Kim's Journal

Richard Munson  Well, new one on me so i had to check it out on line. Not sure i can understand what ohs would have with causing an elevated diaphragm. I read all the causes and symptoms. Would seem like it would have been elevated also before the surgery causing breathing issues, but then i am also not a doctor.

J Alexander Lassally  Hi Kim - Sorry to hear you need a second surgery. I'm curious what kind of procedure you had in 2022 (thoracotomy?)  ? Which hospital did it?  

Jennifer Barnett  Hi Kim
High heart rates and arrhythmia problems are fairly common and usual after heart surgery and can go on for many weeks. It's best to take things slowly for awhile. 
I had a mitral valve replacement 5 years ago, post surgery and for many weeks afterwards I had some AF episodes and high heart rates. I was supposed to have a pace maker but after starting medication (metroprolol) and being monitored using a holter monitor as an outpatient eventually it settled down. I did stay on the medication for 1.5 years until the cardiologist was happy and my heart rate and rhythm were normal. I was often dizzy when my heart rate increased. I found my GP really helpful with these issues and she was the one that did everything possible so I didn't have to have a pacemaker. Once my rate had settled on the medication and checking with my doctor I started regular walking and found it helped my heart alot. 

Rose Madura  Hi Kim. It wouldn't hurt to discuss with your cardiologist. Your symptoms sound like mine when I would go into Afib/aflutter. It is common during first six weeks or so and at nine weeks out, that may be what's happening. I'm not a doctor which is why I recommend you seeing yours... please keep us posted.

Linda Johnson  Hi Kim, I had a MV and Tricuspid Valve repair 3 months ago. The first 3 weeks postop I also experienced high heart rates and paroxysmal A Fib intermittently.  It was very uncomfortable.  The metoprolol did not seem to be working effectively at that point.
Despite being told by cardiologist that tachycardia is normal
PostOp it was difficult. One prolonged episode of “sinus tachycardia” turned out instead to be a prolonged episode  (24 hours) of A flutter/A fib with rate of 150 bpm requiring cardio version. 
The meds were then changed to Cardizem and Amiodorone. They worked to control the rhythm however the combination of drugs caused side effects of dizziness, bradycardia and syncope.  After multiple episodes, med adjustments were again made to prevent the rate from dropping to the 30s-40s.  Stopped the Cardizem and eventually the Amiodorone.
Now on low dose Metoprolol again which seems to be now working.  Bottom line, its been a matter of 
listening to my body, noting the side effects and contacting the cardiologist and electrophysiologist to report symptoms and advocate for med changes sooner rather than later. I believe it will be an ongoing process during recovery as my heart continues to heal.  
My suggestion is to contact your cardiologist. 

Kim Witherington  My cardiologist is working with me. I am trying atenolol 1/2 dose now at night it is helping my hr some but moving around makes it go up .  Which make rehab hard. Hopefully as my heart heals it will get better. None of my ekg have shown atrial fib. Thanks for your input 

George Gardopee  Kim: I had mitral repair ( and tricuspid repair) done by Dr. Gillinov last November. I had already been on 50 mg metoprolol daily prior to surgery. The dose was increased to 75 mg post surgery.  My pre-surgery resting heart rate was around 62.  After surgery it jumped to close to 78 and stayed there for about three months. During cardiac rehab the therapists saw that my heart rate, while still high, was also not decreasing after exercising so my cardiologist upped the dose to 100 mg. That seemed to do the trick - my rest heart rate has dropped back to the low 60s. I am very fortunate that I don’t have any side effects from the metoprolol, but it is apparent that after 6 months my heart rate would still be higher than it was prior to surgery if not for the beta blocker. I am hoping to be able to back off the dose eventually, but as others have said, it could take a year or more.

Phyllis Petersen  Hi Kim, I did well at first, but was on beta blockers even though I've had issues with low pressure before. After two months, I was taken off of the beta blocker. I had to work carefully with the exercise physiologist who was managing my cardiac rehab. I was interval training and my heart rate went too high, another day wouldn't come down for over a half hour. He adjusted my intervals and we found a plan that worked for my heart and I was able to progress then at a really good rate. I wish you well with finding a good balance and moving forward. The good thing was that this didn't last forever and I was able to move on. BTW, Dr. Gillinov did my robotic mitral valve repair in October 2016. His whole team was awesome. CC is a great place and I'm happy I chose to travel there to have the very best care.