Paul's Profile

What a great site and community! It’s been 1 month since my MV replacement (bovine). At 74ml regurgitation I was in the “severe” range. I’ve now had my followup with both the Mayo surgical team and the cardiologist. All agree that my progress is very good and right on track. I myself could tell right away, that I no longer get light headed when I stand up from sitting. Quickly about me: I’m a young 70 yr old. I’ve worked cardio and strength since college, getting up early before work to run or swim. Now I also bike and do my age in burpees. I’m 6’ and 165lbs (22BMI). All my pre-surgery reading led me to believe that recovery for me from a Minimally Invasive MV replacement would be a walk in the park. NOT SO, let me warn you! First of all, after my 5 night hospital stay (mostly waiting for arrhythmia to go away), I had to go back the next week for another surgery and 4 more nights so they could punch a couple more holes for drainage tubes for heart and lung “sacs” fluid buildup. Apart from that, let me list for you the woes that the doctors say are normal: 1) For about 10 days after surgery, the worst pain was the muscle knot between my shoulder blades. Didn’t read about that! Had to take both narcotic pain meds and muscle relaxant just for that! Otherwise, no real actual surgical pain, even now that I’m off Tylenol. 2) Bronchial irritation is still causing some serious coughing. 3) My resting heart rate has now gone from mid 50s to mid 90s! This, I’ve now read, can last a year or more and may never come down much, and is apparently “normal”. Some positive effects: No more brain freeze when I stand up suddenly. A very robust appetite. Suddenly I’m eating breakfast, and the protein shake for lunch no longer satisfies. And, I’m HAPPY all the time! No more occasional withdrawn moodiness. Cardiologist says this may be due to the increased blood flow to the brain. But, here are the 2 odd effects that are the most annoying and which neither the surgical team not the cardiologist can explain: (BTW I’m off all my post surgery meds except for inflammation reducing Cochicine 2x/day, and Warfarin. 1) I now have to urinate every 60-90 minutes day and night. This makes for a very poor night’s sleep. Since the doctors have no answer, my wife and I are theorizing that after being catheterized twice in 10 days, I may have an angry prostate….(?) 2) But, THIS is the worst: Almost every day I have a horrible bout of vertigo and nausea, accompanied by a sweaty hot flash. It lasts about 10 minutes. Last night it happened while I was standing, and I could barely make it to the chair as I listed sideways. Most of the time I can feel it as a low grade "car sickness" in the background which saps my motivation to do anything. I AM staying hydrated. Finally, there is this: Due to the festive holidays and to compensate for the recovery malaise , I have gone back to eating sugar (Christmas baking etc) and an occasional drink in the evening. Although, if I'm feeling the low grade dizziness, I have no desire for that. And since I’m not yet back to working out, maybe all this new sugar/alcohol is doing a number on my system? One indication of the body working hard to heal is that despite all this, I haven’t put on a single pound which would normally NOT be the case with this sedentary holiday lifestyle! Very curious if anyone else has experienced the excessive peeing or dizziness. Ps: actually, the last 2 nights I've only had to get up once! So that issue, fingers crossed, may be fading.