Unusually high HR ?

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carlmeek

Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2011
Messages
13
Location
Brighton, UK.
Hi,

I've searched and read various posts on here about resting heart rates, and 80-100 being common after surgery. Well i haven't seen mine below 110 for a week now. I just got out of my chair, walked two steps, and put the HR monitor on my finger... i'm at 120. i just spent 5 minutes calming myself, breathing, closed eyes... got it down to 107. I'm 13 days post surgery, and am only on Wharferin. Do you think i should be alarmed? Should I be on drugs to slow this? Can it cause any harm?

Thanks,
-Carl.
 
When in doubt, check it out.
If it were me, I would be contacting my cardiologist or surgeon when his/her office opens Monday.

I didn't have problems with my HR post-op. I did have several bouts of tachycardia, though, and I did call the surgeon's office when the first episode occurred. The answering service contacted him and his nurse called me back.
 
Hello,
I'm about 5-6 weeks post-op, have a bovine tissue valve (tremendous urge to herd) had a dialated aorta repaired & a hole patched. I started running a higher HR & lower blood pressure along with SOB, feeling queesy & became really tired after any activity. I had a pericardial effusion. However, I was drained, & ever since then I've had a higher HR. My docs & surgeon through card feel it's still because of some fluid left. I'm being followed up but they said to keep on walking, taking my meds etc. I also like to scare myself into a higher HR & that's what my lorazapam is for. If your HR especially is part of more new symptoms - call your Dr. And just to calm yourself call. The 1st several weeks this recovery (I think) is also a headgame we need to win.
I say call them either way - that's why they get paid the big bucks!!!!!
Daiva
 
I don't think a heart rate of 107-110 BPM would qualify as tachycardia, so I would not necessarily panic if all else feels OK. If your resting heart rate remains over 100, though, I would think it worth a mention to your cardio to see what he or she thinks. They may or may not be concerned, as that rate is only mildly elevated. (I'm not a medical professional, so this is only my experience, though.)
 
carlmeek said:
Hi,

I've searched and read various posts on here about resting heart rates, and 80-100 being common after surgery. Well i haven't seen mine below 110 for a week now. I just got out of my chair, walked two steps, and put the HR monitor on my finger... i'm at 120. i just spent 5 minutes calming myself, breathing, closed eyes... got it down to 107. I'm 13 days post surgery, and am only on Wharferin. Do you think i should be alarmed? Should I be on drugs to slow this? Can it cause any harm?

Thanks,
-Carl.
Click to expand...


I have/had the impression that surgeons don't get too concerned as long as your post-op HR is below 120.
I suspect that you post-op Heart Rate falls in the 'High Normal' Range.
That said, it would not hurt to call your Surgeon's (and Cardiologist's) office and ask to speak with a Nurse about your concern over your resting HR and how quickly it goes up with modest exertion.
There are several different medications (mostly Beta Blockers) that can help control HR.

'AL Capshaw'
 
I am 19 weeks post op and didn't notice my heart rate coming down until about the 6th week. I would get up in the middle of night and use the rest room and the HR would jump over 120. When I mentioned this to several doctors they all agreed that this is normal due to your heart being aggravated right after major trauma. What beta-blocker dosage are you taking? I know increasing the dosage a little along with excercise did wonders... It will get better-take care!

Jason
 
Hi, Carl-
I noticed pounding/strong/racing heart beat at about week 2 as well. If you are like me, you can probably hear your heart beat if you tilt your head just right. I would listen to the regularity of those beats, too. Are they even or is the heart skipping around.

Right after surgery it is normal for your heart to act up from the inflammation/trauma of the surgery. Just keep an eye on it to make sure it is not getting worse.

At week two, I had an episode where my resting heart raced up and down between 130-200bpm. Ended up in the hospital with afib. They put me on drugs to calm everything down. I'm doing well now.

Not to scare you, but you are in that window where some valve patients have issues with irregular heart beat. About 30% or so have this afib issues post surgery from the trauma. Just want you to pay attention and note if it is getting worse. Definitely call the doc.

On another post you said you felt a cold coming on. I felt that way, too, but the sinus/lung congestion ended up being from fluid retention from the afib.
 
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Thanks for the info, I have an appointment with the cardio on Thursday now. I have not detected anything irregular, all seems sinus. I'm not on any drugs, no beta blockers at all. I am suffering terrible night sweating, which must be caused by the high HR, I have no fever. Let's see what Cardio says.

Thanks!
Carl
 
Hope it all turned out OK, Carl. My experience was like yours and like drivetopless's, with one trip to the ER (mine @~3 wks post-op) for tachycardia (~150 bpm) brought on by A-fib. My cardiologist wasn't concerned about any resting HR below around 120, as Steve and others have suggested. I was, he wasn't. Finally in the last ~month (~4-5 months post-op), my resting HR is finally sometimes as low (and sometimes LOWER!) than the 58-60 I used to be able to reach when I was healthy and fit (though with a congenital BAV). It's still a bit erratic, as if it's "finding its way" toward a "new normal". . .
 
Night sweats might be from all the drugs in your system. I have had a couple episodes of supraventicular tach (svt) where my HR went to 140 or so. Went to the ER twice, once it went away on it's own, other time I was given IV drug to stop it. Had a few other episodes that went away on their own by resting. Last time in January....knock on wood!
 
And I'm happy to report my resting HR this morning --66. Sometimes it's in the 50s. Presurgery it was NEVER below 75. "Course I'm still chemically enhanced with the heart drugs. But a lower heartbeat feels a lot better than one over 100.
 
I think they consider the normal HR range 60-100. My HR is around 70-75 and that is taking Metroprolol (beta blocker) 50mg twice a day. If I wasn't taking this my heart rate may be in the 100 range as well. Like others have said...I would check it out with your cardiologist. I am hoping my HR will continue to drop (was around 80-85) so they can lower my BB dosage and maybe get completely off of it one day.
 
Fast Heart Rate

Fast Heart Rate

Don’t sweat it. I was an active 45 year old when I had my aorta repaired (12-03-10) and my heart rate didn’t drop below 100 consistently until almost 4 months post surgery.


A little over 5 months later, my heart rate is back in the 60's and all is well.

Give it time, stay active and yours too shall drop back to pre-op levels
 
I am 4 1/2 months post-op. My resting HR is low 70's when sitting. When I stand it goes to mid 90's and if I walk it's 110-120.
Riding my bike this week it hit 178. several times it has passed 170 while riding my bike.
Yesterday I climbed a ladder at work and it reached 167, then at cardio when I was doing squats it went to 165.
I take 25 mg of Metoprolol once a day.

I called the Cardiologist about the high HR, They wanted me to come in and be seen. They gave me a Holter monitor to wear for 48 hours, chest x-ray's, and ordered an Echo.

So I have the same questions. why is it getting so high? Is this normal? Do I need more BB or something? How Long before it comes down? with drugs? without drugs? etc...

They are telling me to slow down now. That is frustrating for me.

Ron
 
One more note.
When the cardio called me back they were very concerned about my high HR. They told me to go to ER, since they had no openings. They said it really shouldn't go over 140.

Ron
 
Good moring,
my resting HR was low 90's when I got home, 10 weeks post it now runs about 69 to 80. I am on low dose BB an that works. Stick close to your Cardio / surgeon and you will feel physically and mentally better.
 
This morning before breakfast, I got back into bed, lay still for a moment, and strapped on my BP-and-HR monitor. Pretty normal BP (maybe 120 / 80?), but HR = 48!! I almost panicked between the first heartbeat "beep" and the second, it was so slow! I'm not sure if this is Oh, Goodie, or OMG or WTF or what, since that's much lower than I ever "clocked" it before the BAVR! Mostly I think it's still "finding its way", basically on the erratic side of consistent. (Right now it seems like around 70, not unusual.)
 
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Still on BB's

Still on BB's

Hey Ron:

Nope! No longer taking BB's as I jumped off the last 25mg's just a couple weeks ago.

Sure, my HR went up about 25BPM, but it will take a few weeks for my body to re-adjust to the non-dose.

Also, I am back to rollerblading in the park (at least when its not raining) so hopfully, with a little luck and hard work my BP will land back in that 60 to 70 resting that it used to be b4 my operation
 
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