Abnormal pulse?

[Stuart]

When I listen to my ticking valve, I hear an irregular beat about every tenth beat or so. Is this a fibrillation? I am three months post op.

 

[Ross]

Nope, actually it's quite normal to miss one now and then, but if you start missing alot more, tell your Cardiologist.

 

[Stuart]

Nope, actually it's quite normal to miss one now and then, but if you start missing alot more, tell your Cardiologist.

Thanks for the info.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

What is often perceived as a "missed beat" is often actually a 'Premature' contraction (PAC or PVC)* with a noticably increased pause to the next beat. PAC = Premature Atrial Contraction. PVC = Premature Ventrical Contraction.

These can feel a little strange, like a small 'out of balance' washing machine bumping around in your chest, but are generally considered to be benign. Mine were controlled with a small (25mg) dose of Toprol XL, a time released Beta Blocker.

Every tenth beat is more than random, but again, probably not a serious concern. You may want to advise your doctor or call his nurse and see what he says. If they become more frequent, say every second or third or fourth beat, definitely tell your Doctor. He will likely want to do and EKG or put you on a Holter Monitor to positively identify the type of arrhythmia you are having. There are several types of medications to help control these effects.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Stuart]

What is often perceived as a "missed beat" is often actually a 'Premature' contraction (PAC or PVC)* with a noticably increased pause to the next beat. PAC = Premature Atrial Contraction. PVC = Premature Ventrical Contraction.

These can feel a little strange, like a small 'out of balance' washing machine bumping around in your chest, but are generally considered to be benign. Mine were controlled with a small (25mg) dose of Toprol XL, a time released Beta Blocker.

Every tenth beat is more than random, but again, probably not a serious concern. You may want to advise your doctor or call his nurse and see what he says. If they become more frequent, say every second or third or fourth beat, definitely tell your Doctor. He will likely want to do and EKG or put you on a Holter Monitor to positively identify the type of arrhythmia you are having. There are several types of medications to help control these effects.

'AL Capshaw'

That's good to know. In any case, I made an appointment to see my cardiologist about this.

Thanks.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

One of our VR.com expressions is
"When in doubt, check it out"
so making an appointment with
your cardio is a wise decision.

IF he suggests using AMIODARONE,
politely suggest that he exhaust
ALL other options beforehand.
Usually a Beta Blocker can be found
that works well.

Amiodarone is the Sledge Hammer of
antiarrhythmiac medications and has
LOTS of SERIOUS side effects including
blindness and lung damage from prolonged
use. It also has a very long half life on the
order of 6 months so it takes FOREVER to
get off the stuff completely. Even the
literature that comes with the bottle calls
it a medication of LAST RESORT.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Stuart]

One of our VR.com expressions is
"When in doubt, check it out"
so making an appointment with
your cardio is a wise decision.

IF he suggests using AMIODARONE,
politely suggest that he exhaust
ALL other options beforehand.
Usually a Beta Blocker can be found
that works well.

Amiodarone is the Sledge Hammer of
antiarrhythmiac medications and has
LOTS of SERIOUS side effects including
blindness and lung damage from prolonged
use. It also has a very long half life on the
order of 6 months so it takes FOREVER to
get off the stuff completely. Even the
literature that comes with the bottle calls
it a medication of LAST RESORT.

'AL Capshaw'

I know Al,

I've been taking amiodarone (200 mg/day) since my surgery for the last three months and I just stopped it about a week ago, as specified by the surgeon. Fortunately, I haven't had any noticeable side effects.

 

[Barry]

...I've been taking amiodarone (200 mg/day) since my surgery for the last three months and I just stopped it about a week ago, as specified by the surgeon. Fortunately, I haven't had any noticeable side effects.

If you were put on Amiodarone, my guess is that you do have fibrillation. That's what that's stuff's for - at least that's why they gave it to me.

Bonus points that you were at least informed of the side effects. It was like pulling teeth for me to find out what the side effects were: Finally insisted upon seeing the medication insert that the manufacturer had sent the hospital pharmacy. Went ahead and tried it, BTW, even knowing of its toxicity. Alas, didn't work for me.

 

[Stuart]

If you were put on Amiodarone, my guess is that you do have fibrillation. That's what that's stuff's for - at least that's why they gave it to me.

Bonus points that you were at least informed of the side effects. It was like pulling teeth for me to find out what the side effects were: Finally insisted upon seeing the medication insert that the manufacturer had sent the hospital pharmacy. Went ahead and tried it, BTW, even knowing of its toxicity. Alas, didn't work for me.

Actually, I wasn't informed of the side effects. Like you, I found out about them by reading the medication insert, as well as researching on the web.

I had intense fibrillations a few days after my surgery which lasted only a day or two, and I was told that this is very common. I guess that's why they prescribed the Amiodarone for me, unless it's routine after heart surgery.

One thing I have to be careful about is not to get too much sun, as I've read that skin sensitivity to sun is one of the side effects.

 

[Barry]

...as I've read that skin sensitivity to sun is one of the side effects.

Yep, and I was especially pleased when I found that they wanted me to take that stuff without telling me about a variety of photosensitivity - Smurf Syndrome. Your skin turns irreversibly bluish grey. Quit taking the drug and... your skin is still irreveribly bluish grey.

I figured it was worth the risk and went ahead and tried it, but I was astounded that they wanted me to take it without even knowing about that. Besides simple human decency, it seems to me that the "Take this" approach to informed consent is an invitation to a malpractice lawsuit: Had I gotten Smurf Syndrome, well, I knew the risk I was taking. But they wanted me to take it without knowing the risk I was taking.