Heartbeat Question

[temp69]

I am one month plus four days (who's counting) post op for an AVR, have an On-X mechanical valve. Heart rate has been going down into the high 70's and low to mid 80's and blood pressure is normal.

My QUESTION is, sometimes my heart seems to be BEATING rather strongly. Not fast, not irregular, but really STRONGLY, where I can feel it much more than normal.

Anyone else experience anything like this? The nurse in Cardio Rehab says it's my mechanical valve, plus hyper awareness after surgery. Mmmm....

 

[Georgia]

You sound like you're doing really well - I'd have KILLED for such a great heart rate so soon after surgery.

Yes, feeling the heart beat is really common - your heart is still cranky and hypersensitive. And it doesn't do it all the time.

Keep on doing what you're doing - sounds good. Do you like cardiac Rehab?

 

[temp69]

Thanks for the input! Rehab is fine, not terrible difficult except for the arm pedalling thingy, leaves me with jelly arms. Can't do much in the way of weights yet, incision still tender.

Onward and upward! Good luck to you, too!

 

[Cooker]

Temp,

I'm 5 months out and at times my HB is very loud or I can "feel" it (St Jude Mech). I can change positions and that helps at times. HR is between 70-90 depending on what I am doing. I noticed it all the time when I was 1-2 months out but it does get better.

Cooker

Kind of like knowing it is still working

 

[CThrock]

Hi Temp69

Hi Temp69

I'm 6 weeks out of surgery and having the same problem. The dr. put me on an event monitor for two weeks watching me closely. My heart was beating so hard I thought it was going to take off. Pulse rate was 128. This has been happening
about every two weeks. Just let your doctor know so he can keep track of it.
I've heard this is pretty normal for post surgeries but I still let my dr. know.
Thought maybe I was doing to much right away. Otherwise I feel pretty good.
Hope that helps you not worry about it so much.

 

[Liz]

Me too

Me too

I'm a few days behind you and I have experienced this a lot and I had a valve repair, not replacement. It actually has seemed worse the last few days, I've been thinking maybe that is because I've been doing more, it seems to get worse when I am tired or have overexerted. Sometimes my heart feels like it is pounding so hard that my whole upper body vibrates, and the back of the chair I'm sitting in too. I asked the cardio and the surgeon about it and both said it is normal and could take months to go away completely. The cardio attributed it to be pericardium (sac around the heart) being cut into, and the surgeon just said it is related to the surgery.

'Be still my beating heart' takes on a whole new meaning!

Keep up the inspiring recovery and reports!
Liz

 

[aussigal]

I have the same feelings too, especially when I move around. I actually find it useful in that I can take my pulse easier now. It does feel kinda funny though as if your heart is gonna jump out of your chest but I dont think that has ever happened. I am guessing that this feeling may get less as time goes on.

 

[debster913]

Oh, boy, do I! I can feel mine right now. My heart rate is in the 70s-80s, and even whether I'm calm or stressed, I can feel it "jitter." Before surgery, my heart felt jittery, too, but my heart rate was really low (40s). My cardio says it's normal and should even out in time. I'm 6 weeks post-op with a repair.

Debi (debster913)

 

[Mike C]

Its normal after surgery for it to beat strongly. It may dissipate as you recover but I would expext it still to be strong or be able to feel it depending on different positions.

Some of it is the recovery, but soem of it is the valve/graft, not sure which one but am told the graft condcuts sound better than a real aorta.

Mike