Pericardiectomy

Hi everyone...Cathy, I remember that feeling of someone sitting on my chest and neck...yuck.  I had a bad flare-up before surgery and I was almost thankful for it because it reminded me why I had to have it done.  I will pray for peace in you heart (I loved the hardened heart line, I laughed out loud...wish I would have thought to use that one!)...before surgery.  I think you will be glad your boys are there.  I will sure be thinking of you the whole month of June. 

Changing the subject, Teri, have you found in any of your research the recommendations of having a baby after this or other heart surgery?  Just curious. 

I'll keep checking back here...I think of you guys often.  Hang in there Cathy..you'll be on the other side of all of this before you know it...It will blow your mind how good you feel.  I know you don't feel great now but you have been living with it long enough to change your baseline of feeling good.  Looking back, I don't even know how I worked through all of it...anyway, you will be feeling better soon.

Take care...Nan

Nan and Teri and Fraud,
I feel like I have my own personal cheering section...I have put this surgery off for THREE years, and honestly, had it not been for all of you and this site, I still may not have this surgery scheduled. I did receive my surgery packet in the mail yesterday. :::gulp:::
it has the entire schedule, and they have me scheduled for a cardiac catherization three days prior which I don't understand why they are making me do that, since they will have a BIRDS EYES VIEW three days later...
oh well, as long as they put me to sleep, when I had my last one at CEDAR SINAI they had me higher than a GEORGIA PINE TREE, and it was great....
so hopefully that will be the case here...
THE SUFFOCATION feeling is tough to manage....last night I couldnt catch a good breath...I wonder if its anxiety or the disease?? However, I wasnt worrying or thinking about it at the time it started. The absoutely grossest symptom is the jugular vein distention, when I lay down on my back, the veins in my neck...forehead and temple area are protruding out so much now, I can't even look....well, its offical, I booked the hotel for the boys an my husband, and MIRACLE FLIGHTS has booked the flight....Cleveland here I come, ready or NOT......I do feel like my life is in GODS hands, and if he needs me for something else, who am I to question. Just scary to leave my little boys, my one son is a total momma's boy, and I know it would hit him so hard, I am glad I did the journals, despite how hard it was to give them life long advice now...I thought about doing a video tape, but I don't think I am strong enough for that one..
cya guys later.......thanks for the prayers.....means so much, Cathy xxx000

Hello Everyone, My name is Betsy, I am 58 yrs old and having my surgery on Tues. May 10. I will apoligize now for the length of this message because I think it will be long. I have enjoyed and learned from your messages. I am no stranger to surgery and have inside help because my daughter is a doctor (family practice). I have had a minor A-fib problem since about 1990 that was controlled uwith just digoxin. In 1996, I turned 50 and was diagnosed with a rare breast desease that luckily was precancerous and operable. In Dec., I had a double mastectomy and in April had implant reconstuction. My family and friends helped me a lot in my recovery. One of the hardest parts was returning for the for the reconstruction and knowing the repeat of the pain I would endure. Though I am a tough old broad with a high tolerance for pain, it sucked. This episode was followed in Nov. 1997 with a severe case of valley fever (fungal infection) and two weeks in the hospital. During the many test at the hospital, I had a mediasturnoscopy during which my vocal chord was perilized. I spoke with a whisper for two yrs. before it was repaired, at least to a bearable state. After leaving the hospital, I had an oxygen tank with me for 2 months and 1 relapse of the desease. Since then I have been relatively healthy and blessed with 4 grandchildren that keep me happy and young. My husband and I moved near Sacramento to be closer to our children and grandchildren in Nov. 2001. Moving meant new doctors, etc. which my daughter set up for us. Well, this meant updating heart test which led to a newer  heart med., complications, and an ambulance ride to the hospital when I passedout at my house. Well, I believe this was the first sign of my CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS. At the hospital, I complained of upper abdominal pain and xrays should my gall bladder was inflamed so they removered it. After the surgery the doctor  asked my daughter if I was a drinker because my liver didn't look good. Well, this was followed by ablation and a pacemaker in Jan 2004. Since then I was doing pretty well but my A-fib was not really controlled and I started cumidin. In Feb of this year, I started feeling tired and developed shortness of breath. March 20, I called my daughter because I had pain under my ribs like a balloon was pushing on everything. She took me to emergency and an xray really didn't show much. My regular doctor (interned with my daughter) persued it further with a CT of my abdomin and chest. Then came the cardiologist and stess test, echo and a blood test called BNP. I haven't read that any of you have had this done. It test a hormone level in your heart that rises when there is a problem like heart desease. It is as accurate as a diabetes test. Anyway the diagnosis is constrictive pericarditis and I also had a catherization. This mainly helps to see the extent of your problem and so there are less surprizes when they get in there. Well, the cath. Dr. had my husband come in so he could see the extent of my calcification. It is about 1 in. thick and one of the worse he had seen. So that brings us to today, 5 days and counting. The waiting is driving me crazy and the thought of the pain is scaring me to death. But I am a surviver. One of you talked about a pillow to hold on to after surgery. Well, I still have my big white stuffed bear that my husband brought my following  my mastectomy and it will comfort me again. When reading about this problem and it's possible causes, I was amazed that fungal desease, ablation and mediasturnum where all mentioned. At least I can understand a little where this has come from. My mother who is 86yrs old and is health as a horse is coming to care for me when I get out of the hospital. I also have a close and supportive family and friends who are already praying for me. I am sad to read that so many of you are so young having this problem. Especially Cathy with her two young boys. I wish I was healthy and could come and help. Remember that you must be healthy and well for your family to be healthy and well. Good luck to all of you and say a little prayer for me on Tuesday. Betsy

I just wanted to bump this up so a new member can see this...

Hugs, Teri

Brenda, I hope this helps!  Hugs, Teri