arrhythmia and replacements

[Karlynn]

Before my mitral valve replacement 12 years ago, my main problem was ongoing arrhythmia. I didn't have the chest pain sometimes associated with MVP, but had nasty palpitations and they couldn't find any medication to control them very well. Most of them were thought to be non-life threatening after many EKG's and Haulter moniters. The doctors said my biggest problem was that I could feel everyone and they bothered me enough to affect my lifestyle. I guess many people aren't aware of most palpitations, but I seem to be unlucky enough to have a highly sensitive nervous system. (I could feel the catheter go up ever inch during my cardiac caths.)

Anyway, I was told before my surgery, that the arrhythmias would probably not go away. Imagine my disappointment. But to my surprise, most have gone away for the most part. If I am tired, stressed or nervous, they tend to sprout up, but they have decreased by about 90%. I take metoprolol to slow my heart rate, but that's it, other than Coumadin.

I was just curious to hear from anyone else who had, or has, arrhythmia associated with their valve issues.

Karlynn

 

[MelissaM]

Hi Karlynn,

It seems many of the members here have had experience with arrhythmias, both pre and post op. I had a few palpitations pre-op that were bothersome but not long-lasting. Post-op, I seem to have more difficulty with my heart rhythms. Having said that, I am only a month out from mitral valve surgery, so hopefully, as my heart heals some of this will dissipate. Right now I am on digitalis and metroprolol to regulate the rhythm. It is working okay, but not stellarly. The doc said that it if increased or became more bothersome, he could do a cath procedure to "zap" the heart into behaving. I think one of our member (forgetting just who at the moment) is either scheduled to have this done, or just had this done. You might glance through the recent posts.

Hope yours resolve soon!

Melissa

 

[LUVMyBirman]

My arrhythmia "PAC's" came on at 3 months post op. Nothing prior to surgery. 3 years after surgery they put me on a beta blocker to cut down on migraines. This did correct most of my PAC's. Like yourself, they come on if I am tired, stressed or nervous. Other than that....have learned to live with them.

 

[terry40]

Karlynn

Karlynn

Sectral was and is the drug/beta blocker that finally controled my PVCs and rapid heart rate. They tried many, and it did take about a year to work 100%. I had them for about 6 years before surgery, with all the testing that goes with them too.

After surgery they put me on a different beta blocker, and the PVCs returned, just like before, meds were changed ASAP.
I still run around 100 bpm at rest, but with out the meds it's 120 to 140 at rest, and the PVCS only show up now, like you, when I'm tired, had caffeine, and only rarely had some alcohol.

I'm also 10 months post surgery.

Terry

 

[Gero]

Hi Karlynn,

I too suffer from arrhythmia and like yourself , my cardiologist says they are non-life threatening. I can feel everyone of them despite being on metropolol. The medication has been a godsend and I don't believe I could function without it. I can't get an answer as to why they started and like you were led to believe that I would be putting up with this for the rest of my life. I am awaiting AVR and you have given me new hope that things may be different after AVR. These arrhythmias are really quite disturbing and on each 6 monthly echo, this is the only thing that I talk to the cardio about (apart from the results)as it really bothers me. When the missing beats get down to one every two, and you feel everyone of them it makes you wonder what is going on in there! I hope that the AVR will fix it , so I guess time will tell.

 

[Gisele]

Karlynn

Karlynn

Prior to my mitral valve replacement I was always in the ER with bouts of SVT that would last for hours (five and six) with a rate over 200. I did notice after my surgery that I didn't have any more runs of SVT until maybe 10 years later. When it did come back my rate wasn't as fast as before --maybe around 160. Ablations were fairly new at the time so my doctor waited a few years and then he sent me for an ablation as my episodes would always have to be stopped in ER. They didn't seem to go away on their own.

The only down side of my ablation is I ened up with Winchebach which is an irregular pulse. The PR interval lenghtens with each beat until it drops a beat. Some days I don't have any winchebach and other days it is constant. I also have PAC and PVCs but those don't bother me.

I don't take any meds for this but I am on Toprol XL for my migraines and can only take a low dose as my doc doesn't want my heart rate slowed down too much because of the Winchebach. Guess it could be a problem it my rate goes too low.

 

[Karlynn]

EPS

EPS

About a year before my mitral replacement I had an Electrophysiological Study done because my doctor hadn't been able to find any meds to control my arrhythmias sufficiently. They couldn't reproduce the arrhythmias with the electrical stimulation and didn't find any specific source for the arrhythmias, so didn't have anything to do ablation on. So I just added that to the list of many screw-y things that didn't make sense with my valve troubles.

I too, primarily get the skipped beat arrhythmia (sorry, can't remember the name for it) and some racing every now and then. Sometimes I'll go weeks without noticing anything and then I'll have a series of stuff going on in my life when I get really tired and exhausted and they'll show up for a while.

Just have to say again how blessed I am to have found this wonderful group of people. Even with the terrific supportive husband, kids, family and friends I often felt alone because none of them knew first hand what I've experienced and still experience, living with heart issues. Glad you guys are out there!

Karlynn