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Resting heart rate after surgery

Posted by christermn @christermn, May 14 8:44am

Five days ago I had bilateral hernia surgery and I have noticed that my resting heart rate has increased from mid 50s to mid 70s and my heart rate goes up to mid to high 90s when I have any type of activity (going to fill my water bottle, for example). No other symptoms, such as dizziness, chest pain etc. just heart rate increase. Is this normal after surgery and how long will it last? I have a second surgery scheduled in two weeks for a rotator cuff tear and hope the heart rate increase does not interfere with that surgery. Thanks.

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gloaming | @gloaming | May 15 1:46pm

Nothing to worry about...unless...it stays there for many long minutes after you're seated or at rest once again. That could be a sign of positional orthostatic tachycardia (POTS, and yes, it's a thing...), or of an arrhythmia. How is your sleep...going a little short due to all of this intrusion into your normal routine? That could account for a rise in HR for a while.

I was a runner all my adult life until I developed atrial fibrillation. Competitive, too. Nowadays, while my arrhythmia is being controlled, my HR still rises above 100 when I stand to move around. It means you're healthy, properly reactive to demands you place on your body. Personally, I'd worry a lot more about standing, taking steps to the fridge, and finding that my heart rate DOESN'T rise. :-0

Let your surgeon know, but I'll bet they take your BP and pulse before the surgery anyway to ensure you're a good candidate.

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christermn | @christermn | May 15 3:55pm
In reply to @gloaming "Nothing to worry about...unless...it stays there for many long minutes after you're seated or at rest..." + (show)
@gloaming

Nothing to worry about...unless...it stays there for many long minutes after you're seated or at rest once again. That could be a sign of positional orthostatic tachycardia (POTS, and yes, it's a thing...), or of an arrhythmia. How is your sleep...going a little short due to all of this intrusion into your normal routine? That could account for a rise in HR for a while.

I was a runner all my adult life until I developed atrial fibrillation. Competitive, too. Nowadays, while my arrhythmia is being controlled, my HR still rises above 100 when I stand to move around. It means you're healthy, properly reactive to demands you place on your body. Personally, I'd worry a lot more about standing, taking steps to the fridge, and finding that my heart rate DOESN'T rise. :-0

Let your surgeon know, but I'll bet they take your BP and pulse before the surgery anyway to ensure you're a good candidate.

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Thank you for your comments. As you suggested, my sleep has not been as good a quality as normal. I just think the body has to recover after a surgery and I am too impatient. My HR recovers very quickly when I sit down. Thank again for your reply.

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