Hello Sava, I live in little New Zealand, somewhere near Australia in the South Pacific. From here the American planes fly to the South Pole during the summer season. So we are very far away from...
Hi there, To find out about the Maze procedure go to: http://www.sts.org/doc/4511 henk NZ...
Hi Sava, I had a pericardiectomy more than one and a half year ago. You may have read some of my posts. I live in New Zealand. I am still alive today. If everything goes well, you husband will make a...
Hello Nan, I can remember that about thirty five years ago I could not lift my arms, I had just married and my wife had to help me to get into my shirt and jacket, I simply could not lift my arms. I...
Hello Gerry, Unfortunately, I think you are right. When I had an ablation to prevent atrial flutter the cardiologist saw that my pericardium was heavily scarred. A CT-scan later on confirmed the...
Hi Cathy, You have brought up a very good question. I can remember that about 35 years ago I felt feverish for several months. At some time I could not even lift my arms, but there was no pain, so I...
Hello Cathy, I am so pleased that you are well on the way to a very good recovery. You must be a changed person. Your restriction was so severe. I was also told that I had very severe right heart...
Hi there again, My heart surgeon cut through the sternum, the recovery was not that painful, but even after almost one year I can still feel it is not the same, but there is no pain of course. I...
Hello everybody, I have not posted any messages lately. But I have been reading some of the posts. I have tried to put everything behind me a little bit. I had my pericardium removed just eleven...
Hello there, I do apologize, I had my facts wrong about the tuberculosis cause of constriction. Personally I think I suffered from an auto-immune response, because of other dramatic sypmtoms I had. I...
Hi there again, I was told by an Indian doctor in Christchurch that constricted pericarditis is not that unusual in India because of the prevalence of tuberculosis. In the past it happened because of...
Hi John, I live in Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand, it is a long distance from Auckland. I have only visitied Auckland a couple of times. The North Island has all the volcanoes and...
Hi John99, I think you should ask for a CT-scan. In my case the diagnosis was confirmed immediately. You should also look for a swollen vein in your neck on the right hand side. A very good...
Hi Cathy, I am very glad to hear that you came through all right. But I am shocked about the treatment. I had thought that the Mayo Clinic is one of the best centres in the world. I got so much...
Hello Brenda, There is a good chance that everything will go well for you, there are enough survivors. But nobody says that it will be easy!! But you will be in good hands I gather. I live in New...
Hi there, I have not been on this board for a while. I understand that Cathy is about to have her surgery, I hope that everything will go well for her. I had my pericardiectomy last year in December...
Hello Frand118, If the operation is successful and you are otherwise healthy there will be no restricitions at all. I can understand why your doctors are reluctant for you to have the operation, it...
Hello Cathy, I was not on a heart-lung machine, but it all depends on your condition and what the surgeon thinks is best. Two little holes are made in your abdomen to put tubes in to drain fluid,...
Hello Kurtiss, Marvellous news!!!! You feel so much better already. How nice to be in sinus rhythm, you are a whole person again. I am sure that the beta blocker will only be a short term medication....
Hi Teri, You are right about the low blood pressure. Thank you for the time you take to read all the posts and jump in with a thoughtful reply!!! It is very important to get immediate help if you...
Hi there, I do not understand the word "tiote". In NZ we have a public health system, we do need insurance or have to pay anything for treatment. But you can not choose the surgeon who is going to do...
Hi there, I had my operation last year in December, 2004. It was very successful. I live in Christchurch NZ. We do not have famous surgeons, but my heart surgeon did a fantastic job. I was not even...
Hello Kurtiss, Your story is identical to mine. During an ablation for atrial flutter the constriction and the scarring of the heart was discovered. A CT scan showed the calcified pericardium very...
Hi there, Frusemide is a diuretic brand-name used in New Zealand, I guess that most diuretics are the same. I am now on a small dose, which is a great relieve, I can now go into town without too much...
Hi Nan2, I had the pericardectomy in December last year, six weeks ago. The operation went very well, of course you know that only when you are opened up that the situation becomes clearer. My...
Hi Barb3, I have just had this opreation six weeks ago. I can help you with your questions. henk NZ...