Irregular heartbeats prior to surgery? Afib/PVC's? (pre-surgery)

[Sash]

Hi All-

For the past week or so I have been experiencing something strange, it usually occurs when I am laying down/resting on the left side, sometimes even on my back. I feel a large beat, then can hear my heart beat, then it happens again. I don't hear it when I sleep on my right side. I have been researching about afib and PVC's but I am still confused.

A little about me, I was diagnosed with (strep) endocarditis on my native valve mid December. (I completed IV antibiotics last week) I have a diseased aortic valve, regurg, and a enlarged heart. I have AVR surgery scheduled for next Thursday 1/25, which I am pretty worried/scared/nervous about.

I have the presurgery consult today (xrays, bloodwork, EKG), I was going to ask the nurse to see what she thought?

I also read that nerves/caffeine can also cause this? Any help would be great.

Sash

 

[escargome]

Hi Sash and welcome.
First I can't say for sure, but I know that if I am stressed or I overdo on the coffee side, my heart does what I describe as the mambo (one regular beat then about 3 or 4 jiggly beats) then regular beat. I told my cardio at one of my visits and he said, "only begin to worry if it doesn't settle down in a minute or two" so that is what I have been doing. I had my AVR almost 5 years ago but this didn't start up until about 2 years ago.
Anyway, do mention what you are feeling to the nurse or the doctor or anyone who will listen. The only way to get answers is to make a little bit of pest of yourself. You need to have a calm mind and spirit. The only dumb question is the question that is never asked. Best Wishes to you. And keep us posted as your travel this journey to a mended heart.

 

[catwoman]

Did you mention the PVCs to your doctors?
It's not uncommon pre-op to have those. And it's pretty common to have some a-fib & PVCs immediately post-op as your heart remodels. I had episodes of tachycardia up to about 2 months post-op, and then they stopped. I called my surgeon's office when I had the first episode (about 30-45 minutes) and he changed the BP med I was put on post-op. This is the only time I've had to take a BP med in my life; from what I've read online, it's pretty common for all OHS patients to be prescribed a BP med for at least 30 days post-op, to allow the incisions in the heart to heal better

 

[virginian777]

i have the same thing but mostly at night i told my doc about it and he changed my bps but still pounds i have noticed if i eat than go straight to bed it is worse.nyw i had avr mechanical valve april 2012 it has to be replaced due to leaking go for my pre-op 1-29-13 best to luck don't be scared you will be fine

 

[neil]

seems to be common pre op and post op,i get mine about every 6 weeks or so seem to have them a few days then they go, i can get pvcs upto 6 or 7 hrs at a time, i hate them, had all the tests seen cardio, he says no problem , there harmless, still hate them though,

 

[Oilman]

I too experienced PVC prior to surgery, had some fluttering now and then for a couple years, all seemed to be real short lived, like 3-15 seconds at best. But last Sept I woke up with AF and a heart rate of 160, went to hospital and was cardioverted. Then had my valve changed 8 weeks ago. Still get PVC that are very small, but no AFIB yet, thank god. I will be doing a stress test this week with the Cardiologist, so I will explain to him, what's been going on. Maybe suggest a holster for 24 hrs, so he can evaluate them himself. I too, am not familiar with the treatment or the types a person can experience. I have been reading old posts from the search box, so have learned a little about it.

 

[Rachel]

I also had some irregular heartbeats about 4 months before I found out that I had a heart condition, but my younger brother had just been killed (auto accident - someone hit him from behind on the road), so I thought my heart beats were due to stress/grief. I would also only feel them at night while lying down. I've often wondered if the stress from my situation brought them or if it was just my bicuspid valve failing.

Rachel