Aortic Valve Replacement Complications

[jarrett]

35 Years Old, Aortic Valve Replacement with Aortic Anerysm repair 1 year ago. Wondering if anyone has had dizzy spells. Still having them everyday

[Candlelight]

Are you on a beta blocker or any other heart medication?
Orthostatic hypotension is a side effect. Fancy talk for a drop
in blood pressure while standing. Are you having any gastrointestinal symptoms or chest pressure during these spells? Look up your medications. If your doctor finds no heart-related reason for the spells the medication should be considered. I'm sorry you had such a devastating event at a
young age.

[Candlelight]

If you have not had a carotid ultrasound I would definitely
request one.

[njean]

I had an "Aortic Valve Replacement" last year, Mar/06.  This was my 3rd Open-Heart surgery.  I had my first (2) Open-Heart's when I was 24 yrs. old in 1975.  Doctor in Houston, Dr. Denton Cooley, put a mitral & aortic mechanical valves in my heart.  Last year, after 31 yrs. the aortic valve finally gave out & I had to go back to Houston to have it replaced again.  

Do you have a mechanical valve & if so, are you on Coumadin or Warfarin?  If you are, do you have to keep it within a certain INR range, 3.0 - 3.5??  And are you on blood pressure meds and/or any other meds such as beta-blockers, Lasix (water pills), aspirin, etc.  Reason I ask is because sometimes I tend to experience dizziness when my INR is too high or if my blood pressure drops too low.  The doctors want to keep the BP low & my blood on the thin side, actually between 3.5 - 4.0 because of the mechanical valve to eliminate the possibility of clots forming.  And I must also follow a very, very low-sodium diet.  This is extremely important for people like us that have had such a serious, life threatening surgery(s).  

Believe me, I know what you've been through having been there 3 times myself.  And recently, I received the scare of my life when I was told that I might have to undergo a 4th Open-Heart to replace the Mitral valve but after adjusting my meds & putting me on more Lasix, the CHF I was experiencing went away & I feel a lot better, Thank God.  

So hang in there my friend & please take care of yourself.  If you need any further advice, please let me know.  God Bless!

njp

[dwf]

Hello Jarrett, I had open heart surgery back in Feb, and I've been having dizzy spells on a regular basis (I also had three surgeries, they implanted a pacemaker as well, bad experience, almost caused my death).  They took me off the beat blockers because it was getting pretty bad.  I'm taking Cartia, and Digoxin now.  But I'm still getting the dizzy spells, which is getting old.

Don

[knightrider]

[pbanders]

I had ascending aortic aneurysm repair in 2004. Definitely check into the beta blocker, check your BP and see if it's low. Also agree on the carotid ultrasound.

[skizzle]

hi i had mitra valve replacement 5 weeks ago bad experince
im on blood thinner and 6 different kinds of meds ive started having weak spells and dizzy spells on a dailey basices. my inr is pose to be 2.5to 3.5 but it was 2.2 today. i should be feeling better i thought. any advice ty

[laujac]

Hi....I had a aortic replaced with a St. Jude mechanical valve 22 years ago. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm measuring 4.7 cm. I am scheduled for another CT scan in November to see if it has grown. Per my cardiologist surgery is usually performed 5.0-5.5 cm.  When the surgery is performed I am to have the valve replaced also because of signs of wearing. Needless to say I am very nervous about this ordeal. Any info on how anyone handled this type of surgery will be greatly appreciated. My protime/inr level is suppose to be 2.5-3.5. After 22 years I am still having problems...can't seem to stay regulated for over two weeks.

Thanks.