BP but not as much as metoprolol), and digoxin. Midodrine seems to baffle some doctors, but it may be something you want to discuss with yours.

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




Dunno about other smart watches.

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

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 about the possibility of using Midodrine.  I chose to try the diet route first – more salty food and liquid intake.  The result is not very effective though.

cw – the links are very helpful.  I think Kardia is my best tool for now. 

Greg – glad you are out of PVCs.  I still have hope : -)

Marie Myers  I have had nagging upper/mid back ache that is relieved by lying down also. My chiropractor gave me a stretch to do that has helped. Massage also helps it. Mine was not worse after heart surgery, so I don’t think mine is related to the surgery. The stretch involves holding onto a sturdy structure like a park bench. Then you stretch-your butt  out and back until your arms are straight and pulling on the bench. You are looking down at your feet in this stretch. Bend one leg at a time to feel a stretch along your entire back. Hopefully you can give it a try. I do it regularly, and I do not experience the ache like i used to. 

Marie Myers  I am really not sure how to interpret that. I would want to speak to the cardiologist with those specific questions about aortic enlargement. 

Tracy Chang  I think I had aortic root replacement.  I just pulled out my operative report. It has lots of details that I don't understand.  At the end of the section it has words like 'This was a Supra-Annular Root Replacement'.  Not sure if that says something...

Marie Myers  Sounds like you did have root replacement. I don’t understand why it would be measuring larger either. Hope you get your answer! That would drive me a bit nuts…

Klara Čičić  Dear Tracy, as many things in medicine, there are no clear recommendations on taking statins post heart surgery for very low risk patients. Myself included. No consensus between cardiologists. Decision should be based on scientific evidence, but it is not super strong on this issue. In the end, decision is on you and the doctor you trust, based on your personal history, family history, age, cholesterol leves etc

Marie Myers  I went on statins after my surgery also. Like Klara says, there is no clear evidence either way. I had a lot of plaque (total surprise to me) in my right carotid, as picked up on my preop screening carotid ultrasound. All my life, my cholesterol numbers have been normal…So for me, I am staying on 20 mg of atorvastatin for the long haul. As new research comes out, that may change. But for now, I am on a statin also. 

Susan Lynn  I've had high cholesterol numbers for decades and have refused stains for years.   I had clear arteries a zero calcium score, and no issues with carotid blockages.  My PCP still asks me about going on a statin at every visit.  🤔  Definitely an individual choice.   Good luck! 

Rose Madura  I did not. My cholesterol is tricky on that it fluctuates.  ND my HDL is very high (in the 80s) so if kind of offsets the total number. My cardiologist goes by some ratio and PCP doesn't so I tend to go with the cardiologist.  

Susan Lynn  Tracy - I found out I had PACs and PVCs two years after mitral valve surgery. I wore a Zio XT monitor for two weeks to see just how frequent they were. I now take Metoprolol succinate and both are within tolerable ranges. Might want to inquire about the monitor with your cardiologist. Best of luck!

Rose Madura  Tracy, I had PVCs about a year after my surgery and it was because my PCP took me off my Amlodipine. My cardiologist put me back in it and the problem went away. Everyone is different though.  Have your meds changes? What did your cardiologist say about the PVCs?

Tracy Chang  Thanks for your reply.  I haven't talked to my cardiologist about this yet.  I will post my update after I learn more about it from him. 

Greg Lewis  I get a lot of PVCs due to damage from an extra complicated surgery. When I am getting a lot of them ( every third, or second beat) I am very breathless if doing anything. Mine are very positional. Also anxiety causes them. Not enough water. They can come on for a couple weeks, then go away, for awhile. Make sure to see about them. 

Ana Brusso  Hello Tracy, welcome. I do take Rosuvastatin 20 mg. (Generic for Crestor)  at bedtime. So far I have not have any problems with it. Hope you find some answers. Congratulations on your successful surgery. Keep us posted. God bless you 

Greg Lewis  Yes, I take Rosuvastatin, also. Liver enzymes have been high since shortly after surgery. They got really high once, and they had me stop taking Tylenol. It was causing damage. That dropped the enzymes way down. But they remain a bit high. I dont drink at all, but they are now checking for fatty liver disease. I was checked for gall bladder problems, and that checked out. I take a bunch of meds, so 🤷.

It may not be the Statins causing your issue. I would get another opinion, and keep asking questions. 

Greg Lewis  Also, Tracy, I recently got over a Thyroid problem, and have had some heart failure. So, all are hits to the liver, and can raise ALT levels. Apparently. 

Tracy Chang  Thank you, Ana and Greg, for your reply. 
I can't take NSAIDs(causing stomache issue) so Tylenol is my friend.  I usually keep it around 1000mg per day but will need more for my worsening joint problems if my liver allows.
So, Greg, do you stop taking Rosuvastatin while your liver enzymes are a bit high?  I am thinking to stop taking my pill to give my liver a break.

Danielle Elizabeth  Going through the same thing. They diagnosed me w NAFLD at my last appt. I need to go in for blood work to see if my liver enzymes are down now that I’ve been discontinued from the statin.  

Greg Lewis  Tracy, I did not stop the Statin. I stopped the Tylenol. Make sure your issue isn't being caused by something else. 
I am going to ask my doctor about the Statin, after talking to you, though. 
When I told the doctor that I never took more than the allowed dose of Tylenol, he said that is for if you don't take anything else. Which of course I do.
Danielle, I would be interested in what happens after the Statins are gone.

Tracy Chang  Thank you Rose, Danielle and Greg for your reply.  I will check for things you mentioned here to see if they apply yo me.  I don't drink.  I am not overweight and not taking  medications other than those prescribed after the valve surgery besides Tylenol.

Danielle, perhaps I can do what you do, stop taking statins for few weeks and see if liver enzymes will improve.  But if it does prove statins is the culprit, what do we do next? Please keep us updated if you may.  Thanks.

Rose Madura  Hi Tracy. For me, it seemed that if my heart rate went up, I'd go into Afib.  And with each incident, I was hospitalized. So once they got my heart rate lower, it's kept in the high 50s to low 60s. My case is not the norm but I do believe it will go down with time. Is your doctor concerned? I am on 25 mg of Metoprolol Succinate.

Tracy Chang  Rose, My doctor suggested 25mg of Metoprolol but it made me dizzy so she is okay with me taking 1/2 pill.  Initially 1/2 pill kept my HR in mid 80s but lately my HR goes up to low 90s and I am tired all the time.  I had a-fib after surgery when my HR was mid 90s to 100.  I definitely don't want to get back in a-fib again.  I need to change my dosage to 25mg but I dont think 25mg will lower my HR to 60s although I would love to be able to achieve that.  May I ask if you are taking anything else for the HR?

Kimberly Eisenhut  I take Amlodipine too! 5mg though for bp, and Lisinolpril 10mg. Dr. says it's for my heart, since i have not had surgery yet, and they keep telling me they do not do it for Tricuspid until it is severe. Keeping blood pressure down is extremely important so that my valve is not under extra pressure and worsen faster.
I go for my yearly next month at Northwestern in Chicago, but this time I will be having an Echo Stress Test, so that sounds like fun. Has anyone else had an echo stress test?
My cardiologist, Dr. Rigolin, wants to see how my heart acts during exercise, before and after ejection fractions and a bunch of other stuff. Think I am actually glad they will be looking at more than just the routine echo.

George Gardopee  Kimberly - for the stress echo, they will likely first do a regular echo, then put you on a treadmill while you are hooked up to the ECG leads. They increase both the speed and the incline until you can’t take anymore (usually from exhaustion) - then they will quickly put you back of the table and redo the echo while your heart is pumping furiously.  Apparently under exercise leaks can get much worse. The ECG is done while you are on the treadmill so that they can watch for other signs of trouble (afib, for example, or PVCs), preventing you from overdoing it. 

I remember reading someone’s journal on this site who said they were having symptoms, but everything looked ok during a normal echocardiogram. However, after the treadmill, the leaks were HUGE. That convinced the surgeons to proceed.

Richard Munson  They told me amlodipine helps open your arteries up for good blood flow hence improved blood pressure, but what do i know. I just take it

Kimberly Eisenhut  Thank you for the information George, I will remember to wear comfy clothes that day for sure! Hope my test goes well, but if it's time, it's time.  Just worry about how my 17 year old son would deal with it. He is so sweet, kind young man , but has pretty bad anxiety and panic, and never want to make him feel down or scared for me. It's just him and i, and I think sometimes I feel a lot of guilt that he has to even think about this. It's the protector in me, never want him to hurt or be sad. 
Richard, I will say the amlodipine really does keep my pressure down. Before adding it with the Lisinopril I was regularly around 130/high 80s, past few years it stays around 117-124/80. Dr did say it can cause swelling after time though, so have to watch it and go on water pill or something like that if it causes swelling. I just take all my meds too. If I ask too many questions, seems the Drs do not like it much. I think they take it as you think they don't know what they are doing, but it's just so I know why I am taking what I am taking. 
Keep on tickin' everyone and have a wonderful day :)

Kimberly Eisenhut  I am very late updating this post, but wanted to say that stress test went well and my tricuspid did not get worse with the treadmill. My heart sure was beating out of my chest when they put me back on the table after, but they siad I did well. I will be having a follow up regular echo in December this year. Sorry I kind of hijacked this post for Tracy :/
Tracy, I hope you are doing better and found your answers. Please keep us posted and big hugs and love sent!

George Gardopee  Kimberly - that’s great news! I believe the stress-echo is the gold standard for uncovering valve or rhythm issues that are not obvious without the “stress” of the exercise.  It sounds like you can keep kicking the can down the road  for now (or hopefully forever).

Rita Savelis  I don't think I ever got back to a pre-surgery condition after OHS (It's been 7 years), but I'm okay. My heart rate stays high and blood pressure has almost always been low. I didn't like taking betablockers (like metaprolol) as they made me feel so slow and even depressed, so I now take 10mg of Ivabadrine (Procolaran) to slow the heart rate. I've never taken anything to raise blood pressure. Wish I could help on that. I have heard that eating salty foods (the foods most heart patients don't eat!) helps, but obviously not for you. I hate taking meds, like you, but sometimes one needs to try something out and not freak too much about side effects, etc and see how ones body works on it. Sorry that you have to go through this. Take care.

Tracy Chang  Rita thank you for sharing your experience with me. My recovery takes much longer than I expected.  It is easy to get frustrated sometimes when I feel I am the only one having those uncommon problems such as the low BP.  Your experiences and encouragement give me hope and option to tackle my HR problem. I will discuss possibilities with my doctor when I see him next time.  Thank you so much!!

Rose Madura  I have a little different perspective. I don't want to get back to pre-surgeey condition because that was not a good place to be ok with severe stenosis and other issues.  I would say I felt apprehensive for about a year mainly due to all my complications. But I'm in a much better place now.

Marie Myers  That is a decision that should be made with your doctor. A mini stroke or full stroke is nothing to take lightly. 

Patsy Stewart  I was put on Eliquis and took it for over a year. I started bleeding internally, and my cardiologist switched me to Plavix. He said it would be a milder form of a blood thinner and should stop some of the internal bleeding. I have also had several TIAs, but they were before I was on blood thinners. Be very careful with doubling the baby aspirin. Aspirin can also cause internal bleeding and can cause ulcers if I understand it right. I would continue taking what your doctor prescribed until I could discuss it with them.  

Tracy Chang  Patsy, thanks so much for sharing your experience with me. I had anemia caused by low iron level before the surgery but wasn't able to find out the true cause of it. I am afraid of taking a new drug that could cause internal bleeding. I know more asprin is not good for me. Hope Plavix is a safe option.

Thank you for responding! Stay healthy