Fluctuating HR post valve op?

[Pilgrim2]

Hi all,I am 12 days post OH surgery for valve repair. All has been going well with no complications and whilst very tired, weak and breathless (as to be expected) I have been gently increasing my slow walks each day and had little pain or problems. However yesterday after breakfast my heart started feel like it was fluttering. I have a pulsometer and it showed my HR was jumping all over the place from 50 to 150bpm, mainly above 100. I checked it against a clock and got 130bpm. After an hour of this I called Papworth helpline and they said call 999 for ambulance. I spent a day in hospital being monitored and having tests but was sent home saying they just put it down to the heart being irritated by surgery and part of recovery. I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this as part of the recovery process?

[RedRockSupersonic]

Hello, please don’t worry as you seem to be experiencing what was happening to me a few weeks ago. I had open heart surgery for aortic root replacement and a new valve at the beginning of October. Two weeks after coming home my heart went into af with a rate of around 140bpm. I called a ambulance and the paramedics advised I should go to hospital to be checked over in more detail. I spent two nights in hospital and after a change to my medication my heart rate slowed to 60/70bpm. I have not had any further problems and went back to work yesterday, agin with no issues. Everyone is different and even though we had similar surgery it doesn’t mean we will recover the same way but what we have both been through post surgery is very common.

[Pilgrim2 in reply to RedRockSupersonic]

Hi Redrock, thanks for the reply. Always good to hear others have experienced similar. I knew this recovery wasn't going to be straightforward. It's just as you know, Again with high HR makes it feel like your heart is going into some sort of panic. I wasn't given any meds, just told the heart is upset at being handled and this is normal. They have said should settle in a few days, I await that day!

[WeaverShaz]

I think this normal for some people. I had two quite severe episodes of AF while still in hospital recovering from AVR, which delayed my discharge (I was in 11 days), Gave the physios a shock as they were with me on a walk However, since then (Oct 2021) I seem to be OK, aside from the very occasional and very brief flutter.

[Pilgrim2 in reply to WeaverShaz]

Thanks WeaverShav, I was told the heart can do odd things after surgery, but it's just a bit worrying when it happens. I don't think it helped when calling Papworth helpline to see if it was anything to be concerned about they said call 999 immediately. But hospital were not worried about it and thought it normal. Just good to hear from people like yourself that others have been through it (and gone past it!).

[WeaverShaz in reply to Pilgrim2]

No problem. There is always someone here who has had similar issues. Hope your heart settles down soon.

[gardnerbay]

I've found that asking advice (from e.g. helplines or other contacts at hospital) regarding possibly significant symptoms is likely to result in advice to go to A&E (one way or another). It is worrying (had a similar situation recently) but I think they need to err on the side of caution. Getting checked out can be a faff but I guess its the sensible option. I also had a heart 'flutter'/some slight discomfort event a few years ago after AVR but an A&E check showed nothing was wrong. It only happened once - but I'm glad I got it checked. Hope your recovery continues well from now on, sounds mostly good so far.

[Pilgrim2 in reply to gardnerbay]

Thanks for your reply Gardnerbay, yes good to get checked, but appears just part of recovery. Bad morning again with almost 2 hours of bouncing HR but has settled back again now. Like everyone, keep positive, do the right thing and hopefully we all get back to normality!

[Anon2023]

hi. I had the same on two occasions a few weeks after my last ohs. The surgeon said it’s completely normal after such big surgery. I did go to hospital on both occasions and they put me on meds to sort it out. I needed a cardioversion to sort out the last bout of atrial flutter but it’s been a year now and I’ve been fine since. Apparently it’s very common after ohs. It’s always worth getting checked out but try not to worry too much.

[Pilgrim2 in reply to Anon2023]

Thanks Anon, good to hear yours has now settled. They didn't want to give me meds just 11 days after surgery and I still have it, but it is less than when it first started, so moving in the right direction.

[Anon2023 in reply to Pilgrim2]

hi. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that it soon settles down. If it continues or feels worse then you should go to hospital again and get it checked out. No harm in being sure. I saw an electrocardiologist months after it happened to me (I had been referred at the time the flutter episode hapenned) and he really wasn’t concerned. He said it was very common. I hope that it resolves soon for you. Good luck.

[HenningLob]

Hi

My husband had open heart surgery3 years ago for an enlarged aorta and also had his valve replaced and was given a mechanical valve. About 12 days after surgery he experienced his heart jumping all over the place like you described. It was a Sunday and they sent him to A and E. They said there was a problem and he could either change his meds which might not work or give him another general anaesthetic and give him a shock to the heart. They advised second option and it worked. They said it is very normal to have heart jumping about after OHS and it usually happens soon after, not as late as 12 days after. I do hope things have settled for you. If not I would urge you to go back to Dr and get checked out and keep doing this till you feel comfortable. I hope things are going well.

[Pilgrim2 in reply to HenningLob]

Thanks for your reply. It has subsided to bouts of around 5 minutes a few times a day so quite liveable. If it increases again I will see the doctor and push for meds or possibly a restart. But I'm hoping it goes away naturally. Glad to hear your husband's was sorted out.