Bounding pulse after surgery anyone?

[Ross4BAV]

I had a Ross procedure performed in January of this year for a bicuspic aeortic valve. No prior expternal sympoms and everything went very smooth on the surgery. The only symptom I am left with is a bounding pule, sometimes I see refered to as a waterhammer pulse. When I am active, it is not noticeable, but when I am at rest, it is very noticable. For example, with my legs crossed, by calf and foot wil move about 1/4 of an inch with my pulse. I will also shake a table with my elbows on it. My cardiolgist and surgeon are not worried and just suggest that i will get used to it. I am concerned about the long term effect of this kind of a surge throughout my body. Anyone else experience this? I have see the 2002 posts speculating that the mechanical valves are so efficient they cause this symptom, but with the ross, I have a biologocal valve. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[Bina]

Hello and welcome to the group!
I take a very low dose of Metoprolol (beta blocker) to keep my pulse in a lower range.
It helps me to be more comfortable at rest and sleep better.
What is your BP and what is your resting pulse?

 

[Mary]

I had a Ross procedure performed in January of this year for a bicuspic aeortic valve. No prior expternal sympoms and everything went very smooth on the surgery. The only symptom I am left with is a bounding pule, sometimes I see refered to as a waterhammer pulse. When I am active, it is not noticeable, but when I am at rest, it is very noticable. For example, with my legs crossed, by calf and foot wil move about 1/4 of an inch with my pulse. I will also shake a table with my elbows on it. My cardiolgist and surgeon are not worried and just suggest that i will get used to it. I am concerned about the long term effect of this kind of a surge throughout my body. Anyone else experience this? I have see the 2002 posts speculating that the mechanical valves are so efficient they cause this symptom, but with the ross, I have a biologocal valve. Any insight is appreciated.

I had a very strong pulsation in my head following surgery, and it lasted for probably 18 months. It felt like I had a metronome keeping time in my brain. I felt it must strongly when I was sitting in a high-backed chair with my head against the back.
A beta blocker tamed it.
I'm with Bina in wondering what your resting heart rate is. Mine is still in the mid-80's, but it was in the high ninty's for a long time.
And I'd also like to mention that I'm glad you've joined the group.

 

[sknydave]

I actually had this same question. My BP is 105/57 resting HR is 65 right now. My pulse feels like a cannon going off every heart beat. It's rather distracting when I try to sleep. At least I'm not the only one!

Oh, and I'm taking 25mg Metoprolol 2x a day.

 

[briansmom]

My son has this same issue and he is on some serious beta blockers and ace inhibitors. His was/is so bad that they checked his abdomen for an aneurysm. I know it concerns him.

 

[Trinityheart8891]

just a thought. . .

maybe its because your heart is used to pushing through a bad valve, its had to "learn" to pump hard to get the blood through the valve, now that you dont have the bad valve for it to push through its still thinking that it has to work that hard, and is thus doing so, you are feeling it as a hard pulse because its moving more blood more forcefully through the good valve. . .maybe it will resolve as your heart remodels? I am not sure, just a suggestion.

my heart pounds sometimes, my cardio has said that I am in normal rhythm when it does it, but its cause my heart is pushing harder to get the blood through my bad valves (I'm pre surgery)

 

[ALCapshaw2]

TrinityHeart beat me to the punch...

I agree. I suspect it has more to do with the condition of your valve BEFORE surgery than the type of valve you ended up with AFTER surgery. This is not an uncommon issue.

IF your heart (muscles) were conditioned to having to 'squeeze' your blood through a stenotic valve, it may take some time for them to re-adjust to having a lower pressure gradient to push against. Hopefully your heart muscles will recondition in time.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[briansmom]

I don't think that the valve issue would apply to Brian. His EF on the last echo was only 40%. On the other hand, maybe his heart is better and his next echo will show a normal EF?! (ok, it's my fantasy, let me live it for a while )

 

[Bina]

Yes, we are more aware of everything our heart does. My heart pounded fiercely after surgery and it took a very long time to calm down, but it did little by little over several months.
Now at 2 yrs post op I finally have a calm heart beat.

 

[Ross4BAV]

Thanks for your responses

Thanks for your responses

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful responses. It is nice to know I am not the only one experiencing this. My blood pressure is usually 120/75 and my heart rate in the low 60s. I am not on any medication with the exception of daily baby asperin. I would agree with the theory that my heart needs to 'relearn' a more gentle contraction. I do have more lung capacity on the treadmill as I would expect from a new valve. It just seems like I would have some 'super' capacity with all of that forced blood flow. I can relate to the high back chair comment..my whole torso moves enough the feel the movement of my head against the chair back.

 

[67walkon]

This is something I have experienced too, but to a lesser degree.

The same surgeon did me and Dave, about a month apart. I'm off the beta blocker now. On it, my resting HR had come down to about 60 and my bp at home was usually similar to what he reports.

Off the beta blocker, my resting HR is about 66, but my bp is still pretty good; maybe 110/72 or so.

Pre-surgery, my resting HR was 44 and my bp was a little higher.

I've been wondering when my HR will go back to what is normal for me or if it will stay higher. Dr. Beaver says it is within normal limits and not to worry.

John

 

[Lidia Rodriguez]

Bounding Pulse after surgery anyone?

Bounding Pulse after surgery anyone?

My husband had AVR Oct.2007. We lives in Miami, Florida a he had surgery at Baptist Hospital. Dr. Lamelas.
He is doing fine, just a little weak in the morning.
His pulse rate is going from the uppers 80 to the uppers 90 and his bp is upsetting him because is aroung 120 to 133/88 to 97.
He is taking a beta blocker Metropol 25mg Extended Release daily.

Has anybody experience such bp and pr after having AVR 2 1/2 months ago?
Wish to know which Blood Pressure Monitor is good.
We have a OMRON, but it give differents measurements if you repeat it.
Wish to know your opinions.
Lidia

 

[Mary]

My husband had AVR Oct.2007. We lives in Miami, Florida a he had surgery at Baptist Hospital. Dr. Lamelas.
He is doing fine, just a little weak in the morning.
His pulse rate is going from the uppers 80 to the uppers 90 and his bp is upsetting him because is aroung 120 to 133/88 to 97.
He is taking a beta blocker Metropol 25mg Extended Release daily.

Has anybody experience such bp and pr after having AVR 2 1/2 months ago?
Wish to know which Blood Pressure Monitor is good.
We have a OMRON, but it give differents measurements if you repeat it.
Wish to know your opinions.
Lidia

Hi Lidia,
I'm going to suggest that you copy this post and start a new thread with it.

If you title it something like New member, questions about HR and BP I think you will get more responses and answers to your questions.

A heartrate that is high after surgery seems to be fairly common among post-surgery forum members, and most report that it settles down sometime within 3 months to a year after surgery. Mine is still relatively high, two years post-op, but I'm in the minority.
Glad you joined us, and please ask away with all questions you have regarding your husband's recovery.

 

[Bina]

Lidia, welcome to the group! Don't be shy to start a new thread with your questions.
It is quite normal to have higher BP and HR after surgery. It sounds like your husband may need more Metoprolol for a while, but pls check with your doctor first. I was on 75mg daily, now I'm on 50mg.
My BP machine also gives slightly different readings on second tries.

 

[netmiff]

maybe its because your heart is used to pushing through a bad valve, its had to "learn" to pump hard to get the blood through the valve, now that you dont have the bad valve for it to push through its still thinking that it has to work that hard, and is thus doing so, you are feeling it as a hard pulse because its moving more blood more forcefully through the good valve. . .maybe it will resolve as your heart remodels? I am not sure, just a suggestion.​

My surgeon warned me about it, said my heart had increased muscle mass to pump enough blood through the itsy bitsy valve I had; it will reduce in muscle mass as time goes on, but meantime, I am on beta blocker and 2 BP pills. I call it my Popeye heart When I was still in hospital I would lie in bed at night with my hands on my chest trying to keep my heart in my chest lol it was that bad !

 

[tobagotwo]

I still have this issue, where my heart pumps too hard. The Beta Blocker didn't really do anything for it, and I'm considering a calcium channel blocker, because several members complained they could barely find their pulse when taking them. That would be a pleasant change for me.

The cardiologist says I have an "aggressive heart." I've always had this to some extent, but it's beating the heck out of my (relatively) new valve, and my cross-valve pressures are still very high. Fortunately, they are telling me that the valve is still functioning flawlessly. Unfortunately, this pressure is not good for my heart overall.

It's not constant, but it's there and noticeable at least a fewe times a day, especially under stress. It's not arrhythmic, but just too strong (my nickname for it is "hammerheart"). It's worse when I lie on my left side, which makes it show up even worse on echoes, of course.

I don't have any answers yet.

Best wishes,

 

[finnbee]

rapid pulse - supposed to diminish?

rapid pulse - supposed to diminish?

Hey All! Just had my bicuspid aortic valve replaced on Monday....since then have felt fine, but have a slightly elevated pulse rate (maybe 99-116). I'm finding it can interfere with my ability to sleep. THe docs here are giving me some kind of med for it and tell me it will diminish in about 8 weeks or so generally...what's your experience been with this?
debra - finnbee

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hey All! Just had my bicuspid aortic valve replaced on Monday....since then have felt fine, but have a slightly elevated pulse rate (maybe 99-116). I'm finding it can interfere with my ability to sleep. THe docs here are giving me some kind of med for it and tell me it will diminish in about 8 weeks or so generally...what's your experience been with this?
debra - finnbee

YEP Debra, a slightly elevated pulse rate is quite common following OHS. "It will diminish in about 8 weeks or so"...at least that seems to be the common experience. Beta Blockers help. So does Exercise (i.e. daily walking).

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Susan BAV]

I've never been diagnosed with anything specific, along this particular line, but my heart beats furiously hard also and I've wondered if it will wear my tissue valve out sooner rather than later.

It was much worse the first few months post-op, which I've read is fairly common.

I have found that the strong beats can wake me up at night; so if I get up and drink a glass of water it helps me, softening and slowing a bit, within half an hour or so. That has worked so well that I've been drinking a glass of water right before I go to bed and I've suffered less with this. I've been recently trying to be more conscious of drinking adequate water and I feel that, in my case, it has helped.