QUESTIONS again for those who have/had palpitations a few months after surgery!

[malibu82]

Hi again !

I was feeling awesome. BUT THEN! Around the 2 month mark after surgery (late july), I started to feel lightheaded all the time. Then I slowly started getting regular palpitations. I feel them in my neck on the right side pretty bad. Sometimes the lightheadedness is so bad, I can't really leave my house. I don't want to say it is driving me crazy, but it is getting really difficult to move on and get back to normal life. I don't trust myself to be driving my kids around long distances or going to the zoo, park or mall with them. A few times I have had really strange vision disturbances where it's like for 3 seconds I feel very heavy in the eyes and my vision flipflops. I also get terrible headaches daily only on my right side though! Sometimes lately I have felt SLIGHT chest pain. Nothing debilitating but enough to make me worry.

So I went to my local cardiologist in August about all of this. He listened to my heart and told me I am fine, it's not my heart and referred me to my internist, an ENT, and neurologist.

Internist did a whole blood work up, said everything came back great, move on to other specialists.

Went back to my local cardioligst because the palpitations got worse. He couldn't see me and assured me over the phone I was fine, but to make myself feel better I could come see the physicians assistant. so i did, she took my blood pressure and listened to my heart and said yes, you have PVCs and i will be fine.

ENT said it could be meineres disease but after a lot of testing he said everything looks fine and go see the neurologist.

Neurologist did a MRI/MRA with and without contrast and a dizzy battery test. Everything came back fine.

Now I was starting to worry because my palpitations have become progressively worse. I am getting at the least 4-6 per minute, all day long. They don't increase or decrease with different activities or diet. They do not go away.So I decided to go downtown to the hospital I had my surgery and see the cardiologist I saw there. I saw her a week ago Friday. She seemed a little more concerned then my regular cardio, but assured me this happens after surgery especially with younger people. She said it's probably nothing to worry about but to check it out just in case.

So now as we speak I have this 48 hour holter monitor on. She said depending on the results we will do an echo next. She also told me to start my metoprolol again.

I haven't started the metoprolol because I wanted this holter monitor test to reveal how I am without the meds. I will start the metoprolol the minute this thing comes off.....

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

here are my questions if you don't mind sharing...

1. Do you experience pretty significant lightheadedness with your palpitations?

2. Does it last for as long as you are awake? Never going away?

3. Were your palpitations ever this bad and constant but did get better or go away with time?

4. Did they go away completely?

i also want to mention that lately i feel like my family thinks i am making things up or being overly worried or finding problems that aren't there. i can't make them understand and they never will how lightheaded i really am. how bad these palpitations really are. they see me going to the doctor, getting mri's, hearing tests and think i am crazy. i think they expect me to be back at 100% mentally, physically and emotionally. i am trying my hardest.

I don't think they understand I am just trying to get to the bottom of this LIGHTHEADEDNESS/DIZZY problem! It's so bad I will do anything to figure it out!

anyone with me on this?

 

[Bina]

Oh boy, I understand totally. That is also my story.....mini dizzy spells, visual auras but no real head aches. Palpitations, PVCs that come and go, and mini runs of SVT. Keep trying to relax because the anxiety makes it worse.
I've chosen to stay on the Metoprolol even though it also gives me some palps for about 1/2 hour after taking it.
Let us know about the Holter results, mine never showed anything serious enough to take action on.

 

[Praline]

About 2 months after OHS I had Atrial Flutter. MY heartrate was up to about 150 beats per minute. I also had the visual auras. I had my eyes checked and nothing showed up. It eventually went away. They gave me meds for the AFlutter. It went away and was gone for over 4 years then last month it was back. They put me back on coumadin and did an ablation this week. You can read about the ablation in my other post. An EKG showed what kind of arrythmia I had. I hope they sort it out soon so you can feel better. The holter monitor should tell a lot about what is going on.

 

[LisaD]

I had tachycardia, palpitations and dizziness for almost 18 months after my surgery. Now, at almost 2 years out, I am feeling great. It is such a relief to not notice every heart beat now, but I know it's beating. An EP told me that sometimes after surgery we are hypersensitive to our hearts and it very reasonable to be so. I had a Holter that showed only some PVCs and tachycardia, that was enough to put my mind at ease. Now I just brush off the now infrequent palpitations as annoying and drinking lots of water seems to help. I am also young and looking forward to snowboarding season for the first time since my surgery. I was sure it would never end, but it did. I hope your holter turns out well and will give you the reassurance you need. We have been through a big trauma, and it takes time to heal. Best wishes. -Lisa

 

[malibu82]

thanks everyone for your responses so far! it is nice to have support in this and know that it is a very real thing! i'm glad that most likely it will get better over time.

 

[hook]

I can agree that all the stuff that happens after surgery is a roller coaster. It's almost like one strange thing rolls into another. Here is my story.

3 weeks post op = starting to get better, then afib set in; very dizzy with this
4 weeks post op = started amioderone, and then the vertigo started
10 weeks post op = still getting dizzy spell, PVCs getting worse, still getting vertigo. Heart feels like it just wants to give up
16 weeks post op = got ICD, stopped amioderone, increased coreg and started Lavasa. Still getting jelly legs when I stad up to fast
20 weeks post op = Less PVCs, less dizziness

I think the meds are important, and I am a fan of Lavasa. I think the best medicine is time. Hear sugery is one up and down experience

 

[Lily]

Hi Malibu -
Hope this isn't redundant. It couldn't be related to any prescription you may be taking, could it? I have had some occasional lightheadedness but I "think" I tend to see more of it seasonally (springtime) and that it may be sinus-related for me, even with the various arrhythmias I have developed. Also, have you tried taking a few slow deep breaths when you have the light-headed sensations? And, if so, does that seem to help in anyway? Early post-op, I would occasionally get some brief, racing heartbeats which sharp, deep coughs seemed to knock out for me. Finally, I have much less awareness and/or unrest from my arrhythmias when I am exercising regularly. I feel that the exercise keeps my heart in a stronger condition and just seems to make me feel better all around. Hoping your issues improve soon

 

[Robb Wilder]

I have had no lightheadness except when I have laughed almost uncontrolably. I am 14 weeks post op. I was two weeks ago taken off of Amiomadrone and Lowpressor for my Afib. My palps have increased lately but nothing signifigant. I have had some moments that i would definietly have considered almost a-fib. The worst though was at work in a stressful situation and it became bad. There are some random times that my heart spkes up to 100 - 110 while doing nothing at all. Sometimes waking up or right before bed. Its nothing that greatly concerns me though because I know I am still healing. I had severe Afib the next night after surgery and was in it for 5 days will they TEE'd me then SHOCKED me to get the heart regulated.

I hope you get better

 

[ALCapshaw2]

You were wise to seek a second opinion from the other cardiologist.
I am glad to hear that she took your concerns seriously and is looking into what may be causing your issues.

Any time you experience "one sided" issues, that immediately raises the question of a possible stroke or perhaps a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack - i.e. a 'mini-stroke' that goes away).

We have had several members who experienced short term visual annomolies.
They invariably come back as 'nothing found' but are often attributed to possible "visual migraines".

Dizzyness and unsteadyness can have several possible causes such as Low Blood Pressure (usually seen when rising from a laying or sitting position too fast) or possible Inner Ear Issues that can have various triggers including seasonal or environmental allergies.

I hope you and your Doctors are able to develop a better understanding of your symptoms and possible causes. When symptoms transition from 'irritating' to 'debilitating', it is time to find out WHY.

Let us know what you learn and how you are doing.

Best wishes,

'AL Capshaw'

 

[malibu82]

thanks again for all of your information. i really appreciate it. it's nice to know i am not alone. i returned the holter monitor today and have an echo schedule for wednesday so hopefully that will help get to the bottom of all of this!

 

[Bina]

keep us posted !

 

[Eva]

I hope this will be resolved soon. Keep us posted.

 

[Ruth]

Hang in there!

Hang in there!

IMHO it takes a year before the roller coaster levels off. I had post op afib/flutter from weeks 2-10 finally resolved by cardioversion. Had a very fast heart rate for the better part of that first year 90-110'ish at rest. When I was on higher doses of Beta Blockers to slow the high heart rate then my blood pressure would drop so low I'd be dizzy. Found out that amioderone had done a number to my Thyroid so now I take supplements. Learned that my thyroid levels *dramatically* impact my heart rhythms.

Long story short, it's been 3+ years and all is well. I feel great and have for a long time now. But that first year.........

I wish you all the best in your continuing recovery. Please keep us posted.

 

[Marguerite53]

You have gotten some great shared stories here. I am 4.5 years out and still not completely free of my PVCs -- even last year I had some elevated blood pressure/PVC problems and they looked me over every which way and sideways and there is nothing really wrong. During my first year post-surgery, I had many aggravating episodes which caused me concern and visits to doctors. It's almost as if I couldn't believe there wasn't something off, something wrong, something they could just tweek to make me feel normal. I totally and truly understand where you are in your head about all this. All those who have responded here do, too. But now that there is some distance from it, in those 4.5 years, I think these experiences may be just part of the whole experience of the surgery and new valve. I don't think we can find our same normal again. BUT, as Ruth attests -- we can feel great!! But we have to allow the recovery to be as long as it's going to be. We have to accept that our normal is a new feeling and may not be the perfect feeling we were hoping for. It may be something that is actually always changing, going in circles, has ebbs and flows.... etc. etc..

That said, I have a question for you. How old is that photo in your avatar?? Are your babies still quite little? If so -- do you think your hormones might be playing with your physical feelings, too?? I had 3 children, 2 then 3 years apart. After the 3rd one (who was 3 weeks late and 10.5 pounds) I was honestly not myself, well, maybe ever again!! I had all kinds of stomach changes (suddenly lactose intolerant), my hair thinned out and got darker. I gained a lot of weight!! (well, can't probably blame that on anything but all the chocolate chip cookies I started baking for the kiddos!! :wink2 But anyway, I thought I'd throw that into the mix of ideas here. We women go through all kinds of hormonal changes when we have our children. Add that to some open heart surgery and wow! It may just be a slower recovery, or it just may be a new you altogether.

But always consult the doctors. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks of you on your quest to get answers. This is YOUR life. They are not in charge. You obviously want to be healthy and strong for your growing family and you have every right to have professional diagnosticians listening to your concerns and weighing out the possibilities.

Best wishes. Hang in there!

Marguerite

 

[Kathy McCain]

Malibu,

I did indeed have PVCs after my surgery. Even with the metoprolol. I was on a low dose 12 1/2mg. It did seem to decrease the amount of PVCs though. My bp is fine. My pulse is a bit higher than I would have liked, so that was the primary reason I started the med. I have been off the met, for about 3mos ? I started experiencing more PVCs over a month after stopping the medication. The cardio told me over and over again they were benign. Did the holter monitor test, echo, stress test, ekg, the whole workup. Everything was fine. So I decided to ride it out. They were EXTREMELY annoying, but now I am feeling, or noticing them, not nearly as much. So I have decided to stay off the Metoprolol. I did not experience lightheadedness, or dizzy spells though.

You are doing the smart thing by following up with your cardio that took care of you pre-op. Just keep after them, if it doesn't improve. This is your life and your health! I think eventually it will calm down, and you will be okay though.

I do feel for you.

Hang in there and keep us updated.

 

[malibu82]

thank you for all of the shared stories. it is so interesting that it seems like a common problem and nothing that can truly be done about it except for giving it time!

kathy: i have been taking the metoprolol and haven't noticed any change in the pvc's either. quite annoying, i thought it would maybe help a bit!

marguerite:

3 weeks late and 10.5 lbs. WOW!!!!

my last baby was 2 weeks early and 9.2lbs and i thought that was bad!

my babies right now are 22 months old and 10 months old. i wondered about the hormonal issues as well. you are right! this could just be the new ME! i hope not!

Ruth: thanks for your story, it gives me hope that there will be an end to all of these problems!

 

[kfay]

Malibu, don't fall for the old story that nothing can be done to help you with these pac's/pvc's. It simply isn't true. They (dr's) just don't like to do things for them I think because they consider them benign, however, if they had to live with them, they would be the first ones asking for help. Believe me, I have lived with them my whole life, with varying degrees of annoyance, however, never have they bothered me like they did after surgery. And never was I more annoyed by my Dr's responses to them as I was at that time (your just more aware of your heart, you've just had surgery, let your heart heal, you'll just have to learn to live with it) to which I said BS! I became the biggest thorn in their side.

So, basically, I can tell you some drugs, including beta blockers, that you think may help, can actually make them worse. You may need a combo of different drugs. You may need some stronger cardiac drugs. That's when you have to start weighing the benefit you'll get out from the drug vs. any risk it might carry. Hopefully, as time goes on for you, your heart will settle down on its own. In my case, the theory is that some of the stitching inside my heart caused an area to become irritated which caused my pac's. Since they were so life altering for me, my Dr's agreed to try to ablate the area after several medication tries didn't work.

I really can relate to how very, very frustrating they can be and think that this is an area that our surgeons and cardiologist are way too dismissive of.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

I keep focusing on Marguerite's 10.5 pound bundle of "ouchie" joy..:biggrin2:

I agree with the others Malibu - it's takes lots of time, but you'll get there..:thumbup:

 

[nate_c]

Hi, all. Thanks for starting this thread. Been nice to see that people usually grow out of this. Like many others, I started having afib episodes at week three. At week five, started getting PVCs during exercise at cardiac rehab (that's where I learned what they were). More recently, the pattern has shifted, so that now I don't get them during exercise, but instead, like clockwork, they set in about 8 pm every evening. Super annoying. Sometimes I feel like I get more PVC beats in the evenings than normal beats. Occasionally, I'll run a check on my home bp monitor, and I occasionally get heart rate reading in the high 30s. Holter monitor confirmed that they were lots of PVCs. I often notice that they're worse when I'm lying on my back... Curious to know if anyone else ever notices that connection. I do find that when they're especially bad I can feel a little light-headed or strange, but most of the time, for me it's just very annoying. Hard to concentrate. I find them discouraging too, since I'd love to be feeling more "normal" at this point (about 9 weeks out).

kfay: Appreciated the note on the beta blockers. Metoprolol doesn't seem to help me much, if at all. May talk to my cardio about alternatives.

Best of luck to you, Malibu. Hope you find some relief soon. Maybe we can all send a group testimonial to your fam confirming that you're not crazy!

 

[malibu82]

thanks kfay, shezagirlie and nate!