Lyle's Journal

Sasha Saldana  Hi Lyle. My husband Vic is actually having the same issue after his surgery even though it wasn't really a problem before surgery. The nurse told us that 1 in 3 patients will develop this as a result from the surgery. The nurses also told my husband it should clear up within 3 months. So far they have been treating him with some magnesium but that didn't really work. Then, they put him on some other medication (I forgot the name) which is supposed to be much harsher but so far it seems to be getting the job done. I'm no nurse by any means, but his heart monitor doesn't show any sudden spikes like it was doing yesterday as it's showing a consistent heart rate now. Hope you are recuperating well and best of luck on your recovery!

Larry Ring  Hi Lyle...
I had AVR on 2/6. I had one night in the ICU with A-fib, which was treated and resolved. After discharge, all was well until around week 6. Then I developed A-flutter. We tried to resolve that with medications, but got no result. So I finally had a cardioversion and that brought me back into normal sinus rythmn. That was two months ago. Since then, I've started cardio rehab, stressing the heart under the watchful eye of the nurses, and all is well.
I've been told that A-flutter/fib post-surgery is quite common...up to 40% of those who have OHS will have it crop up.
Your doctors will manage it accordingly. And if they tell you you need a cardioversion to "fix things", don't hesitate. Compared to what we've been through with OHS, it's a total cake walk.
Best of luck...

Cathy Zuber  Hi Lyle...I'm an AFIB Queen, though I was in regular rhythm before my mitral valve replacement."....agree with both previous posts. Take it easy, rest.. things work out!!

Catie B  Sure did have it, starting day two. It can be a bit of a ride, but as friends here are saying, there are medications to manage things and procedures to reverse it. Usually things settle down within a few weeks.

Vanessa Corwin  I had it in the hospital. Got meds for it. Larry is right, 40& of patients who have valve surgery get it. In many cases it's temporary.

Joshua Trimberger  I had it for 9 days in the hospital. It went away eventually. I was told your heart just needs to re-learn what it needs to do and how it doesn't need to work as hard anymore

Marie Myers  Both were very easy and painless. In the CTA, they will start an IV, and give you some dye. Then they take a bunch of pictures while you hold your breath periodically.. Was less then 1/2 hr for me. Same for carotid ultrasound. They run a probe over both sides of your neck with some conducting jelly. Once again, totally painless, and only took about 30 minutes. I, too ,had a hard time sleeping when I was in your shoes. I did ask my doc for something for anxiety that I could take at night to help me when I woke up wide awake at 01:00 . Hope that helps.

Cathleen Weed  They are quick and easy. The CTA isn't in the big MRI machine...it's much shorter. You will have headphones and the tech will give you instructions as they do the scan. At one point (or a couple of times) they will inject the contrast dye through the previously inserted IV. They let you know they are about to do it. It feels warm through your whole body. This allows them to get 3D images and see your valve and arteries. I believe the entire thing lasts 20 minutes or so from what I recall (my last one was the beginning of 2016). Wear sweats with no metal so you can keep them on. You'll have a gown for your torso. You can even keep your shoes on because your feet don't go in the machine. Drink lots of water after the test to flush your kidneys.
The ultrasound is quick and non-invasive. Just like a heart echo, just on the neck. The "silver lining" to all these pre-op tests is that you get to see how your overall heart function is. Most people never do....and a lot of those people end up with heart disease etc.
Hopefully both tests go well and you will get the go-ahead for your surgery so you can move onto the recovery phase...the waiting is the hardest part!
:)

Lyle Blanchard  Thank you ladies, and I agree...the waiting is the hardest part and not knowing makes it even more difficult...I will be anxious to see how the CTA looks and hope things look ok everywhere else.

Steve Farthing  By coincidence, I just spoke with the nurse about getting my CTA scan scheduled and she said I do not even need someone else to drive me home afterwards! (Had the left and right heart cath last week.)