John Dennis - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

3216 days ago

I am trying to get information about the extremely heavy heart beats I have been experiencing in my upper breast bone / throat area since my surgery. Sometimes ...Read more

I am trying to get information about the extremely heavy heart beats I have been experiencing in my upper breast bone / throat area since my surgery. Sometimes it feels like my breastbone is going to come out of my chest.

Elaine Cutri I had a similar surgery as yours. They repaired an ascending aorta aneurysm and implanted an On-X mec ... Read more

Elaine Cutri I had a similar surgery as yours. They repaired an ascending aorta aneurysm and implanted an On-X mechanical aortic valve. I have a very pronounced heart beat just above my collar bone. I asked my surgeon about it. His opinion was; a lot of plumbing was changed and it's a little stiffer than my original tissue artery. It also was changed in one day and we normally have a chance, in-utero and many years there after, to get use to the sound of our heart. I'm getting use to it and it sure bets the alternative 💓. I'm also on 25 mg x2/day metoprolol to calm the contraction of my heart.
I hope it's nothing for you. Best wishes!

John Dennis Thank you Elaine for sharing your experience. My bi cuspid valve was repaired and not replaced. It wa ... Read more

John Dennis Thank you Elaine for sharing your experience. My bi cuspid valve was repaired and not replaced. It was my cardiologist and not the surgeon who gave me a similar answer as your surgeon. He said it's caused by the valve closing properly with no leakage that's causing the problem. He said that when it closes properly, the pressure from the blood in my aorta causes the pressure to "slam" against the valve and thus the feeling I get. One question for you if I may, can you or anyone else feel the heart beat with your hand? I'm also wondering how long this will go on before it stops the hammering or when I get used to it. I forgot to mention that they also repaired my aneurism as well.

Elaine Cutri Yes, I can feel it with my hand. It's the new way I take my pulse during exercise. I don't know if it ... Read more

Elaine Cutri Yes, I can feel it with my hand. It's the new way I take my pulse during exercise. I don't know if it will ease up for you. It may be that you become accustomed to it and seems less noticeable.

John Dennis Thank you. Good luck and long life.

Mary K I feel mine, too, and sometimes in the femoral artery where the thigh meets the abdomen. Cardiologist ... Read more

Mary K I feel mine, too, and sometimes in the femoral artery where the thigh meets the abdomen. Cardiologist said, 'no problem'. Yes, it can be annoying or worrisome.

John Dennis Thank you Mary for taking the time to write to me about your experience. I am hoping that either I g ... Read more

John Dennis Thank you Mary for taking the time to write to me about your experience. I am hoping that either I get used to this banging in my upper chest or it diminishes altogether. Thanks again and God bless.