VERY extreme heart pounding

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A

Alex

I am new here, great site, amazing how much people can help each other and I hope to be one of them. I am now 9 weeks post OHS. Everything has gone really well but I am quite concerned about my heart pounding being way too strong, based on what I have read my pounding seems to be out of the ordinary. I have asked the doctors but I get different explanations ( which of course doesn?t help me relax). The two most credible explanations are that the pericardium sac ( which in part act as a buffer) was not closed intentionally and that the heart is very strong (and without shock absorber) and needs time to adjust ( heart was quite enlarged at 7.0 cm prior to surgery). The other most credible explanation is that what I feel and hear is not the heart beating but a huge amount of blood now going in the same direction as opposed to prior to surgery ( my aortic insufficiency was severe). What I find more peculiar is that the pounding gets much stronger and louder if I take a deep breath, when my lungs are filled with air it seems like someone is hammering my upper sternum from inside. Anyone in a quite room can hear that ( even if they are 6 or 7 yards away from me). I can tell everything else is getting better but the pounding is not getting any better.

I can exercise without problems, my BP is good, Heart rate is good, all vital signs good but this hammer inside make me is driving me crazy?sometimes it is so strong it makes me nauseous. Has anyone had similar experience ?
 
Yep,
I had it but I felt it most strongly in the base of my head. It felt like I had a metronome beating inside my head whenever I would lean back against the recliner.
I asked my cardio about it, and he said he had no idea what the cause was.
I did have trouble with an elevated HR for many months after valve replacement, and I think it's possible that the two are linked.

It's not nearly as strong today (almost 3 years afterwards) but I occasionally have it happen. I would continue to ask what's causing it unless you can tell it's lessening as the months go by.
 
Welcome to the VR community, Alex, and congratulations of the 9 week milestone. It sounds like it's going well. Unfortunately I can't offer any insights on the heart pounding as I don't recall experiencing that. However, in my case I didn't have any noticable physical sympotoms and the echo indicated only early signs of heart chamber enlargement, so I suspect my heart didn't have much remodelling to do.
 
Hello Alex and welcome!
Since you had a repair I'm assuming that your heart just needs more time to re-model and get used to the new "flow" of things. It was a very long time before I felt comfortable with my heart and the new force of blood actually being able to flow freely through my heart.
It is a good idea to keep your doctor posted on what you are experiencing.
 
Hi Alex and I too Welcome you!

But I'm sorry I can't give you any advice, but you should get some answers/suggestions from a member who is more knowledgeable than myself on this matter.

I just wanted to say "Hi" and glad you found this amazing site.
 
Hi Alex - Welcome!

I am 6 months post op and still have a very strong heartbeat - especially when I take a deep breath and when I first lie down. The pounding has gotten a little better with time but the amount it bothers me has greatly improved.

I, too, thought I would go crazy from the "strong" heartbeat along with the ticking but gradually I've come to the point where it doesn't consume my every thought.

Hang in there - it will get easier.
 
SEVERAL of our members have reported a Pounding HeartBeat after Surgery.

The most plausible explanation seems to be that the Heart Muscles had to Pump Hard to compensate for a Stenotic (or Leaky) Valve.

When your New Valve was implanted, the Heart kept on beating as powerfully as before, but now you have a properly functioning valve and 'feel the effects'. The more the Heart is Enlarged, the worse this effect would be expected to be (my GUESS, not a professional opinion).

This may take some time for your heart to 'recondition'.
It seems that some Cardiologists prescribed various medications to help minimize this effect.

Do a SEARCH for Keyword "Pounding" and you will find several posts discussing this issue.

'AL Capshaw'
 
Heart Pounding

Heart Pounding

I am in my 4th week and the pounding heart is the main problem I have. It's worse now that I have slipped back into Atrial Fibrillation. I am hoping this will pass but I am concerned that it may take a lot longer then 6 weeks. It's a little like having tinnitus. At first it bugs you to death and then one day you realize it's still there but you not as aware of it. I hope the heart pounding will go that direction.
 
Extreme heart pounding

Extreme heart pounding

Thanks so much everyone !! I had read a lot about heart pounding after surgery from other members but your responses have given me some needed peace of mind. At least it looks like it will go away and that this hammering should not pose any danger. BTW...I am taking Carvediol ( 25 mg a day) Thanks again !!!
 
alex

alex

My husband had bicuspid valve replaced with St jude and root replaced and a dacron graft due to anerysm. Ever since his surgery 4 months ago he has had the very loud pounding heart, it seems to slowly be getting less often and not as loud as a couple months ago.

his cardio said it wasn,t anything to worry about but didn,t really give us any reason. Hang in there it will get better. We are startin to hear the clicking noise more often instead of the pounding.
 
I wonder what the SURGEONS have to say about "Pounding HeartBeats". Perhaps they have more insight since it does seem to be a fairly common 'after effect' of surgery.

'AL Capshaw'
 
I was told pre-surgery by my surgeon that my stenotic aortic valve was about the size of a good pinhole; after, it was the size of a quarter. The heart compensates by building the muscle up (I call it my Popeye heart muscle :) ), and trying to pump all the harder, to get the required amount of blood to the body. After surgery, it still pumps as much it can, but the blood now flows freely, and that is what you hear. He also tole me that my heart will remodel itself, it may take up to two years, but meanwhle I am on a beta-blocker and 2 meds for BP, just to keep it under contol. I remember a couple of nights in hospital when I lay with my hands crossed across my chest, because I thought my heart was going to leap out my chest. I felt it most (at the time) at the base of my throat. I still feel (almost 7 months post-op) a strong pulse noise in my right ear in bed, usually, and at other times when I am quiet and calm, can become aware of it.
 
I also used to have the excessive pounding feeling in the base of my throat; it is very unnerving.
Now I sometimes have the pulsing at the base of my sternum, but that seems to be a more regular stronger heart beat. It is really helpful that I have a BP machine ($70) at home and can check on things as needed.
 
Well I am now in week 8 of recovery and I have the same heart pounding. My doctors have also told me different things. Yes, taking a deep breath is sometimes very uncomfortable. I am hoping it will go away over time but it does get very anoying at times.
 
Welcome Alex, sounds like it is something that will get better with time, so i hope things get eaiser for you soon, hang in and take care.
 
I remember in the hospital I could hear the pounding, feel the pounding and especially unnerving was feeling the pulsations in my lips! I am 4 months post op and it has really lessened. But at night sometimes, as I am falling off to sleep, I still feel the pounding, esp. if I am on my left side. Otherwise, most of the time I do not notice it at all and am feeling great!

All the best, Betsy
 
I'm at Mayo Clinic trying to solve this "pounding"

I'm at Mayo Clinic trying to solve this "pounding"

In early dec 07, we very luckily found my aortic dissection and underwent 8 1/2 hrs of life saving open heart surgery including an implant of a St. Judes 27mm mechanical valve. All was quiet and calm until the 5th week post op. Since that point, my heart has been pounding well into my throat, my collar bones are shaking, my chest pounds, my back does as well. When i lay down, my head and back pulse so hard my body and head lift and fall enough where i sometimes get dizzy.

I just met with cardioligist at Mayo today and unfortunately, it appears that there is no solution for this. He said my case is extremely rare but that unfortunately, I may have to just live with it. I'm not a case of prolonged high blood pressure where my heart was working hard prior to surgery so the theory of body noramalization does not apply for me but maybe for you all.

If anyone has any additional thoughts or comments, I'd love to hear about it. I'm happy to be alive but disappointed that the pounding started 3 months ago and seems to be getting worse. Take care everyone.
 
When I lay down my heart also beats hard enough that I can feel it in my chest, shoulders, and my head. Mine doesn't sound as extreme as yours. Im 5+ weeks post op at this point and my biggest issue is pain under my shoulder blade. I had a bout of pericardial effussion a few weeks ago and I suspect it may be back.

When I lay down initially it takes me a bit to relax, the pounding is there but I think I simply block it out as best I can. If its causing you problems sleeping I've been taking two Tylenol PMs and a Xanax (.25 mg). That has done me wonders in getting a solid 7 or so hours with maybe only one wakeup at night.
 
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