Dwain's Journal

Martin Smith  Hello from Ontario! I see your operation was 15 years ago. Interested on hearing your story if you're ready to share it here.

Richard Munson  Seems tough to compare heart surgery 15 years ago as the science has changed so much even one year to the next

Rose Madura  I had a rough recovery with a lot of complications but turned a corner after about 3 months.  Each case is different.   I'm also curious what long term effects you're experiencing. 

Dwain Mueller   Thanks for the interest.
just maybe a little more medical background.  I was asked before the surgery if I wanted to do an angiogram.  I thought if we are lifting the hood, let’s check everything. My pipes were clean.
I am on warfarin for the mechanical valve, 10 mg of altace for blood pressure, 20 mg simvastatin for cholesterol. Plus a bunch of herbal stuff.
 I have issues with irregular heartbeat if I over exercise which for me is just a little longer walk than usual. Rest gets me back to a regular heartbeat. I can deal with that.
I certainly knew that I was feeling different after surgery, like I had to accept a new normal.
this next bit is what has affected my life in a big way. There are way worse problems, medical wise. So ever since getting the knife I have not been able to have one old normal day.  I hit the “wall “around 11:00 to 12;00 every day no matter how much rest I have. First is what I call brain fog, then extreme exhaustion, irregular heart beat sometimes. At this point, I have learned that I must lay down for an hour give or take. My symptoms improve and I finish a regular day. If I don’t, it’s a terrible spiral down until I just have to rest. 
Have any of you experienced this? What have you done? I had to quit my job in oil and gas. It has been hard on my family, these limitations. I guess the best way to describe it is I lost all my stamina. I try to do 8000 steps a day. I have been sleep tested.
not one cardiologist have given me a reason for this. They all say, so what, have your rest, but I really want to have just one normal day. Get up at 7:00, go to bed at 10:00

Rose Madura  I'm no way a doctor but I cant help feeling that your issues are from the irregular heartbeat.   Can you get a second opinion?  Seems like they should be able to help you. 

  I concur with Rose. Get a second opinion if you can. I noticed my balance got worse after surgery two years ago so I tried to be careful. I get the brain fog once in a while and have been told age can do that. I’m grateful most of my days are “normal” and I get to do what I need to do. Hope you will find answers to your issues and continue to post and let us know. God bless you Dwain