Breathlessness solved!

[Fredders]

After my AVR and resulting pacemaker implant last November I have been struggling with breathlessness every time I walked fast, or uphill etc, but on the flat at a gentle pace I was fine. I mentioned it at my first pacemaker clinic but it was only a month after my op so thought it was that. Had my check up today and apparently it was set at a maximum of 110 bpm, which Chris thought was very low. He explained that my heart was trying to beat at 115bpm but the pacemaker was only firing at 110bpm, hence getting breathless. He has now reset the maximum to 130 and I already feel better. So nice being able to breath! He is going to see how I am in six months and may tweak it again, but I did assure him I had no plans on running any marathons, ever!

Wendy

[Ethel13]

Hi Wendy,

I’m so pleased to hear that you have solved and resolved the reason for your breathlessness, that is good news. Onwards and upwards!

Take care,

Dory xxx💕

[Fredders in reply to Ethel13]

Thanks Dory, was good to find out it wasn’t another problem with my heart. How is your recovery going?

Wendy xx

[Ethel13 in reply to Fredders]

I’m doing OK thank you Wendy, still very breathless on hills and stairs but that is likely to be the Afib. Once my thyroid is back under control I will be able to have the cardioversion and hopefully that will do the trick.

Take care,

Dory xx💕

[Roamie]

Wendy.. I have messaged Michael JH to try and find your username, but I think I have found it by accident! I seem to remember that you said that you had open heart surgery twice. Is that correct?. I had AVR and bypass last year and have now been told that I also need a second operation to replace mitral and tricuspid valves also. I am really really worried, can you please reassure me?

I wish you and your family a happy Christmas and New Year.

[Fredders in reply to Roamie]

Hi Roamie, yes I’ve had two open heart surgeries now, both for AVR, but with the added complication of having my spleen removed between heart ops. Apart from ending up with a pacemaker due to getting complete heart block, my recovery from my second op went fine. I was back at work after 12 weeks. My scar is now hardly visible again and my check ups have been fine. I had a mechanical valve this time so am on warfarin, but I only have to test once every 10 weeks as my readings have been stable, although I have a home testing machine so can do a test if I need to.

I can appreciate how worried you are, but in some respects at least you’ve been through it once and know what to expect - that’s how I dealt with it anyway. Have they given you any indication of when your op will be? I know I just wanted it over and done with once I knew I had to have another heart op, less time to worry about it.

I hope you can put it to the back of your mind and enjoy Christmas and before you know it your op will be all over with and you can get back to living your life 😀.

Please keep me posted and if I can help at all just shout.

Wendy x