Heart valve surgery replaces or repairs a leaky or tight valve. The “symptoms” patients notice are usually post-operative changes or early warning flags that something isn’t healing as planned. Chest soreness is expected. A deep, bruise-like ache along the incision and around the breastbone can spike with coughing, deep breaths, or rolling over; it usually fades over six–eight weeks. New valve sounds are normal. A mechanical click or whoosh in your chest is the valve working; sudden loss of the click or return of pre-surgery symptoms is not. Brief heart skips are common. The heart can feel fluttery for days... Learn more