hmm...shortness of breath?

[JCDavis81]

Hey all,

Apart from a few minor issues with my incision, my recovery since AVR/PVR on November 29th has been blissfully uneventful.

Within the past week however I think I've started to have some shortness of breath issues. I say I think because I don't really know what "shortness of breath" means. My concerns comes from having to take a deep breath every couple of minutes. It doesn't really bother me, I just feel like I need to get a big lung full of air. Is this shortness of breath or just normal recovery stuff?

Also I had one slight dizzy spell yesterday -- I was sitting in class and all of a sudden had to fight off the sudden urge to fall out of my chair. It passed quickly and I haven't had a bout since.

I should note that my rhythm has been quite normal -- no arrrhythmias or skipped beats since surgery. I'm at a constant click click click 85 to 90 times a minute. I also had my first post op echo exactly two weeks ago and my cardio said "this looks terrific, just what I wanted to see" when he read the measurements. He then said "I'll see you in a year."

So bottom line, do I give my Doc a call tomorrow to ask what's up or not bother? :) Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Joe

[geebee]

Breathing is supposed to be automatic without thinking, without noticing. If you are "having to take a deep breath", it indicates something is not quite right. It may be just a bug or it could be fluid retention or something similar. Also, the dizzy spell concerns me. Again, could just be an infection (maybe inner ear) but I think you should have this checked.

Good luck.

[Karlynn]

It's always better to give the doc a call and check things out if you are unsure. How long have you been back at class? It may be a case of you are just pushing too hard too soon? You aren't 2 months post-op yet.

[Phyllis]

Joe, you are back in school and within easy reach of your doctors, so get it checked. Law school can be stressful (with a husband, a son and a daughter who have been there, I know :eek: ), but getting this checked is better than adding the stress of worrying about it. Best wishes and let us know how your are doing.

[Dustin]

-- I was sitting in class and all of a sudden had to fight off the sudden urge to fall out of my chair. It passed quickly and I haven't had a bout since.


Hmmm, so the class was boring and you dozed off. You look healthy to me! ;)

[JCDavis81]

Thanks for all your input guys!

I don't think it's anything major but I'll put a call into my cardio today just to make sure -- by the way, can you believe he's given me his pager number so I don't ave to go through his secretary...I thought that was pretty cool.

I started school about two and a half weeks ago. I may have been pushing myself a bit too hard but then again, maybe not. It's not like law school is overly strenuous...well it's not after the first year.

I'll let you all know how it goes.

Joe

[Marguerite53]

Hi Joe. I'm very glad that you put in a call to the cardio. And never hesitate to use his pager number.....he gave it to you for a reason......he most certainly wants to be available to you!!

I'm hoping that it is nothing, but the dizzy thing sounded significant enough (more than just light-headedness) to warrant some concern. How is your fluid intake? Maybe you are needing to hydrate yourself abit more if the weather is dry, or the heaters are all on. Or is there any springtime allergy potential lurking under those blue Carolina skies?

Keep us posted!

:) Marguerite

[Natanni]

When in doubt, always best to error on the side of caution. Nathan had one episode of dizziness just prior to going back into A fib, but many things can cause vertigo. Glad to hear you are getting it checked out, and try not to over do things! Keep us posted on how you are doing!

[JCDavis81]

Hey all,

I talked to my cardio this afternoon. We discussed my symptoms and said while they're not too out of the ordinary at this stage in my recovery he woulld be happy to take a look at me on Friday to make sure it's not something major.

He said that the SOB could be some minor pleural effusion and that something like a bout of afib could have caused the dizziness. But that on friday he'd check to make sure I was still on the right track. Sounds good to me.

I'll update everybody after I see him later this week.

best,
Joe

[geebee]

Glad to hear you are going to have it checked. I will be thinking of and sending you good wishes for Friday.

[Karlynn]

As your surrogate parents :D we can breath a sigh of relief.

[inlaguna]

I had some dizziness a couple of months after surgery. After a talk with my cardio and a BP medication adjustment ( less not more) it went away. It's worth asking about. In my case it seems my heart became more efficient not having to push blood through the hole equivalent to the size of a pin head.


Dan

[tobagotwo]

I agree with getting it chaecked out, and I also agree that it's not out of character with this stage of recovery.

Some time ago there was a thread about those deep breaths you were talking about, and it was a common happening. I experienced it as well. At the time, I wondered if it was a throwback from the time on the breathing tube, an unexpected agonal breath.

Transient arrhythmias are common during recovery, as your heart is remodelling (VL shrinking) and the electrical signals go occasionally off track with the heart's changing shape and thickness. Usually these are temporary. Some people don't feel arrhythmias, including Afib, an dyou may be one of those. I always felt it, but some folks here have been diagnosed with it and never felt it.

Your cardiologist may ask you to wear a Holter Monitor overnight to record any arrhythmias. This will allow him to determine if they are concerning (such as Vfib, ventricular doubles or triplets, or Afib). Or it can allow you to both relax about it, with results of no palpitations, or simple PVCs.

Best wishes,

[PapaHappyStar]

Within the past week however I think I've started to have some shortness of breath issues. I say I think because I don't really know what "shortness of breath" means. My concerns comes from having to take a deep breath every couple of minutes. It doesn't really bother me, I just feel like I need to get a big lung full of air. Is this shortness of breath or just normal recovery stuff?


I had minor pleural effusion for a couple of months after surgery ( managed to -- painfully -- cough it (almost) all out eventually ). I think this is what you may be having; when I complained about the effusion and high resting pulse rate to the cardiologist 6 weeks after the surgery, she had me on a 24 hour holter monitor ( some PVC's no other arrythmia ).


Also I had one slight dizzy spell yesterday -- I was sitting in class and all of a sudden had to fight off the sudden urge to fall out of my chair. It passed quickly and I haven't had a bout since.

I should note that my rhythm has been quite normal -- no arrrhythmias or skipped beats since surgery. I'm at a constant click click click 85 to 90 times a minute. I also had my first post op echo exactly two weeks ago and my cardio said "this looks terrific, just what I wanted to see" when he read the measurements. He then said "I'll see you in a year."


I couldnt keep concentrated for around 3 months after surgery and often felt like passing out in front of the computer :). The echo sounds like really good news. Hang on and you will start to feel better and better -- however you should keep your doctor aware of any complaints you have as well.

Regards,
Burair

[JCDavis81]

Gina and Karlynn -- thanks for looking out for me :)

And Bob, thanks for the info. I think it would be hard to for me to have been in afib and not known it. Because of my spanking new mechanical valve, I can hear my heart beat almost all the time. The beat will speed up and slow down sometimes at odd times but it always seems pretty constant.

Of course I don't know what afib with a mechanical valve would feel like (or sound like) so maybe I have had one or two bouts of it and not known it.

I do like to hear that my heart is remodeling itself -- after my surgery, my surgeons NP told me that my heart was probably "happier" than it's been in 20 years. That sure is a good think since isn't going to have to last another 60!

take it easy,
Joe

[MikeHeim]

Please report back what happens on Friday and if the Cardio wants to do anything about it. I suspect that I have a minor pleural effusion as well due to some continuing symptoms (painful deep breaths, mild fever nightly under 101F, and occasional nonproductive cough). As far as I know, it's pretty common and most doctors just let it clear up on its own. Thanks.

[JCDavis81]

Hey,

I just got back from the cardio's office and you all will be happy to know that I am a-ok. Checked for pleural effusion via a chest xray and for any retention of fluids and didn't find anything (actually he said my lungs were the best he'd ever seen). Doc just chalked up the SOB to the normal healing process and probably my ramp up of exertion over the past few weeks.

I felt a little embarassed going in to see him for this but he told me it's better to be safe than sorry.

Sorry I don't have more helpful things to report for you mike. However, Dr. Gerhig did note that I had a some pleural effusion before I left the hospital in December and that they just left it to go away on it's own. And it did.

Later alligators,
Joe

[BDMc]

Joe, Good move! It is always good to get these things checked out! Glad to hear you are feeling well. Brian

[Marguerite53]

Joe. So glad to hear that it was considered a normal event. Apparently he felt it was worth a look on the x-ray so that should dash your feeling of embarassment completely!! He was right there with you, wanting to check you out!!

Consider this another learning experience, learning how the new heart feels. When you aren't sure of something, you ask questions........

Have yourself a nice weekend, now!

:) Marguerite