Bouts of lightheadedness and flashes in eyes one year post-op

[rosalia]

Hello all,

I had my bicuspid aortic valve replaced with a tissue valve as well as an aneurysm in my ascending aorta repaired November 16, 2015; more than a year ago. I have had bouts of feeling light headed, and lately it comes with showers of white flashes in my eyes. Occasionally I feel palpitations and "flutterings", and I do get really tired sometimes. I am seeing my cardiologist next week, after I get my annual echocardiogram on Monday. I don't take meds as my problems didn't extend to clogged arteries and such. My heart looked good this time last year, and I returned to work last January. I work full time, try to go to the gym, try to eat well (operative word there - try) have a good marriage and a busy extended family. I am busy I guess.

My question is, does anyone have any experience with this? For the women out there, could these be peri-menopausal symptoms? (I am 52) I tend to get anemic, but have never had these types of symptoms from that. I guess I am a little anxious because I finally have to go to the cardiologist and don't want to obsess about it being a heart issue. The only thing I can think of is the mitral valve, which showed mild regurgitation (which is apparently very common and something to not obsess about) has gotten worse. I can't think of any other cardiac thing that could be causing it.. any insights would be appreciated

Thanks in advance

 

[Paleowoman]

Yes, yes, yes. Since the day after AVR three years ago I have had visual symptoms of bright sparkles of light crossing my vision daily, migraine aura without headache and double vision every one or two weeks, and also from around six months ago, following the aura episodes, periods of light headedness, extreme tiredness, nausea. First of all the doctor on the cardiac ward told me these are common after heart surgery, but, as I said, I've now been having these for three years. One of my consutants says he will refer me to a neurologist if they become more troublesome. I read that visual disturbances can be a side effect of being on the heart lung machine. I am 63 so way past menopause ! I also have no other cardiac symptoms apart from increasing pressure gradient which is a mystery but no one is connecting the two - they think the visual problem is neurological. Goodness knows why heart surgery set it off. Do let us know what your cardiologist says !

 

[rosalia]

Hello Paleowoman and thanks for responding! I have the exact same valve as you - CE Perimount bovine Magna Ease Aortic valve except mine is 21mm

I often wondered what the bypass machine was doing to us, but I guess the alternative was far more grim. I will let you know what the doctor says.

 

[Superman]

Migraine aura's are not unusual in BAV patients. I don't have data at my fingertips - but I know many talk of them. I get a shimmering light that moves from left to right across my field of vision occasionally as well. Reminds me of a nautilus (wavy, curved pattern). Light headed occasionally too, but far more seldom. Palpitations are kind of common. I have been cardio-verted twice (zapped back into rhythm in the E.R.). Usually though, it's just a couple of beats here and there.

44 year old male. Over 26 years clicking away.

 

[rosalia]

Thanks Superman - it makes me feel better knowing this isn't something ominous brooding on the horizon. I would love to have the alertness back I used to have though, before all this happened

 

[cldlhd]

I get the migraine auras a few days a week ever since my surgery almost 2 years ago.

 

[AZ Don]

I get all three as well, though I attribute the light headedness to Metoprolol which I take on Dr's recommendation which I believe is primarily based on the chance it will reduce the risk of another aneurysm.

 

[pellicle]

I get the migraine auras a few days a week ever since my surgery almost 2 years ago.

Did you get them before surgery?

 

[ZechariahLi]

Migraine aura.. but did the migraine come after that? I have migraine since school days and the aura is ultra disturbing to me... ​

 

[RobThatsMe]

I get, or should I say..., Still Get, those same symptoms. Aura's, flashes, sparkles in the eyes, lightheadedness, and fluttering of the heart-a-fib. Good thing I don't get all of them at the same time. My last OH surgery was in 2010, with the heart/lung machine. The incidents do not occur as often as they once did during the first year. Now it seems that it is a rare occurance for these to hit me, except for the a-fib which I get more often.

 

[Agian]

Migraine aura.. but did the migraine come after that? I have migraine since school days and the aura is ultra disturbing to me... ​

Relatable. I think the aura itself is associated with anxiety. I know it's coming, because my vision goes funny. Had them since I was a teenager. No post aura headaches.

 

[rosalia]

Thanks for posting everyone. I have had Ocular migraines (I think that's the same as Migraine aura) since the birth of my first child, in 1990. i was concerned the first time because, of course, my sight is compromised while they occur. My GP at the time told me to take ibuprofen when I see it starting and it seems to work.

Does anyone have near passing out episodes? Where you are so light headed it feels like you are going to drop? Or tingly hands? The palpitations and flutterings must be a by-product of the surgery. I can't think of any other reason, as my heart rate does not really change unexpectedly. They won't bother me much as long as i know they are nothing to worry about.

Interesting about the anxiety notes in this thread. I have been quite "high strung" all my life. Funny how so many of us are similar.

 

[cldlhd]

Did you get them before surgery?

I got the auras a couple times a year followed by a tremendous headache and nausea followed by nausea. Now I get the auras much more regular but they usually go away with nothing afterwards. Sometimes I get a slight headache or feel fuzzy headed.

 

[Agian]

Interesting about the anxiety notes in this thread. I have been quite "high strung" all my life. Funny how so many of us are similar.

Yes, I've noticed that too.

 

[pellicle]

I got the auras a couple times a year followed by a tremendous headache and nausea followed by nausea. Now I get the auras much more regular but they usually go away with nothing afterwards. Sometimes I get a slight headache or feel fuzzy headed.

that's interesting. I've heard a theory that can be related to back / neck stuff (naturally I heard this from a chiropracter) However I've noted that when I work in my IT desk job I get more and when I go cycling and backpacking more I get less ... I also find that a monthy visit to the chiro (my guy is more the osteopath sort) that I get less.

I've had them as far back as I remember but I asked because 1) its often discussed as being an outcome of surgery 2) I can't recall well enough if I had mine before or after my first surgery at 10...

 

[Paleowoman]

Mine started exactly the day after surgery and have continued, now three years post op. I have no neck or back issues, never have.

 

[pellicle]

.... I have no neck or back issues, never have.

I have no visible issues ... but the joints do seem to tighten ... have you tried a chiro?

 

[rosalia]

Maybe there is something to that - I don't know about anyone else, but when I first woke up my upper back was in agony from having been held down during surgery... you all might be onto something! Did anyone else experience that? The upper back pain after surgery? It subsided quickly enough but who knows what that could have done. Hmm

 

[Paleowoman]

I have no visible issues ... but the joints do seem to tighten ... have you tried a chiro?

No I haven't, but my endocrinologist thought it was vestibular related so I contacted a vestibular specialist and when I described my symptoms she said it was neurological.

I didn't have any particular back pain after surgery rosalia, some shoulder pain which soon went, sternal and chest pain though for quite a while.

 

[Paleowoman]

I saw a neurologist at Penn who specializes visual disturbances and he says he sees it all the time after open heart surgery but he called another guy in as you found it interesting but I don't get the headaches real bad anymore. Not always reassuring when a specialist like that says 'hey buddy listen to this one'.

When I mentioned the visual problems when I was in hospital after surgery the doc on the cardiac ward said this happens often after open heart surgery, so that's interesting a neurologist says he "sees it all the time after open heart surgery" ! I don't get headaches.