This morning is day 13 post surgery for my re-do Aortic Valve.
The operation went very well and my 19mm previous valve was replaced with a 21mm inspiris valve.
I was in ICU for 3 days - 2.5 days asleep and intubated. Woke up and went to the ward the next day. Went home on day 7.
On day 10, my heart rate started wildly racing and slowing alternately. I did some deep breathing and it leveled out again. Woke up later with the same thing happening. Again deep breathing leveled it out and l then went to a doctor who didn't seem too concerned. My rate was fluctuating between 28 and 180 beats per minute and in between l was light headed. I was concerned!.
Episode 3 happened in the evening, only this time l collapsed twice, the second time smashing my head into the tiled floor. Called an ambulance. They monitored me via ECG and l was having 10 second gaps where my heart stopped. They took me to the closest hospital 45 minutes away. By the time we got there, the extremes had stopped but my beats were coming in doubles. I was in casualty and l had a CT brain scan and a CT heart scan. I was then transferred to another hospital with a cardiac unit (not the original city hospital where l had the op).
It is early Monday morning here as l type. In the past 34 hours my heart has been regular. Just been told that overnight no problems with beat at all.
Today, l am having a Loop recorder implanted under my skin to monitor my heartbeat. I have been started on a medication (2 doses yesterday) that keeps my heart rhythm normal. Not sure of name (ade' something?). Also on clexane at the moment, but will get a blood thinner tablet apparently.
My question is: is afib after surgery common? How long after surgery? Do you think it will settle down, or am l going to be on meds forever? I guess it depends on what might show up or not show up on the loop recorder over a period of time. I have never been on meds before. My blood pressure is normally low, and because of meds l have spent most of the last two weeks on my back with a BP of 85/55 drinking loads of water. My resting pulse rate was around 60 before my op.
The operation went very well and my 19mm previous valve was replaced with a 21mm inspiris valve.
I was in ICU for 3 days - 2.5 days asleep and intubated. Woke up and went to the ward the next day. Went home on day 7.
On day 10, my heart rate started wildly racing and slowing alternately. I did some deep breathing and it leveled out again. Woke up later with the same thing happening. Again deep breathing leveled it out and l then went to a doctor who didn't seem too concerned. My rate was fluctuating between 28 and 180 beats per minute and in between l was light headed. I was concerned!.
Episode 3 happened in the evening, only this time l collapsed twice, the second time smashing my head into the tiled floor. Called an ambulance. They monitored me via ECG and l was having 10 second gaps where my heart stopped. They took me to the closest hospital 45 minutes away. By the time we got there, the extremes had stopped but my beats were coming in doubles. I was in casualty and l had a CT brain scan and a CT heart scan. I was then transferred to another hospital with a cardiac unit (not the original city hospital where l had the op).
It is early Monday morning here as l type. In the past 34 hours my heart has been regular. Just been told that overnight no problems with beat at all.
Today, l am having a Loop recorder implanted under my skin to monitor my heartbeat. I have been started on a medication (2 doses yesterday) that keeps my heart rhythm normal. Not sure of name (ade' something?). Also on clexane at the moment, but will get a blood thinner tablet apparently.
My question is: is afib after surgery common? How long after surgery? Do you think it will settle down, or am l going to be on meds forever? I guess it depends on what might show up or not show up on the loop recorder over a period of time. I have never been on meds before. My blood pressure is normally low, and because of meds l have spent most of the last two weeks on my back with a BP of 85/55 drinking loads of water. My resting pulse rate was around 60 before my op.
