First post op check-up

[mrsnuffles]

Hi All,

Nine and a half weeks after my Mitral Valve Repair surgery, I today had my first follow up appointment with the surgeon who carried out the procedure. I had a number of the usual tests including ECG and echo and was actually seen by the surgeon's registrar. It seems that my Mitral Valve is showing trace regurgitation which is the same as it was showing at the post op TOE which I am over the moon at. I also saw the full echo report which shows trace or no regurgitation in the other three valves. My ejection fraction is 55% and my heart size is normal.

I still have lifting restrictions and they are happy that I am attending the rehab classes. I mentioned that I still get tired after attending the classes and after going for long walks and he said that will continue to improve.

I was told that I can stop the warfarin at three months as long as I am in sinus rhythm so I need to go to my GP and get the ECG done at the time and fingers crossed, I will be off it. I asked him about my other meds, Perindopril 4mg (ACE inhibitor) and Bisoprolol 2.5mg (beta blocker) and he gave me the impression I would have to continue these for life. This concerned me slightly as I was not taking the beta blocker pre surgery and wondered if this was a common thing with other repair patients? I will speak to my GP when I next visit but any advice would be appreciated.

The registrar has told me that they are discharging me and they don't need to see me again

Andrew

 

[WayneGM]

Congratulations on the good report. Sounds like you are doing well. I had a Mitral Valve repair. Post-op I'm taking Atacand as I have "borderline" high blood pressure and low dose aspirin. As I understand it, the Atacand is not an ACE inhibitor but there are some similarities. Technically it an "angiotensin II receptor antagonists", whatever that means.

 

[bugchucker]

Great to hear your doing well!

 

[laurad37]

Sounds like your coming along great. Keep up the good work.

 

[hall]

Good to hear your doing well.

 

[Bina]

Great report. The Ace and BB will keep the pressure down and give your heart a chance to recover nicely.
Time will tell if you can go off either or both of them.

 

[mrsnuffles]

Thanks all for the good wishes/advice.

Bina - I guessed they'd be to keep the BP down but thanks for confirming that. I was on perindopril 8mg pre-op for the same reason so I guess the surgeon wants to use slightly different meds for the same effect. I will have a chat with my GP and with my cardio when I see one next (thanks to the NHS, I don't get A Cardio, just one from a pool of a few).

Further to my update, today I had my rehab and as it is in the local leisure centre which is about a 25 minute brisk walk away, and as my wife had the car, I had to walk there, do the hour rehab in the gym, then walk home. I cannot believe how different I feel post-op as I was convinced I was asymptomatic pre-op and now I know I definately wasn't. I walked up a hill which pre-op would kill me - I would be gasping for breath at the top and would take me a good 2 minutes to recover - and I had no SOB at all. By the time I got home I felt that I could have done it all again. I was very tired about an hour after but that will improve.

Andrew