Pericarditis & Pericardiectomy Part V

I do have the link for us news best heart hospitals, its a pretty cool site, it give you mortality %, all kinds of good info.  The ranking have pretty much stayed the same for the last five years, with Cleveland Heart Clinic being Number one, and Mayo right behind it ranked second....and so on..

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/rankings/specihqcard.htm

I have felt lousy the last few days, and yesterday I had PAIN so intense on my LEFT side, that it actually really scared me.  I couldn't take a breath without it hurting, and I don't know if its my heart, or my lungs, or what the heck, but I guess my heart took a beating, so probably that.  I found out yesterday that Dr. Lytles told my family that the reason he stopped in surgery was "because my heart went into atrial fib, and got "pissed off", and didn't want us touching it anymore"  So, I guess my heart handled all the tramua it could, and then that was it.  Still can't wait to get my reports too see how much.   HEY TER....how you been babe?

WELL, check out that site, it is for useful!!  Stay cool!  Cathy

Only a few more days until the big day - 7/29.  Today I feel really good and think maybe this disease has gone away.  However, I have thought this many other times and it has come back with a venegance. 

Cathy,  Thanks for the advice about a thoracotomy.  The surgeon said it takes longer to heal and the pain is worse.  Maybe it is easier for them to access from the top.  I don't know.  But I'll opt for the quicker recovery.

Teri,  How long after your surgery did you feel what you thought was pleurisy?  Have any of you had inflammation of the epicardium after the pericardiectomy?  Then what?  What type of meds do you have to take after the surgery besides pain meds?

Brenda,  How are you doing?

Also, have any of you before surgery tried alternative medicines and techniques such as acupuncture, hypnosis or herbs with some success?  How about alternative medicine after the pericardiectomy to help the body return to balance.  Anybody been to a Reiki Master?  

Thanks for your info and advice.  Good day to all!

Specky 

I think in the beginning most all knew that I was joining in here as I'm a moderator! However, I've had a long history of heart problems including a Heart Attack, which then led to 9 caths in which angioplasty was done, stents were placed and the end results are that I've since had a right sided carotid endarterectomy done in 2001, Heart Failure both left and right side, mitral valve regurgitation and stenosis, and last August 24th, an emergency triple bypass was done when the artery they were stenting ripped open.  Then I had a mild stroke, along with the pain in the left side of my chest.  I really am sorry if you thought I'd had a pericardiectomy. 

Hugs, Teri

xoxoxo

awww, that is really sweet!! - and I thank you!  Someone else  here also mentioned something as well, so I thought I'd better just set the record straight here!  On this thread, I'm here to try and help and learn!

Hugs always, Teri :)

xoxoxo

Hi, everyone.

Specky---best of luck to you on your upcoming 'big day.'

I can answer a couple of your questions.  Today is exactly eight weeks after my surgery, so my sternum is "officially" healed, and I'm now permitted to lift more than five lbs.

RE: your Qs---I never tried any of the alternative meds.  Personally, I don't really trust it...  But, if it works, then it works, right?

I did not have inflammation of the epicardium post-op ( I don't think...), but I did have bilateral pleural effusion, which appears to have subsided.  I used to be able to feel this gurgling sensation underneath my ribs on both sides, but it's gone now.

I had to take the following meds for a few weeks after the surgery:

---Prednisone; Furosemide (aka Lasix---I had bad edema beforehand); Potassium; Vicodin; Vitamin A; Zinc; (these last two were what the Dr. called "a trick used by plastic surgeons"; evidently, they help you heal faster after surgery.) and Atenolol, which is a beta blocker that they gave me to help with my rapid heartrate (around 100 bpm).  These were the meds I took *at home,* though.  While I was still in the hospital (for ten days), they were giving me antibiotics, and shots of Torodol (sp?), which was awful---very painful.  They were also constantly checking my blood sugar, even though I'm not a diabetic, and I had to get insulin shots, which are no more painful than a mosquito bite.  Hmm... I also had to take Colace, and once or twice they gave me milk of magnesia and Tums (for cramps caused by the lasix).

Anyways, hope everyone is well.

---Mister S.

ps.  Teri---you still get that pain 1 year after your operation?  I wonder what others' experiences have been like.  I still get this weird, very mildly painful tingling on my right side (chest, back, and arm), especially at night.  Speaking of which, did anyone have trouble with insomnia post-op?  My god, I haven't been able to get a decent night's sleep in about two weeks it seems like.

Hi Mister - Congrats on the eighth week mark.  Thank you so much for the info about the meds.  Was the prednisone for the inflammation due to the surgery?  Was the rapid heartrate a result of the surgery also?  Did you have any nausea from the anethesia?  Sorry that the torodol was painful.  How do you feel now?  What does your doctor say about the insomnia?  Sorry for all the questions.  Thank you.

Specky 

Specky,

Don't worry about it at all!  That's at least one of the reasons that a message board like this exists.

RE: the Prednisone.  My cardiologists put me on it 8 weeks prior to surgery on the basis of a fairly recent Mayo Clinic study.  According to the study, 30% of people with constrictive pericarditis healed with this prednisone therapy.  Not me, though.

So, after the surgery, they gave me prednisone for the general inflammation.

The rapid heartrate (which I had before the surgery---it would climb up to aroun d 130 bpm when I was nervous), was the result of both the surgery and the anti-inflammatories I was on.  They eventually gave me a low-dose beta blocker (the atenolol) to deal with it, and now I feel fine.

And no---I didn't have any nausea, which I guess is kind of unusual.  I ate what they call a 'clear plate' (jello, soup broth, etc.) just a few hours after waking up from surgery.  I was really hungry!

I haven't bothered to ask the dr about the insomnia. All the reading I've done (which is a lot) indicates that your sleeping patterns can be disrupted for several months post-op.  So, if it's still troubling me in a major way a couple of weeks from now, I'll call the doc.

So, overall, I feel real good.  I'm doing pretty much everything that I did before the surgery.  The only complaints I have---and they are very, very minor---are that I get some small tingly / irritating / itchy sensations in the nerves, muscles, and bones in my chest, back, and arm; I get a little out of breath if I go up stairs, or walk too far too quickly; and the sleeping issues.  It's worth bearing in mind, though, that this is awfully major surgery.  (And it's only been eight weeks!)  Quite a lot of trauma, as Teri and others have pointed out.  So, you simply have to give it time.  It's also worth bearing in mind that I will go to see my CT surgeon for a one year checkup.  This means that a person could, in theory, be having issues---of whatever severity---at least 12 months post-op.... 

Hope all this helps...

Thanks, Nan!  And yes---I'm totally off all the meds.  The last thing I was taking was Hydrocodone, but I haven't taken that in over two weeks.

And Teri---I hope you're feeling better, too.  Thanks for the info!  I'm positive it's not depresssion, though.  I'm getting enough rest, it's just that I'm having a lot of difficulty falling asleep.  I will lay down to go to sleep, but I'll be tossing and turning for the next 3-6 hours.  (Good thing that I'm off for the summer and don't have to be anywhere, since I'm sleeping in till, like, 10:30...)  So, I'm just going to give it some more time and see what happens.

---Mister

p.s.  Hey, Cathy, how's everything going?

SO, all and all my surgery has been a success...no atrial fib...I have lost 24pds in fluid..no arrythimia's at all, NO MORE swelling..WHOO hoo!..and I am feeling more energy come back than I have probably felt in FOUR YEARS.  Today is my ONE MONTH anniversary from surgery...and yes you were all right..IT does feel good to be on this side...man, the waiting was the worst!  Love to all of you that held my hand and helped to get me through all of this.  I have too say, I have never seen a group of such caring, wondeful, compassiate people..it has been my pleasure to get too know you all.  Hopefully with all of this knowledge we are complling, we will find out what causes idiotopatic constrictive pericarditis.  {{{{hugs Teri}}}}  my bud!

luv ya, Cathy

Also has anyone experienced only weight loss from the facial area or extremeties only? Constriction resulting in poor circulation, just a theory of mine?

I am thrilled to hear everyone is recovering nicely and enjoying the trivial things of daily life becasue this group has certainly earned it.

John