Hi there Spugsie.... Checking in after a long absence from this forum...just wanted to send my greetings to you and encouragement. On Dec 14 it will be 5 (!) years since my pericardiectomy...hard to...
Good luck...you will feel so much better! Nan...
Hi Merl... I think it is wise to see your guy...ask lots of questions...and get a second opinion. Second opinions either give you more confidence in your first choice or give you more options...it's...
Hi Merl... Welcome...sorry to hear you are going through all of this. My experience was at Mayo. At that time 2004 they told us they did more pericardiectomies there than anywhere in the world and...
Hi Lady... I was in the hospital for 5 days...pain was not terrible, just felt fragile with the sternum cut and all of the tubes. I think after 3 weeks I was feeling pretty great out for walks etc...
Hello everyone! Just checking in...it has been a while since I have posted, but I'm still very interested in others going through this process and willing to share my story if it helps. I'm now 4...
Eric...Great to read about you again! Glad you checked in and glad all is going well for you! You and I had surgery within days of each other... Heartaches...I haven't read far enough back to...
Hello Flyers... My name is Nan and I had a pericardiectomy by Dr. Schaff in 2004. My research at that time showed him to be the best of the best. My friends that had worked at Mayo said his...
Sister-in-law... I'm SOO sorry to hear about your brother in law...I'll keep all of you in my prayers... Nan...
Frisco... For my input...we went to Mayo in MN and I'm SOO glad we did. I think it's so important to have an experienced surgeon for this procedure. We've heard many good things on this thread about...
Hi all...I'm one of the "old-timers" by now...but am happy to answer any questions if it can be of help. I'm going to update my info to include my email address if that helps with communication. I...
Hi everyone! Signing in as one of the "old-timers" :) Sorry it's been so long since I posted. On Dec 15th I celebrate 3 years since my surgery. Welcome Robin...you are in good hands at Mayo, that is...
Welcome back! Glad you are feeling better. I agree...this site is pretty cool, especially for unusual dx like pericarditis. Have a great week! Nan...
Hi everyone! Gosh it's been a long time since I've caught up here...sorry! Busy summer! Storri! SOOOOO great to hear from you! I've been thinking of you and often wonder how you are doing!...
Boog I'd be happy to talk with you anytime...I'll look for your email. Nan...
I just changed it to 100 postings per page and went back page by page...it goes back to 2005 so you should be able to read them...they are all named pericarditis and pericardiectomy with different...
Hi Boog... I'm not sure...maybe our moderator can help. I've looked back in the past but not lately. There are a lot of great stories in the archives. Hope we can get into them. Nan...
Hi Boog My biggest side effect was just feeling fragile in the sternum area...sneezing and coughing were scary at first. Pain was managed pretty easily. I felt so much better right away that the pain...
Hi everyone! I have to remember to check in...I have not been getting emails of new postings...sorry for my absence. Hope you are all doing well. I have a bit of news for all of you out there who...
Hi Trinny... There are several places nearby and we found many of them to be reasonable. I think we stayed at the Days Inn once and a little hotel across from Gonda building...I'm forgetting the...
Hi everyone! Hi Boog...welcome...I wanted to say that they tried steroids with me too...and I was told if they would have tried them earlier I may have been able to avoid surgery. It was too late for...
Hi Jeff! Welcome! I remember the relief of finding this site right before my surgery as well. I also have young children and my youngest was 18 months old when I had surgery...you get creative...
Hi Sherwood... When is surgery scheduled? I'll keep you in my prayers. I was misdiagnosed for over a year as well...very frustrating. He is young, and his good health will help him recover. I bet he...
Hi! I was in ICU for 1 day...I woke up and I was still intubated but not for long. That is a foggy memory. My surgery lasted about 3 hours. They went in through the sternum. I was on bypass for 32...
Hi Sherwood and all... I was catching up a bit on the last thread...I haven't posted for a while. I'm an old-timer...2 years post pericardiectomy...I still feel great and recently qualified for...
Hi Mike I did not have shoulder pain but I did have the night sweats. Relief from the steroids would make you think of inflammation of some kind. Can you get back in to your Cardiologist? Nan...
Ken... I've been thinking of you two. So happy she is home. I will pray that the recovery gets better every day! Stay in touch! Nan...
Hi Al...Ernesto...good to catch up on you both Al...good luck to you as you decide and prepare for upcoming surgery. I agree with Ernesto...a few weeks of pain is totally worth it to be free from...
Hi Al... Welcome...I hope you find answers soon. I had a percardiectomy 18 months ago at Mayo in Rochester. My symptoms are gone and recovery went well. The only advice with regard to symptoms that I...
Hi Kenneth... I'm so happy to hear Elvina was discharged today. Is she feeling better yet? How did the follow-up echo go? I hope more encouraging than the news you received the night we were there to...
Hi Sava... Welcome...hope you find the stories here are helpful. I had a pericardiectomy just over 18 months ago as well. Post-op, I have had no complications and have felt great. I do not need any...
Ken...I'm so sorry you are both going through so much. Have you gotten to talk with Dr. Schaff? Did he do the second surgery too? I have not heard of this complication before...did they say what...
Ken and Elvina... I'm so sorry you are going through so much! And to face another surgery must be discouraging. Chris and I will keep you both in our prayers. I hope this will "fix" a lot of your...
Hi Ken... Difficult for you to be so far away I'm sure...but both moms will take good care of her. I'm sorry she is not feeling well yet. Must be frustrating for her. I'm keeping both of you in my...
Ken and Elvina... I'm thinking of you both. I do not remember problems with low grade fever after surgery...it's good you are still there and in close contact with your MDs. Is Elvina feeling well?...
Hi Louise... Have you had the pressures in the right side of your heart checked to see if you have constrictive pericarditis? If you go to the pericarditis thread...many of us have CP and have had...
Hi! Ken and Elvina...it was so great to meet you on Tuesday. I'm amazed at the community of this forum. I'm so glad I got to sign your heart pillow /community/emoticons/smile.gif Elvina...you look...
Hi Ken... I still had JVD while I was in the hospital and we had fun watching it go down like a barometer at home. Took only a couple of weeks for it to be totally gone. It will be great when she...
Hi Ken... It's good to get rid of fluid. Glad you have family there with you. Keep us posted... Nan...
Hi Ken I totally remember that. It eventually went away (about 3 months???) I don't notice it anymore. But I do remember my shirt moving after surgery. So glad things are settling down. She will only...
Hi Kenneth... You guys are in my prayers. I was on bypass for 32 minutes as well. They are good there. I'll look for your post. Maybe we can meet next week. Post back when you have time, we're all...
Hi... I'm going for my 18 month check next week and I do plan to ask about the hypothyroidism. I'm looking forward to getting some info on that. I'll be sure to post what I find out! Nan...
Hi Kenneth and Elvina You'll be in my prayers tomorrow. Dr. Schaff saved my life 18 months ago...you are in good hands. Ironically I'll be there next Monday (17th) for a recheck. If you are still in...
Hi Kenneth... For what it's worth...we were specifically referred to Dr. Schaff because he has a special interest in CP. We looked him up and he's published a lot on the subject. The most telling was...
One more thing...my family stayed at the Staybridge Suites across the street but we've stayed at several places through the visits...there are several options for very reasonable lodging...hospital...
Hi everyone! I did a quick review to catch up and will go back to read more closely but wanted to add a couple things real fast... Elvina...Dr. Schaff did my surgery almost 18 months ago...he was...
I think it's pretty amazing we all have hypothyroidism. Mister...thanks so much for the info. Your comment about your own immune system makes sense I guess...I have wondered why I all of a sudden had...
Hi Cathy... Good to hear from you...that is weird that you have hypothyroidism too. I think I should be on a higher dose because I notice no effects from my current dose but my levels are "normal". I...
Mister! Great to hear from you...I've been wondering how you are... How bizarre is that? I ALSO was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after my pericardiectomy...and tested several times before that, all...
Hi guys... Christine...how wonderful for you to have your life back!!! Congratulations. I know just what you mean. I'm almost 18 months post surgery (I can't believe it!) and I still think about it...