Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

[GeorgeAlexander]

Hi, my husband (aged 45) had an emergency aortic root replacement and aortic valve replacement back in July. He was fit and active before non smoker no other health issues except asthma which he wasn’t inhaler reliant every day. The op has been a success but is suffering with lightheadedness and dizziness. He was prescribed simvastatin, bisoprolol and ramipril for preventative measures and warfarin as he has a mechanical valve. His EF has improved from 29% when he left hospital to 45%. The statin attacked his liver and muscles and so they took him off that, the bisoprolol affected his asthma and he was just left on the ramipril and warfarin. The Dr agreed to take him off the ramipril to see if that helped with the dizziness but he’s still experiencing this after two weeks. He just wants to feel well again especially as he didn’t feel ill to start with and I wondered if anyone had any similar experiences or is this just how it’s going to be? We have a young family and just want to get back to some normality .

Thank you in advance

[Fredders]

Sorry to hear he’s having such a bad time. I suggest he goes back to his GP or he could ring the cardiology unit where he had his op and explain the position to them and perhaps get him in to see the cardiologist. I had a mechanical valve fitted two years ago but the only problem I had was with the pacemaker I got due to getting complete heart block after the op.

Hope he can get to the bottom of the dizziness.

Wendy

[GeorgeAlexander in reply to Fredders]

Thank you for your reply Wendy, the GP is being fantastic and the Cardiologist has said he can be referred to an Neurologist.

It just seems strange as he never had this before the op. Maybe we are being impatient and that after such a big op it’s going to take time to settle down.

He just wakes up never knowing if he’s going to feel naff or not.

[SecondOHS]

I had a David procedure at the end of June, and am a similar vintage as your husband. I have been experiencing headaches and dizziness also. I won't comment on anything related to medication, and the cardiologist and/or neurologist is best to advise. One thing that I have which helped is getting physio on my neck - the physical recovery of the chest is such a journey and with everything all connected, the neck and all the nerves connected to the head can affect dizziness. Something to consider

[LauraUK]

Hi, I had a double heart valve replacement (47 yrs very active in sports) Sep 2018, was on ramipril & bisophorol. Suffered really badly from dizziness, which affected my day to day living. I was taken off all medication other than warfarin and had dizziness stopped. Not saying it’s the meds definitely, however in my case was definable the Bisophoral.

What I do want to say is I came back very quickly, getting straight back into everything, in hindsight a year later, quite a few setbacks and serious pneumonia I now realise this is a long process, take it slow, even if you do feel fine, be kind to your body.

Doesn’t answer the dizziness issue, investigate all potential options, it’s a bit hit and miss at times but you will get there.

Laura

[GeorgeAlexander in reply to LauraUK]

Thank you Laura for your reply,

that’s good to hear you are doing well. You get the “you’ll be feeling better at 12 weeks” from the docs but it’s just not a realistic expectation. We are 4 months post op so fingers crossed things will start to improve.

[LauraUK in reply to GeorgeAlexander]

I battled all this medication, dizziness for at least 3/4 months. Has he started cardio rehab. I got sent home twice because my blood pressure dropped & I was dizzy.. it just a long plod. Just went you feel like Wonder Woman something side swipes you out the blue! Keep going - I am now playing tennis again, walking a lot and being very active.

[GeorgeAlexander in reply to LauraUK]

That’s good to hear Laura. Yes he has done all his rehab and he’s back at work. But your right it swipes you side ways and then is very disheartening.

It’s frustrating as he wasn't ill before his op. He’s had 3 really good days so fingers crossed it will continue but the docs do want him to go on a blood pressure med as they’ve said it’s more for protecting the heart. Off the meds his blood pressure range is normal. Thank you again for replying.