My first visit on this site

[Debbie Rasberry]

Hi, my name is Debbie Rasberry. I am married and have two daughters and live in Texas. I had OHS in Sept of 1997. I have a st. judes valve and have seem to be doing well. I visit my dr. reg. and my lovely INR's.

I have a question. I have noticed heart palpatations latley. I have kinda always had them before my surgery, but, I seems my heart skips a beat and does a hard beat to catch up. Does that make sense? Does anyone have that. I also suffer from indigestion and sometimes i mistake it for heart problems which send me into a panic attack. I hate those. So, I just want someones opinion. I don't have anyone to talk to except my dr. and that is only once a yr. I live in fear alot. I am scared I am gonna die and leave my family who I adore. Has anyone gone through this?

Thanks, Debbie Rasberry

 

[geebee]

Hi Debbie and welcome.
Your problem with palpitations is not uncommon but you should probably have it checked by your cardio. More than likely it is not serious and many heart rate problems can be corrected by medication which can make your life less stressful.
When you have a medical history that includes OHS, it is easy to become focused on the heart and any small variation seems huge. Since the heart is what keeps us going, it is understandable that unusual activity can make you feel like you are not long for this world.
I used to suffer from panic attacks (haven't had one in over a year - KOW) and worried about dying way too often. I got old enough to realize that we just don't know when our time is up and we can't do anything about it anyway (except for "fixes" like OHS) so I started focusing on "smelling the roses".
However, I am in constant atrial fib which can be frustrating and tiring. If you have a St. Judes mitral, you could be suffering from atrial fib because that is common after OHS.
I would have it checked with a holter monitor so many irregularities can be captured to give your doctor a lot of information to determine what is going on. Stress and, of course, panic attacks can also cause palpitations.
I am sure you will hear from many others with suggestions and experiences.
Best of luck and know you are not alone.
Smiles,
Gina

 

[Karlynn]

Hi Debbie and welcome.

I had my St. Jude mitral valve for almost 12 years before I found this wonderful site. Before I found VR I knew no one else with a valve replacement and relied almost solely on my dr. for information. This "family" has been a huge blessing.

It sounds like the arrhythmia you are having is one of the benign kind. Uncomfortable, a bit scary, but not life threatening. If you are having them regularly I'd recommend you have your doctor do a 24 hour Holter monitor to record them. Or a 30 day event monitor. It's always better to play it safe.

I also get arrhythmia fairly often. It was horrible and almost unlivable before my valve replacement and is now just an annoyance from time to time. I find that it becomes more frequent if I am stressed or if I'm coming down with a bug (like now, thanks to my son bringing a cold home from college)

There is so much information here that will make your life less scary and arm you with the knowledge to be a partner with your doctor in your medical care. The great thing about the people here is we all (or our spouses/SO's) have "been there, done that".

So pull up a chair, get a cup of decaffinated coffee (caffeine can cause arrhythmia) and let us get to know you, and you us. We're a fun, caring group of people.

Best wishes.

 

[Abbanabba]

Hi Debbie, welcome to the site. I can't profess to know a great deal about mechanical valves and how they interact with the heart, but Gina is correct in saying that skipped beats aren't that uncommon. It's when they turn into afib, or are happening very frequently that intervention may need to be taken (..and this can mean as little as an extra medication..), however if it IS worrying you, then get your cardio to run a Holter monitor to determine exactly what is going on.

If you're also experiencing panick attacks from mistaking indigestion for something more sinister, then it that will also make your heart pound, which I'm sure only exacerbates your fears.

It sounds like you might be experiencing PACs or PVCs (pre-atrial and pre-ventrical contractions) which are usually considered fairly benign (I live with these day in and day out and don't generally don't give them a second thought), but again, if you're concerned, see your cardiologist for a check-up.

Wishing you the best. Let us know if you find out what the problem is.

Anna : )

 

[Debbie Rasberry]

: Thanks so much to all who replied to me so fast. Wow! I feel it is nothing, my family says I am too parinoid and react to everything.
I go to visit my dr soon and will ask him as well. I had my aortic valve replaced due to aortic stenosis. I have known this for a long time and so it was no shock to me. Thanks for the reassurment and encouragement. I will promise to pass it on when visiting this site....Looking forward to talking to you all more and getting to know you. Debbie

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Debbie,

I am wrestling with PAC's and am on medication targeted to control Atrial Fibrilation so I KNOW the feeling.

As everyone suggested, please call your Cardiologist's office and ask to speak to his NURSE. Tell her what is going on and ask if you could be put on a 24 hour Holter Monitor ASAP. Then you (and your cardiologist) will know exactly what type of arrhythmia you are dealing with. There as LOTS of medications to help control rhythm problems. If your cardio suggests AMIODARONE as a first step, TELL him you want to exhaust all the more conservative treatments FIRST. Amiodarone has many serious side effects, not to mention a half-life of 6 months (which means it stays in your body forever). It is classified as a drug of LAST RESORT.

Oh yes, I found that CAFFEINE is a MAJOR TRIGGER for PAC's. So is Stress, Alcohol, and Nicotine. Reduce those triggers and you should be more comfortable.

SO, please call your cardio's office FIRST THING tomorrow morning, OK?

Best wishes,

'AL'

 

[Les]

Debbie,
Welcome to our home. I have been on Beta-Blockers since my first AVR eleven years ago for the very symptoms you have described. All they do is keep it moderated as these "pre-beats" occur at any time. However, with high doses of caffeine, for me they will be guaranteed to occur. I had to shake my head when I read your family thinks you are paranoid because you react to everything...How many of them have had heart surgery? The best to you!

 

[Mb]

First off, welcome to this site. There is a wealth of information here.

You've received a lot of good advice from the above folks, so I thought I might comment on the indigestion.

Many OHS people suffer from indigestion. It is most likely GERD ( gastro esophageal reflux). My husband NEVER had it, till one day after he first went into heart failure. Then, Prevacid, twice daily....plus sleeping with 5 pillows. He has found the medication to be very helpful, and watching WHEN he eats, very important. If heat eats after 7:00PM, he will likely be up in the middle of the night with the indigestion. Also, if he eats a large meal, he will suffer with it. While it is not a life threatening situation, it certainly is annoying, and cuts down on restful sleep. So, I hope you will try the above suggestions, and good luck with your next Dr.'s visit. - Oh, by the way, your family is a bit off track. Anyone who has had the surgery you have had needs to be vigilant about their health. - Marybeth

 

[perkicar]

: Thanks so much to all who replied to me so fast. Wow! I feel it is nothing, my family says I am too parinoid and react to everything.
I go to visit my dr soon and will ask him as well. I had my aortic valve replaced due to aortic stenosis. I have known this for a long time and so it was no shock to me. Thanks for the reassurment and encouragement. I will promise to pass it on when visiting this site....Looking forward to talking to you all more and getting to know you. Debbie

It can be so frustrating when you KNOW there's something strange going on but your family or friends say it's all in your head.....Go ahead and check it out with the cardio, you'll at least have the peace of mind that you did something about it instead of worrying (one of my biggest challenges--I'm a great worrier!)
Carolyn

 

[Karlynn]

I had to shake my head when I read your family thinks you are paranoid because you react to everything...How many of them have had heart surgery?!

My thoughts as well. Family can be understanding, but until they've been through OHS and valve replacement/repair, they really can't know what you feel. My wonderful husband (who's been in a fluctuating state of denial about my health situation since it's started 23 years ago) has learned to keep those "you're paranoid" thoughts to himself after being taken to task by his irritated wife.

Even if you may be paranoid at times (which I think we all are ... comes with the territory) it's better to be aware and checking rather than assuming things are okay all the time.

 

[Glenda]

Hi Debbie, welcome to this wonderful forum of people that "have been there, done that." I had my aorta valve replaced in June of this year and I have the skipping beats when I am really stressed out and really tired, which has been a lot here lately. I love this time of the year but it can be kinda of stressful. I also have CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) which makes me very weary. You have already got a lot of good answers but if you are in doubt please don't hesitate to call your doctor. That's what they are there for. It's better to be safe than sorry. You hang in there and hugs and prayers are coming your way from me.

 

[Debbie Rasberry]

To all who have replied,

Thanks so much, today is the first day in a very long time that I have had confidence about myself. I have read all the replies and have called my dr and waiting to hear back. Last nite after my last post I went to be NOT worried for the first time. I like to know I am not the only one going through all of this. I felt alone, until i found u all......This has been a HUGE relief off of me to be able to talk to someone who knows. Merry Christmas to you all and hope for a great New Year.....Thanks for everything.

 

[Ross]

Debbie stick around and join in. No need to run off into the sunset!

 

[Harpoon]

Hi Debbie! Welcome. =)

You've seen what most of the "peanut gallery" has to say...

I'll echo most of that. I had something similar to what you experienced last for a few months last summer.

We set up a holter monitor (basically a portable EKG that records information to a little box you carry in a pouch that rests on your hip with electrode sensors coming out of it that are stuck to various parts of your torso) that I wore for 24 hours and recorded a few of the events that I noticed. They happened most often when I went to bed for the night, but weren't solely isolated to laying down.

My cardiologist basically decided they were benign and they actually went away about a month or so later. Now, if it happens, it's pretty rare, maybe once or twice in a week and never for more than a few moments, if that.

The indigestion can get kinda serious. Usually it's caused by a combination of having been intubated for surgery and the medications you may be taking on a regular basis for an exptended period of time. I take several meds, twice a day, along with a daily dose of Prilosec to control reflux. I've also found that if the reflux gets bad, I can take a dose of Mylanta for a quick fix.

The reflux can also trigger a cough reaction when I lay down for the night and when that happens, I usually get up and try taking a "swig" of the Mylanta. I've also tried Pepcid AC but it didn't seem to be very effective.


While in the hospital, I was on the prescription form of pepcid but I stopped taking it about a month or so after getting home from the hospital.

Probably shouldn't have done that, but it was expensive and it didn't seem to help all that much day to day.


Definitely talk to your doctor about the rhythm problems. it might be nothing, it might be an early sign of a problem.

Ask about a referal to an ENT as well to check for acid reflux and find a course of treatment if the reflux is there. Well worth heading that one off as early as possible.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Reflux is best diagnosed and treated by a GastroEnterologist (GI) Doctor, rather than an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Doctor.

NEXIUM seems to be the 'drug of choice' for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), presumably because it is longer acting than Prilosec. It costs about 3 times as much as Prilosec. Prilosec seems to work for me so I take it because of the cost differential. IMHO, Pepsid doesn't come close to being nearly as effective.

'AL'

 

[countryboy]

Welcome

Welcome

Glad you found this site. I am 2 months (today) post op and it was a real blessing to have a support group with answers to lots of my questions. I don't have any advice for you as I am still a rookie with my AVR, but I do have a question. Where in Texas do you live? I am in the NE about 12 miles north of Paris.

Keeping you in my prayers and sending best wishes your way. Keep asking questions--that is how you learn.

God Bless,

Bobby

 

[Debbie Rasberry]

Country boy.
I live 16 miles east of Waco. I thought I would let you all know that I did get a call from my nurse and she seems to think its the caffene. I can't spell either. I drink lots of it and for the last couple of days I have been off of it and feel better. Just gonna wait and see

 

[McCln]

Hello Debbie

Hello Debbie

Welcome and hope you stay with us. We are happy campers here and are a joy to have around. I come when i can and offer what I can. On the palpatations, I agree with the rest, consult with the cardio and get answers. As it has been said, it is quite common. I had mine a very litte short time. But I do not have them anymore. Just have the feeling of the heartbeat after exerting myself and it feels great. You go and talk with the cardio. Best be careful then not. Good luck and let us know what you find out. We all care about you. Take care and happy holidays.