Low Blood Pressure / Higher Heart Rate

Lucidus · Nov 21, 2002

Questions for you all... I am not 4+ weeks post op and by everything the doctors say I am doing great. I'll write more of a detailed story later.

Anyway, My blood pressure is still around 80-90 over 50-60. They say it will go up some eventually. My usual was about 110 over 70 before surgery. Also my resting heart rate was about 60-65 and it's still around 100.

I am on no drugs except for coumadin and Vicadin as needed.

Anyone else have these issues that resolved themselves?

Thanks much!

Tim Potter
Age 31. Mitral Valve Repair in Minnesota on 10/22.

Nancy · Nov 21, 2002

After my husband's last surgery, non heart related, that did not go so well, he came home with an extremely low bloodpressure. It took a while for it to resolve, but it did eventually.

He's in the opposite boat right now with a very high bloodpressure due to one of his meds. He's being weaned off it

There are times when he's right on target, hopefully sometime soon. LOL

You'll get there. Just don't stand up too fast you might get dizzy and fall. Once you get up, wait a couple of seconds before moving.

Johnny Stephens · Nov 21, 2002

Yup, I had low bp for about a month...but I will say they became concerned after several consecutive 70/50 readings. Whenever I stood up, I'd see the sparklies and my ears would ring.

I had to take hourly bp readings for a couple of days...eventually it just resolved itself. This morning I was 125/75.

Creed3 · Nov 21, 2002

After my surgery I had a lower blood pressure, mine used to be borderline high, and a high heart rate. My heart rate always was a little high. They told me that my blood pressure would eventually come back up, especially the more things you do such as walking etc....It did eventually come up. I would just keep an eye on it and let the docs know if you start having any symptoms such as dizziness etc....I am on a beta blocker to help control my blood pressure and heart rate. I have been on it since I was sent home from the hospital, 8 weeks ago.

Take Care!
Gail

BillCobit · Nov 23, 2002

Me too! I still have low blood pressure and higher heart rate 10 months after surgery. And reduced exercise tolerance, which I think might be related.

Typical numbers before mitral valve surgery:
BP 118/68
HR 58 BPM

After surgery:
BP 95/48
HR 85 BPM

My cardio doc just shrugs...if he can't figure it out in 5 seconds, he gives up (gotta move on to the next patient, and time is serious money).

My theory: After being sliced open, my heart muscle can't get a good stroke off. So blood pressure is low. Rapid HR is compensatory.

I know someone who is an echo tech; I'm planning to have her look at before and after videos to see if there's significant difference systolic motion. I'd prefer to have a cardiologist do this, but I doubt I could find one who could be bothered.

Larry Rogers · Nov 23, 2002

Hi Tim,

I had my mitral valve repaired 18 months ago. I did not have low blood pressure, but my heart rate was in the 100 to 110 range. About one month after surgery my cardio put me on lopressor which lowered the heart rate into the mid 80's to 90's.

The doc then reduced the dosage progressively until I was off the lopressor 4 weeks after I started taking it. After I stopped taking lopressor my heart rate was in the mid 90's to 105 or so. The doc said that over time the heart rate would decrease. After 18 months my rate is 85 to 95. At least its going in the right direction.

Beat of luck to you in your recovery.