Yet another update! Getting closer to AVR #2!

I saw the cardiothoracic surgeon today. She wants to delay doing anything with my aortic valve due to all the positive changes that the new device is having on my heart function.

I've been complaining about shortness of breath while exercising and now I know why. My device is set to a max upper limit of 130bpm. I hit that easily :). I asked them when they implanted it if they could use the same settings as the last device and they said that they would! I worked hard to get those settings right! Clearly they didn't! After all the work I went through trying to tweat the last device, i have to do it again. I have an appt. to have those settings corrected coming up..

As far as the valve goes, the surgeon wants to do some testing over the next month or so: cardiac cat scan & catheter heart scan to see if I qualify for the TAVR. She wants to know if the path is clear within the artery they use, and she wants to know the location and condition of my carodid arteries which could be problematic depending where the prior surgeon relocated them. 

I'll keep you posted!

 

 

2 Comments

You are making progress

by Gemita - 2023-03-23 02:54:24

USMC-Pacer, did I read “She wants to delay doing anything with my aortic valve due to all the positive changes that the new device is having on my heart function”?  That sounds really encouraging, although due to unretained old device settings, it would appear you are getting some adverse symptoms. 

It will be interesting to know whether the shortness of breath improves completely after any adjustments and then you will really know the full benefits of your new device.  Hope you can get most of your settings from the old device programmed into your new one, wherever possible at this early stage of your healing.

Good luck with your investigations for your TAVR over the coming month(s).  They seem to be very thorough which is exactly the best approach.   Yes please keep us posted and let us know if your settings adjustments help with the shortness of breath.

Thanks Gemita

by USMC-Pacer - 2023-03-23 13:44:09

Yes, she has a great reputation of being thorough. As far as the EP, the last time, 10 years ago I complained about the same exact thing. The NP wouldn't change it. I requested her to ask the DR. she did, and he agreed to raise it to 200bpm and said "exercise, if you don't feel good, don't do it!"  I didn't have restrictions at that point. NOW? The only restriction / recommendation my cardiologist gave me is no heavy weight lifting (which I love) until after my AVR. I can do all the cardio I want and he recommends that. Long story short, I hope the EP doesn't feel the need to restrict my HR BPM! 

Appt. on 04/04 and I'll report back afterwards, thanks!

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