Tom's Journal

J Alexander Lassally  Well, I am certainly not normal yet at 3 months either !   I appreciate your note as it makes me feel like it is okay to go slow. The medical community, in general, does a bad job of advising us. 

I suppose the 6-9 month mark is a realistic benchmark for things to really normalize. Some say 12 months. 

Marie Myers  I had an aortic valve / aneurysm replacement. Everyone is so different, depending on your age, level of fitness, home support level, ect. So many things can affect your recovery. Other than the PVC’s , what types of symptoms are you having? I would say my irregular beats disappeared by about 4 months. Did you do cardiac rehab? 

Tom Dorr  I have completed rehab and work out on my own. I run 4 days a week and do some weight resistance exercises. Other than the PVC's, I don't have any serious symptoms, but I just don't feel like myself yet.   There are good days and bad days.  I was hoping by now, I would be back to feeling normal.  It is getting better but progress seems slow.  I am impatient. 

Marie Myers  I felt that impatience also. If your PCP / cardiologist is happy with how everything looks with you, it just may be “ tincture of time” that you need…There is an emotional recovery also, having been through such a serious, huge surgery. Might be part of what you are feeling?

Jill Porter  I also had OHS in August and it is taking me a very long time to recover. I struggled with Afib at first. After that got under control I still had shortness of breath. It's better now but some days are better than others. As long as the Dr. is telling you everything looks good just keep going one day at a time and I believe it will get better and better.

Richard Munson  I had lightheadedness but who knows if valve caused it. There are many potential causes. Including medications.

J Alexander Lassally  I have not heard of the dizziness as much as the shortness of breath etc... Beta blockers can make you dizzy or even other BP meds though...  Best of luck. You having thoracotomy or sternotomy in MI?

Marie Myers  Have you consulted a neurologist and/ or ear nose throat doc to evaluate your dizziness? Did your Primary car doc take the complaint seriously and investigate the dizziness ( possible ear infection or carotid stenosis)? It is possible that the dizziness may be related to the heart, but there are other causes as well. Hope you get some answers!

Richard Munson  It did not go away after surgery which leads me to believe it is something other than heart valve. However, before surgery i do not recall having it. 5 mile a day fast walker before. Now 3 mile a day. On beta blocker metropolol, before and after surgery but also have eye cataract issues as well. My age at 81 could also be a factor.  It also comes and goes. Not severe like you state. Right after my surgery i had 2 bouts of severe dizzyness or vertigo but knock on wood, has not returned. One so bad i fell off the treadmill. Another so bad wife called 911. I was watching tv in bed. The room was upside down. Fell off the bed. When they arrived i was fine and vitals were normal. Very scary if anyone has experienced vertigo. I said a hail mary and an our father. Figured i was done. If i sit for awhile then standup i feel like a need to steady myself. Especially in the sun. Prior to my surgery i did not have symptoms like shortness of breath or ankle swelling but yet i was considered in severe category. Its what prompted me to ask for the surgery. My decision was cemented when i asked the doctor if my valve would improve on its own. His answer was of course, no. Good luck. 

Klara Čičić  I had lightheadedness and still have it after the surgery, especially when I stand up. It's called orthostatic hypotension. Taller people with lower blood pressure are more prone to it. You describe your symptom as dizziness. It might be vertigo due to problems with inner ear in the first place, but also from other causes. I agree with Marie, she said it perfectly. Good luck! 

Tom Dorr  I appreciate the comments and suggestions.  I hope the surgery will resolve the issue. The symptom started the same time my doctor told me I needed to have the valve repaired and the leak was severe.  I am having a minimally invasive procedure at U of M on the 24th.  Looking forward to getting back to normal, I am only 46 and this whole thing scares the crap out of me.  

Marie Myers  Totally normal to feel that way, Tom. I know I did. Distract yourself as much as you can, but know that you will get through it all!

Janet Roberson  I was asymptomatic prior to mitral valve surgery. I had periodic faintness and dizziness for about six weeks after surgery, especially when walking distances and climbing stairs. It dr teased over time and now it’s rare that I feel faint or short of breath.

Valerie Allen  Are you checking blood pressure regularly? Dizziness can be related to high blood pressure and since it started around the time you learned this???

Robert Miller  Most people with valve problems report symptoms of shortness of breath. It was the same for me. However, dizziness can also indicate heart problems. If your heart can't pump  enough blood (heart failure, irregular heart beats, shallow heart beats, etc) you will lack oxygen. That in return will result in dizziness and lightheadedness. I am not saying this is your main problem. But have a TEE done to evaluate your heart. If it needs fixing then do so. If there are additional problem then try to address them as well but don't take this as an excuse to fix your heart valve problem if confirmed by the TEE. Btw, I told the doctor and students I have bad gag reflexes (I do) and so they knocked me out real good. Don't remember a thing...