Mended Hearts Open Forum

Hi Everyone,

My dad had triple bypass surgery 2.5 weeks ago and has recovered very well, but has been experiencing a symptom since the first day post-op that is concerning us. When he goes to sleep, we will wake up gasping for air for a few seconds and then goes back to normal as if nothing happened. He says he feels like he just ran really fast when that happens. It only lasts for a few seconds and he says he doesn't feel like his heart is racing or anything else like that. He has been feeling it pretty much every night since his surgery. Has anyone experienced something like this?

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Claudia Lam
TX
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Hi Claudia.  Has he ever had a problem with Sleep Apnea? After my initial heart attack I was diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea and had bouts like this. Does he have headaches in the morning?  Sometimes morning headaches can be a side affect of Apnea. I was placed on 2.0 liters of oxygen at night to help.  Sleeping on my back also tends to exasperate the symptoms. I know since my OHS 8 weeks ago sleeping on my back is the least painful position. I have also noticed since my OHS that as my muscles tighten back up during the night I sometimes struggle to take as deep of breaths as I do when my muscles are fully warmed up. I tend to take shallower breaths ay night so breathing seems a little more difficult. I'm not sure if this will help but I may be something to look into. 

Cyndi

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Cynthia Maxfield
Housewife
Centennial CO
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I do thing that your dad should go and get an echocardiogram and ekg just to make sure everything is ok because things do happen and I know this because my daughter has had 6 open heart surgeries and has to have an echo every so often

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lori watson
pca
home
hamilon OH
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-23-2019 08:32
From: Cynthia Maxfield
Subject: BOUTS OF GASPING FOR AIR WHILE SLEEPING

Hi Claudia.  Has he ever had a problem with Sleep Apnea? After my initial heart attack I was diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea and had bouts like this. Does he have headaches in the morning?  Sometimes morning headaches can be a side affect of Apnea. I was placed on 2.0 liters of oxygen at night to help.  Sleeping on my back also tends to exasperate the symptoms. I know since my OHS 8 weeks ago sleeping on my back is the least painful position. I have also noticed since my OHS that as my muscles tighten back up during the night I sometimes struggle to take as deep of breaths as I do when my muscles are fully warmed up. I tend to take shallower breaths ay night so breathing seems a little more difficult. I'm not sure if this will help but I may be something to look into.

Cyndi

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Cynthia Maxfield
Housewife
Centennial CO
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Hi Claudia,

I'm an eighteen month quintuple bypass survivor and, no, I never experienced the breathing issue your father is experiencing.  I'm not a doctor but it sounds like sleep apnea.  He definitely should bring it to the attention of his cardiologist and, if it persists and there is no other explanation, check out the sleep apnea angle.  Could there be a relationship to the recent surgery?  I have no idea, but it is worth exploring.

Good luck to your dad and keep us posted on developments.

Best regards,

Ira

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Ira Reid
Hoboken NJ
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He should have a sleep study done , he possibly has sleep apena . Not good for anyone , especially a heart patient . I have a c-pap machine and now are getting GOOD sleep. 


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Matthew Klug
Avon by the Sea NJ
(732) 988-7048
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------Original Message------

Hi Everyone,

My dad had triple bypass surgery 2.5 weeks ago and has recovered very well, but has been experiencing a symptom since the first day post-op that is concerning us. When he goes to sleep, we will wake up gasping for air for a few seconds and then goes back to normal as if nothing happened. He says he feels like he just ran really fast when that happens. It only lasts for a few seconds and he says he doesn't feel like his heart is racing or anything else like that. He has been feeling it pretty much every night since his surgery. Has anyone experienced something like this?

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Claudia Lam
TX
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Probably experiencing irregular heart rhythm. He needs to contact his cardiologist and possibly wear a heart monitor to check for irregular heart rhythms. In my case, I was experiencing PVCs and PACs that occasionally caused missing almost two normal heart beats and suddenly feeling out of breath.


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George Howard
Hurst TX
(817) 282-2403
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Sounds like sleep apnea. I developed it after my heart surgery. Let your cardiologist or general practitioner know what’s going on.

Sent from my iPhone

------Original Message------

Hi Everyone,

My dad had triple bypass surgery 2.5 weeks ago and has recovered very well, but has been experiencing a symptom since the first day post-op that is concerning us. When he goes to sleep, we will wake up gasping for air for a few seconds and then goes back to normal as if nothing happened. He says he feels like he just ran really fast when that happens. It only lasts for a few seconds and he says he doesn't feel like his heart is racing or anything else like that. He has been feeling it pretty much every night since his surgery. Has anyone experienced something like this?

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Claudia Lam
TX
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​Claudia,

I just did a very quick Google search of sleep apnea and open heart surgery.  According to the literature I found, previously undiscovered sleep apnea is a common post-CABG complication for heart surgery patients.  This would seem to substantiate my earlier post and the posts of other members that responded to you.  Your dad needs to speak with his cardiologist so that this can be properly handled.

Best,

Ira

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Ira Reid
Hoboken NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-23-2019 15:22
From: Dale Clement
Subject: BOUTS OF GASPING FOR AIR WHILE SLEEPING

Sounds like sleep apnea. I developed it after my heart surgery. Let your cardiologist or general practitioner know what's going on.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message------

Hi Everyone,

My dad had triple bypass surgery 2.5 weeks ago and has recovered very well, but has been experiencing a symptom since the first day post-op that is concerning us. When he goes to sleep, we will wake up gasping for air for a few seconds and then goes back to normal as if nothing happened. He says he feels like he just ran really fast when that happens. It only lasts for a few seconds and he says he doesn't feel like his heart is racing or anything else like that. He has been feeling it pretty much every night since his surgery. Has anyone experienced something like this?

------------------------------
Claudia Lam
TX
------------------------------

------Original Message------

Hi Everyone,

My dad had triple bypass surgery 2.5 weeks ago and has recovered very well, but has been experiencing a symptom since the first day post-op that is concerning us. When he goes to sleep, we will wake up gasping for air for a few seconds and then goes back to normal as if nothing happened. He says he feels like he just ran really fast when that happens. It only lasts for a few seconds and he says he doesn't feel like his heart is racing or anything else like that. He has been feeling it pretty much every night since his surgery. Has anyone experienced something like this?

------------------------------
Claudia Lam
TX
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Hi Everyone, He has suspected that he has sleep apnea in the past so it could be very possible that it's what is causing it. He did call his cardiologist and described his symptoms. The cardiologist mentioned that shortness of breath can be a post-op symptom and recommended for him to try sleeping with more pillows since he was sleeping almost flat. He has his appointment in a couple of days so I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks everyone!

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Claudia Lam
TX
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------Original Message------

Hi Everyone, He has suspected that he has sleep apnea in the past so it could be very possible that it's what is causing it. He did call his cardiologist and described his symptoms. The cardiologist mentioned that shortness of breath can be a post-op symptom and recommended for him to try sleeping with more pillows since he was sleeping almost flat. He has his appointment in a couple of days so I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks everyone!

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Claudia Lam
TX
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