Pat Lively - Heart Valve Journal

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Pat Livelyposted an update

2745 days ago

I need to hear from anyone who experiences vertigo, vision disturbances, sparklers and bad head aches after AVR and one bypass. I had a seizure a few hours ...Read more

I need to hear from anyone who experiences vertigo, vision disturbances, sparklers and bad head aches after AVR and one bypass. I had a seizure a few hours after surgery and I don't know if I need to be on Keppra (seizure medicine) or not. I had a good MRI, but my EEG was abnormal, but Neurologist says it is inconclusive and not to worry. I think my symptoms may be a result of the OHS and is not seizure related. I have never had any seizures before nor since, but the Doctor wants to increase my Keppra due to my symptoms. Has anyone else had these symptoms after their surgery. I am nine weeks post op, and don't know what to do. Please let me know if this is normal as I don't think I need seizure meds. I really believe it is surgery related. Thanks to anyone who responds!!

Civita Fahey I don't have vertigo, but I had sparkles or the lights that you see after surgery and I still have th ... Read more

Civita Fahey I don't have vertigo, but I had sparkles or the lights that you see after surgery and I still have them every so often at 11 weeks. I was told it was normal after OHS. I know one other member had vertigo but it was related to inner ear. I also was told that visual disturbances were normal also.., though I didn't have any. I had the auras like I was getting a migraine but I didn't get the migraine.. maybe you should ask your cardiologist?

Marie Myers I had dozens of sparkling auras for weeks after surgery. I am now 3 months out and the frequency has ... Read more

Marie Myers I had dozens of sparkling auras for weeks after surgery. I am now 3 months out and the frequency has dropped.

Lilly Black I have had and still have migraine related partial seizures. My first one happened after my first sur ... Read more

Lilly Black I have had and still have migraine related partial seizures. My first one happened after my first surgery 10 yrs ago. My most current one happened a week ago. I don't get them as often but I am keeping a diary. I am fully awake and aware when it happens. My day is shot after an episode. I have spoken to my doc about it but all he wants to do is put me on seizure meds. I am still researching....have not seen a specialist! Noticed it has to do with lack of sleep but these episodes definitely started after my first surgery although I have been a migraine sufferer for over 35 yrs. Can you describe your symptoms? Would love to compare notes!

Catie B I still get visual disturbances and new-onset migraines with auras several months past my surgery.

Laura Jacobs I have not had vertigo but I do get a little dizzy when I first stand up...not all the time but often ... Read more

Laura Jacobs I have not had vertigo but I do get a little dizzy when I first stand up...not all the time but often. I started getting sparkles in the hospital right after my surgery and they continue but less often now (I had my surgery 3 weeks ago). I started getting optic auras around 7 days after surgery. I had a lot of them throughout the day when they first started but now I might have one every couple of days. I did not have any migraines with the auras. I have had only two headaches since my surgery and nothing that a tylenol did not chase away by the morning.

Ellen Leng I've had some "sparklers" or vision disturbances that were more frequent in the first 6-8 weeks and a ... Read more

Ellen Leng I've had some "sparklers" or vision disturbances that were more frequent in the first 6-8 weeks and are much better after 9 months (WOW), though I still get them on occasion. My understanding is that the visual symptoms are related to being on cardiopulmonary bypass (not your coronary artery bypass) and are the price we pay for getting heart surgery. They are not dangerous.
I'd go with the Neurologist on seizure medication, it's their training.

Pat Livelyposted an update

2787 days ago

1 person reacted to this

Had my OHS on May 5, 2017, and it lasted 6 1/2 hrs. Had AVR with a bovine valve and one bypass that was taken from my breast. I had a seizure that night (first ...Read more

Had my OHS on May 5, 2017, and it lasted 6 1/2 hrs. Had AVR with a bovine valve and one bypass that was taken from my breast. I had a seizure that night (first one of my life) and remained on ventilator for two days. As soon as they removed the vent, they got me up to walk and I was breathless, but done really well. I didn't have any major pain and never got above a level 6 on the pain scale. My greatest complaint is the occasional dizziness, distorted vision, "glitter" and "tracers" in my field of vision, and lack of appetite.....all of which are better after 3 weeks, but still have them daily. I am trying to find anyone else who experienced a seizure after their surgery. All the other symptoms I found a forum that eased my worries as others experienced the same symptoms due to being on the heart-lung machine. Hope they don't last much longer as I will not drive until I am free of them, and they do hinder rehab as I have to stop because it feels like I may pass out or fall. I read that these are common, though. I had an MRI and EEG and all labs come back normal, so I believe it will all pass in time. All in all, I am doing wonderful after 3 weeks, and feel like my surgery was a great success. Thanks to my wonderful Dr. John Watson and all the exceptional care I received at Memorial Hospital and Prairie Heart Institute in Carbondale, Illinois. It is a Heart Institute with a lot of "HEART"!!

Phyllis Petersen It's good to hear that your surgery went well. I remember reading someone else recently had a seizure ... Read more

Phyllis Petersen It's good to hear that your surgery went well. I remember reading someone else recently had a seizure following surgery. I had some occasional dizziness, but nothing that lasted long, and ocassionally still get the disco lights in my eyes, although less and less. Others have commented on what I've heard called ocular migraines. All the best for a speedy and uneventful recovery!

Pat Livelyposted an update

2816 days ago

Shannon Gray, Cathleen Weed and 1 other reacted to this

Seen my surgeon today and I will have my aortic valve replaced and one bypass on Friday, May 5th. I can do this!! My good news was finding out that Left Bundle ...Read more

Seen my surgeon today and I will have my aortic valve replaced and one bypass on Friday, May 5th. I can do this!! My good news was finding out that Left Bundle Branch Block will have no bearing on my heart surgery, and if all goes well, I can still do my hip replacement as early as 2 months. I am so anxious to get this over with and get on the recovery road!! I might not get to plant a lot of flowers this year, but just thankful I am still here to enjoy God's goodness to me. Thank you all for the kindness you have shown through this site. It is a blessing!!

Matthew Russo Pat, I am sure you will be out in the garden later this year and you will be feeling so much better a ... Read more

Matthew Russo Pat, I am sure you will be out in the garden later this year and you will be feeling so much better and with much more energy! Sending lots of positive vibes your way for a successful surgery this Friday. Take Care

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