Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Hello All,
Met with the surgeon today and and the result is the surgery scheduled for the next Wednesday.
Considering my age and the risk of rapture he feels the surgery is the way to go and I agree. Either way I am taking chances and I would rather go with the higher odds of survival.
The aneurysm encroached a bit on the arch and the first artery will need to be repaired as well. Valves look good and tight so hopefully no surprises there.
Going in for a CT tomorrow to check the entire vascular system, will see a cardiologist as well.
I hope to make it through and report once I am over the hurdle...
Thank you and good night to you all...

Hello again everyone!
here I am, 5 weeks after my AVR and the ascending aorta graft. I had it done at the Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, MN - very pleased with my surgeon and the overall care. The recovery was less traumatic than I expected, the first few days being the hardest due to limited range of movement caused by the incision in my sternum.

I was released from the hospital after 6 days. Since I opted for a mechanical valve I was put on warfarin, 2-3 INR level.
It is overwhelming to come home with a bunch of handouts and the loud heartbeat and think that everything will be just fine...
The INR levels took some time to stabilize, I am on my first week long span before another test and do hope that the results will be good. It's tricky with the diet, big learning curve, especially with the family and growing kids around.
I am on 5mg warfarin and 1 baby aspirin daily.

Started to walk outside after I came home, gradually increasing the distance and speed. Thinking of getting a treadmill as the weather is getting nasty here.
Overall I felt that the recovery was going well. I had my intake meeting for cardiac rehab and I am scheduled to start next Wednesday, 3x a week.
Having said that, there is a glitch in my recovery and I find it somewhat discouraging..... the narrative has been how everything will get fixed an ei will slowly return to my new "normal" but there are bumps ahead... I had a couple of episodes when my heartbeat became very rapid or felt very irregular... then I had an episode when my resting rate would feel very slow and I felt like some beats were skipping, every skipped beat made me feel slightly dizzy, they always occurred while I was seated.

So I called the Heart Center, was fitted with a monitor for 48h and was told that it registered some very high beats, in 200s...interestingly enough, I felt and still feel quite fine...

I am supposed to take 25mg of metoprolol, once daily and then we will see..... all stressed about it as the internet is full of negative feedback from patients how it affects the quality of life, energy levels, mood... I had no chance to talk to my cardiologist since she was not in and another doctor made a call based on the Holter's results.

I wish my update be more upbeat, I feel this is a setback in my recovery and another reason to worry....

Thank you for having this wonderful forum to share the ups and downs!

Ilona

Hello again everyone!
here I am, 5 weeks after my AVR and the ascending aorta graft. I had it done at the Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, MN - very pleased with my surgeon and the overall care. The recovery was less traumatic than I expected, the first few days being the hardest due to limited range of movement caused by the incision in my sternum.

I was released from the hospital after 6 days. Since I opted for a mechanical valve I was put on warfarin, 2-3 INR level.
It is overwhelming to come home with a bunch of handouts and the loud heartbeat and think that everything will be just fine...
The INR levels took some time to stabilize, I am on my first week long span before another test and do hope that the results will be good. It's tricky with the diet, big learning curve, especially with the family and growing kids around.
I am on 5mg warfarin and 1 baby aspirin daily.

Started to walk outside after I came home, gradually increasing the distance and speed. Thinking of getting a treadmill as the weather is getting nasty here.
Overall I felt that the recovery was going well. I had my intake meeting for cardiac rehab and I am scheduled to start next Wednesday, 3x a week.
Having said that, there is a glitch in my recovery and I find it somewhat discouraging..... the narrative has been how everything will get fixed an ei will slowly return to my new "normal" but there are bumps ahead... I had a couple of episodes when my heartbeat became very rapid or felt very irregular... then I had an episode when my resting rate would feel very slow and I felt like some beats were skipping, every skipped beat made me feel slightly dizzy, they always occurred while I was seated.

So I called the Heart Center, was fitted with a monitor for 48h and was told that it registered some very high beats, in 200s...interestingly enough, I felt and still feel quite fine...

I am supposed to take 25mg of metoprolol, once daily and then we will see..... all stressed about it as the internet is full of negative feedback from patients how it affects the quality of life, energy levels, mood... I had no chance to talk to my cardiologist since she was not in and another doctor made a call based on the Holter's results.

I wish my update be more upbeat, I feel this is a setback in my recovery and another reason to worry....

Thank you for having this wonderful forum to share the ups and downs!

Ilona

I have been on the metoprolol for years and have not had any problems at all. My dose is 150. It took care of my tachycardia and irregular beats. If I miss it I remember because the beats change. It really made my life much better as I did not have my "funky beats" to worry about. I had heard negative remarks too but none of the side affects happened to me. Yeah! The cardiologist told me it was like a fortress built around my heart to protect it. Even when I do something that raises my heart rate it keeps it from going too high. I hope it works as well for you.

I also have had no problems with metoprolol. I have taken it since 2016-25mg twice a day. After open heart surgery, it was given to me right away. I don’t notice any problems with my quality of life. The dosage has stayed the same and heart seems to work well with no blips or anything unusual. Good luck to you! Carol

Hello again everyone!
here I am, 5 weeks after my AVR and the ascending aorta graft. I had it done at the Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, MN - very pleased with my surgeon and the overall care. The recovery was less traumatic than I expected, the first few days being the hardest due to limited range of movement caused by the incision in my sternum.

I was released from the hospital after 6 days. Since I opted for a mechanical valve I was put on warfarin, 2-3 INR level.
It is overwhelming to come home with a bunch of handouts and the loud heartbeat and think that everything will be just fine...
The INR levels took some time to stabilize, I am on my first week long span before another test and do hope that the results will be good. It's tricky with the diet, big learning curve, especially with the family and growing kids around.
I am on 5mg warfarin and 1 baby aspirin daily.

Started to walk outside after I came home, gradually increasing the distance and speed. Thinking of getting a treadmill as the weather is getting nasty here.
Overall I felt that the recovery was going well. I had my intake meeting for cardiac rehab and I am scheduled to start next Wednesday, 3x a week.
Having said that, there is a glitch in my recovery and I find it somewhat discouraging..... the narrative has been how everything will get fixed an ei will slowly return to my new "normal" but there are bumps ahead... I had a couple of episodes when my heartbeat became very rapid or felt very irregular... then I had an episode when my resting rate would feel very slow and I felt like some beats were skipping, every skipped beat made me feel slightly dizzy, they always occurred while I was seated.

So I called the Heart Center, was fitted with a monitor for 48h and was told that it registered some very high beats, in 200s...interestingly enough, I felt and still feel quite fine...

I am supposed to take 25mg of metoprolol, once daily and then we will see..... all stressed about it as the internet is full of negative feedback from patients how it affects the quality of life, energy levels, mood... I had no chance to talk to my cardiologist since she was not in and another doctor made a call based on the Holter's results.

I wish my update be more upbeat, I feel this is a setback in my recovery and another reason to worry....

Thank you for having this wonderful forum to share the ups and downs!

Ilona

Good to hear you are home and healing from the surgery. Home in 6 days is real good! It took 3 months for my thinners to get in range. I also take the 5 mg of Warfarin like you, but on 2 days(Sunday & Wednesday) I take 7.5. Keeps me in range. I think it takes time for your body to be used to the thinners being there. It's funny you mentioned hearing your valve when your heart beats. I didn't hear mine until I got home from the hospital. Probably too loud of an environment at the hospital to hear it. Get your heart rate stabilized and do the cardiac rehab. It will help your body fully recover.
We are all rooting for you.

All the best to you!
Bruce
Texas