Paul's Posts

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-FLASH… Cardio exercise does not cure heart disease! You may laugh, but I only realized that yesterday! It’s been 8+ months since my MVR. For 50 years since college, I’ve been an avid runner, swimmer and biker. I was so happy that I was not going to end up like my maternal relatives and their heart issues. Their generation smoked, drank, and didn’t exercise at all. HA, jokes on me. And I was SO looking forward to my new swim times and endurance with a new valve in the pump! I had a “small” stroke last week which has left me with double vision. The echocardiogram showed that my EF has dropped to 35% from the 46% at 3 mo post surgery (54% pre-surgery)I’ve been tired and unmotivated to work out (but very busy fixing up our new (old) home). My cardiologist says it’s got nothing to do with intense cardio workouts, as long as you are normally active. I’ve always had normal blood pressure, but he’s now starting me on clopidogrel and lisinoprol to lower my bp and hopefully strengthen the heart. Had to post, it’s been a rude awakening.

Saw my new Cardiologist today (since we moved). Daneen you were right. He did order an MRI. He want's to eliminate the dreaded "Pump Head" syndrome. That's very scary. My searching isn't turning up anything about the difference between a stroke and pump head. He asked my wife if she thinks my mental clarity and memory seem worse, and she said definitely yes :-( What IS encouraging is that he is the 1st cardiologist to acknowledge these post surgical problems! No one at Mayo took them seriously (although to be fair, apart from the Mayo surgeon, everyone else that saw me post op was either an NP or PA, not a doctor) He also did a quick ECG and decided that my heart wasn't as strong as it should be at 6mo. I complained of continued low energy. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and Jardiance to "strengthen" my heart. He didn't think my resting heart rate should still be 30bpm faster than pre-surgery. PS, my complaints were: relentless vertigo, and dizziness / brain freeze when standing suddenly.

6 Month-a-versary: A year ago I felt like a spry, fit 50 yo, swimming my 2000yd IM sets on the clock, biking etc. Today, 6 months after minimally invasive mitral valve replacement at Mayo, I feel all of the 70 year OLD man that I am. I continue to be plagued with vertigo which can come on anytime, anywhere (never had it before). Along with that, I get dizzy if I stand up at normal speed. My resting HR is now 80bpm instead of the +/-50bpm pre-surgery. I am not on any cardio meds like thinners or anything. I, like so many others, now know that cardiology only concerns itself with the proper working of the heart, but does not concern itself with all these other issues that appear post op. I've had Vestibular therapy, but the vertigo is still a big part of my new life. We are in transition back to the PNW, so I'm away from my pool and bike trails. But I can (and DO) still pull off 70 burpees in 15min, but with way less energy. Sorry to be a bummer, but I am kind of bummed overall. Good news is that I now have a new cardiologist appointment next week near our new home in Western Washington. He'll tell me that my heart is GREAT! lol!