10 weeks post operation

[GeorgeM]

I went to see my cardio this week and had an ECG and Echo. They'll use the info as a baseline to monitor my heart over time.

Everything looks fine.

I mentioned about getting some irregular heart beats (mainly at night), and the cardio said that he could see some signs of that on my ECG. His view is that they should gradually disappear over time as my heart recovers.

I still find I get tired - but later in the day, usually about 9 - 10 pm I start struggling to keep my eyes open - but I am getting up at 7 am !

I plan to start running again (having kept to walking for the last 10 weeks), so it should be interesting to see how my heart responds - hopefully it'll keep beating !!

One question - how often are you folks seeing your cardio after your surgery for check ups ?

Best Wishes


George Montgomery

 

[LindaVA]

Cardio Visits and Running

Cardio Visits and Running

Hi George,
I am 6 weeks out of mv repair. It is interesting that you have seen your cardiologist so soon. I had a post op visit at 4 weeks and they don't want to see me again until 6 months!!!!! I found that very unsettling but I did have port access surgery so maybe it has something to to do with that. I am making an appointment with him sooner at 3 months because I really really want an echo to see how this repair is holding up! Almost like I need to see it to believe it.

As for running, do not be disappointed at first. I tell you from experience. The exercise nut that I am, I began running at 4 weeks right after my post op appointments. The running DOES NOT come back easy. I have found that with all other exercise (i.e, weight lifting, elliptical, etc), I almost have my full endurance back but running is a lot slower and my breathing is very off. I've definitely had to do a lot of run 5 minutes, walk 5 minute sessions and now at 6 weeks, I've only worked my way up to running 20-25 minutes at a time. I talked to the nurse practitioner at the surgeon's office and she believes it has everything to do with the lungs being collpased and forming scar tissue plus a little dose of being gun-shy of running at this point. She said that would take a little longer to come back and that for 6 weeks out, I should be just shut up and color (a nice USAF phrase we use for stop whining!) because I'm doing pretty damn good at this point.

I went back to work full time at 5 weeks and my normal routine and I concur that at night after work, I feel very achy and tired and flu like. The days are much better. And yes, I've had some irregular beats too, particularly when I'm tired. I wonder why we have them if the problem has been fixed-- you are probably right, the heart is still finicky and recovering even though we feel outwardly that we are back to normal.

I come off coumodin tomorrow, my 6 week point. YEAH!

Take care

 

[WayneGM]

After my surgery, I was supposed to see my Card at 4 weeks post-op, but ended up seeing him sooner because of the pericardial tamponade episode. Then it was at 3 months, which may have been to follow-up on the pericardial tamponade more than the OHS, and finally at 6 months. Now my next visit is 12 months from then, at which point he'll determine whether I still need to see him regularly (annually) or if just my GP will suffice. I also had a MV repair and no other cardiac problems except moderate hypertension which I've only had since the OHS and I'm taking Atacand for. He's hoping that's under control by the time I see him and if so, he thinks annual check-ups with my GP should suffice.

Best wishes with the running.

 

[GeorgeM]

Linda - I can't keep up with you, running at 4 weeks and going back to work at 5 weeks. Still you should be sleeping well !!

Wayne - Yes, I think I'd like to see my cardio annually to make sure everything is OK - after all they only found the original problem because I started having A-Fib.

Best Wishes

George

 

[TomS]

George,,
I had the same operation that you did 18 months ago at 48. First echo was 90 days after surgery, then six months later, now once per year. Same for the check-ups.
At 10 weeks you're turning the corner. I started back skiing about then.
I found that the more tired I made myself one week, the better I felt the next. I wouldn't be afraid to push it a little. Tired at the end of the day 10 weeks out was about where I was. At six months I was fully recovered.
My advice is to start pretending that it never happened and it will start to feel that way.
Good luck,
Tom

 

[GeorgeM]

Tom

Thanks for sharing your own experience.

My advice is to start pretending that it never happened and it will start to feel that way.

I like that way of looking at it and will give it a try !

Best Wishes

George

 

[Blanche]

Tom, it's really good to see that you are doing so well 10 weeks after surgery.

Al had his valve replaced in 1990. Since then he had visited his cardiologist every 6 months. In that time, the doctor has picked up several small concerns. He does an EKG each time he visits and an Echo every two years. Al complains about going to the Cardiologist, but I see it as prevention and another pair of trained eyes on his case.

Kind regards,
Blanche

 

[MaryC]

George,
The original plan was to see my cardiologist at 4-6 weeks, then have an echo at 6 months. Since I have run into some issues I am seeing him more than the norm.

In reference to the after surgery timeline for exercise.....my surgeon was very specific about my exercising at a reduced pace for a while after my surgery. Aren't there issues with damaging a repaired or replaced valve by overdoing, particularly heavy lifting? I didn't ask him at the time...I just assumed it was something along these lines.

 

[Susan BAV]

Mary's right; you musn't do too much too soon. Please clear things with your surgeon and cardiologist.

That said, glad you're doing so well, George! In answer to your question, I saw the cardio a few times during the first three months post-op, partly because of a rehospitalization with A-fib, and then I didn't see him again until nearly a year post-op; and now I only have to see him once a year. Take care.

 

[debster913]

Hi, George--

Don't push yourself too hard, physically or emotionally. I saw my cardiologist the day after being discharged from the hospital (four days post-op), then again a week later so he could remove my stitches, and then I had my first post-op echo six weeks after surgery, and because I threw myself back into work full-force three months post-op, I ended up with a few weird bends in the road. Because of all that stress I loaded on myself, I ended up seeing my cardiologist about once a month. Some things were avoidable (stress), and others were not (shortness of breath--from a new med, and a narrowed femoral artery as a result of the heart-lung port). I (hopefully) don't need to see the cardio until August, when I'm scheduled to have my next arterial echo. Next valve echo isn't until December.

Take care of yourself, and please, if you do feel any weird symptoms, don't hesitate to call the cardio. I let some things go that I wish I hadn't.

Debi (debster913)

 

[temp69]

Hey dude, I had an irregular heartbeat about two months after my surgery AVR and it went away, i think it was due to a drug called metformin i was taking for high blood sugar levels.

anyway, i'm doing great at 10 months post op, you have a great future ahead of you! good luck!

 

[Adam 12-21-05]

George,

Congrats. Quite amazing that at 10 weeks you're ready to start burning tread again. That's a great sign but don't push it. How's your heart rate? Are you monitoring it during your walks?

Cheers.

Adam

 

[TomS]

All sounds good, keep it going! My last echo said that it's all airtight with my left ventrical (was slighlty enlarged) totally back to normal. I do everything that I did before.Coumadin is no issue but I do wear a helmet when I ski. Other than that, I'm back to normal. Been told by the wife no golf this weekend despite the great weather in CT. I'm cleaning the garage and painting.
Tom

 

[CathyK.]

I had my first post-op visit with my surgeon at 4 weeks out. My surgeon takes care of his patients for the first month post-op then I see my Cardiologist at 3 months post-op. That date is coming up in May so I can't help you from there. Are you doing cardiac rehab? You might want to run there first so they can monitor you during your exercise. I have been doing the rehab for a month now and it is comforting to know how far you should push yourself without going too far. Just a thought.

Good luck and keep up the good work!