Pulse rate 45 - 54 ....mechanical valve, not fit should i worry

[rufus]

Hi,

Im hoping someone could give me some guidance, advice on my low pulse as im struggling to get any answers from my gp.

I had mechanical aortic valve fitted dec 07, feeling very lethargic and tired over a period of months and have periodically been monitoring my blood pressure and pulse (at home). My pulse has averaged around 45 - 54 in general which i understand is fine if you are fit.

However i am not fit, have no energy to attempt to get fit. Have i got to worry about the low pulse, someone has told me because of my mechanical valve then its ok that my pulse is that low but im worried and dont feel right .

Any advice, comments gladly received...............thanks

 

[AgilityDog]

That's pretty low for someone who does not exercise a lot. I got a pacemaker after MVR and maze because I was (not surprisingly) left with complete heart block. Absent the battery, my natural heart rate would be 40 ish.... And I pass out. So no, that's pretty low, and AVRs don't usually cause that all by themselves...unless the part of the heart that stimulates beating got damaged during surgery...that's possible, as it is pretty close to the aortic valve.
Talk to your surgeron and your cardio. Make an appointment. This is not normal.

 

[hetmarie]

Are you on any beta blockers? Beta blockers don't allow your heart rate to speed up and they can react differently with each individual. I, for one, have had bad luck with a lot of them. Driving to work one day (years ago), car came within inches of hitting me and because of the beta blocker I was on my only reaction was a sigh and a thought of "that would have sucked". Heart rate never increased. SCARY! If you are on a beta blocker, maybe you need to try a different one or your doc could lower your dose.

 

[sue943]

Unless you are on a betablocker I would have thought it to be too low. After my surgery I had heart block and my HR was low, I was taking digoxin and that caused the problem for me as I am apparently sensitive to it. My normal HR is more like 80 bpm, with a little exercise it goes up to over 100, walking it is about 105.

 

[LeakyUK]

Your GP should know your situation and be able to advise. You need either a second GP or a referral back to a cardiologist. You may need a change of medication & unfortunately GP's are not always keen on prescribing newer, more expensive, drugs.

 

[Mentu]

I agree with Heather and Sue. After the AVR, my surgeon and Cardiologist had me take a beta blocker (Metoprolol) for months after surgery. I started experiencing periodic wilting and when I checked found my pulse rate and blood pressure were falling very low. It left me feeling like a slug - a slug on a very cold day. My Cardiologist first reduced the dosage and then agreed that I could stop taking it. I began to feel better in a few weeks. There is always the fear that something has happened to ones valve or heart but there is usually a more simple answer. Review your symptoms and your drugs with your Doctor.

Larry

 

[rufus]

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies - Medical care in the uk is not great !! I was eventually referred for an echo (2nd July) and hadn't heard anything back until ...................went to gp (docs) yesterday as i am so so tired all the time and it seems to be getting worse. GP informs me he had a letter from my cardiologist (4th July) saying "moderately impaired left ventricular function with ejection fraction of 45%. Whether or not her heart is sufficiently impaired to benefit from biventricular pacing we will have to wait and see when she is seen in clinic" . I am due to the clinic 20th Sept (which is my normal 6 monthly check up).

So, any of you very knowledgable people out there any advice for me, or details on the procedure if i already have bileaflet avr...... i just want to feel better ;O(