2 Weeks Out..

[sknydave]

Yesterday marked exactly 2 weeks since the surgery. It also happened to be the day I had to make a visit to the ER. I had(have) a sharp, stabbing pain in my lower right side (Kidney area.) The pain is ridiculous. If I am standing it will almost knock me down, and I have fairly high pain tolerance. The docs at the hospital ran some CT tests of basically every corner of my mid-section and could not come up with a reason for the pain. The pain is gone when I pee, and returns about 30 mins later. The doctor said I have some fluid buildup from the surgery close to that area, but he doesn't see why that would cause me some pain. They just wrote me a prescription for more pain meds and sent me on my way. It's rather frustrating to still have the pain after spending the entire day in the hospital, but hopefully it will subside soon.

I have my first post-op appointment with my cardiologist today, so I'll ask him what he thinks. I had a cough for a few days which was just GREAT considering how much it hurts to cough Glad I'm just about over that. Other than these few setbacks I feel pretty amazing for a while then drop off and need to lay down. I'm sure as time progresses the amount of time I can be up and about will increase.

Take care everyone!

 

[WayneGM]

Glad to hear your recovery is progressing. Two weeks is still pretty early, so your energy level will still be fairly low. I hope you post-op appointment goes well, but I'd be sure to ask about the pain and the fluid build-up. Best wishes.

 

[dlangton]

puzzling

puzzling

I have absolutely no clue how kidney pain could result from OHS and such complexities are way, way beyond me, but the pain you describe sounds similar to that experienced with kidney stones. I wonder whether this problem be unrelated to the heart and it's just a coincidence that it happens now. Just a thought...

 

[CathyK.]

David - sorry to hear of your pain. Hope they can figure out what is causing it. Your OHS recovery sounds like it is going well though. Good luck at the Dr.'s office today.

 

[Bina]

Hi Dave,
I'm no doctor, but the pain does sound like maybe a kidney stone. It could be very tiny and getting lodged somewhere when you are inbetween bathroom trips.
Or its just a tweaked nerve....I don't know. Hubby had a stone, not fun, but fixable.
Otherwise, take it slow, lie down twice a day, and try to relax...easy to say

 

[dot4toto]

Hey David,
Sorry to hear about the day in the hospital. No Fun!!!
I went in for my psot op appointment with my PC doc and it was 12 days post op, I just happened to mention that I had pain that mourning when I peed and she ran a urine test. Yeap UT infection. Did they test you? I didn;t even know I had it. (very common after surgery). Maybe you're has gone to the kidney? She put me on meds and I was good to go after 2-3 days.

I hope you're better and healing well.
take care!

 

[sknydave]

Thanks all!

Tina, yes they tested for UTI. The odd thing is after the initial CT the doctor came and said I had a 4mm kidney stone? He later came back after another CT and said they had no idea what was causing the pain ? lol... Oh well. Even if it were a kidney stone I suppose I would just have to wait it out.

'Tis the life of an OHS Patient!

 

[Ross]

My vote is kidney stone also. 4mm hmm. That's pretty big to travel through the tubes, but I suppose possible.

 

[Bina]

Sometimes these stones sit quietly, sometimes they become lodged near a sensitive area or opening and cause pain.
Usual prescriptions are muscle relaxants, pain killers, and a big stack of paper coffee filters to urinate through.
Hubby expelled his stone after 4 days, then it is brought to hospital for analysis.
Good Luck!

 

[67walkon]

Dave, did they put you on the study med for kidney issues? When Dr. Beaver used his cleaver (rhymes, doesn't it?) on me, they asked me to participate in some trial of a med to help kidney function after OHS. I was #92 or 93 and they needed 100. It was a blind trial with a med or a placebo.

If you had that, I would ask the people at Shands if it good be a side effect.

Sounds like you're mostly doing great!

John

 

[sknydave]

Hi John,

Yes, I took part in the trial. I actually called about this and I am supposed to have my call returned by the trial staff, but we will see when that happens

 

[sknydave]

Well I'm just over 5 weeks out and the chest feels much better, I have much better stamina, etc.. except for one problem.. I keep having fever-like symptoms every day. I get chills, my body aches and I feel exactly as if I have a fever, only without the high temp. I'm not sure what to do? This is a daily occurrence, and the only way I get rid of it is with the pain killers + tylenol? I'm at a loss here

 

[dot4toto]

Hey David,

I was wondering if you're on vicodin? Because I was told that tylenol is in vicodin and I could OD if I took both close together...
What are you doing day to day? I feel like that if I over do it I get this way. I call it "crashing", it's when my energy just leaves me and I'm aching all over.
Are lifting or pushing yourself to fast.
Sorry don't mean to sound like your Mommy, (even if my daughter turned 20 yesterday )

I hope you feel better soon....
Have you talked to your doctor? That might be the best place to start.

 

[sknydave]

Hi Tina, I have oxycodone. When taken with tylenol it is the same as a percocet. I have only spoken to my primary, and his only suggestion was that I use the inhaling tool because my lungs might be stuck together which causes fevers? I dont know, I've been using it just in case it is that.. I'm not overdoing it, just trying to walk plenty every day, although I did not yesterday and still felt the same way today.

 

[Bina]

I took the oxycodone crap in the hospital for one day and then refused it.
Tylenol was good for a couple of days just to take the edge off of the pain.
Nurses did tell me that even Tylenol can cause sweats, I had a big one during the night.

 

[pamela]

Hi Tina, I have oxycodone. When taken with tylenol it is the same as a percocet. I have only spoken to my primary, and his only suggestion was that I use the inhaling tool because my lungs might be stuck together which causes fevers? I dont know, I've been using it just in case it is that.. I'm not overdoing it, just trying to walk plenty every day, although I did not yesterday and still felt the same way today.

Oxycodone had me in incredible sweats after my recent surgery. I didn't know I was on it, since I'd foolishly guessed it was codeine laced acetaminophen. Was I wrong and as soon as I found out what was causing me to soak my bedding, I asked them to change my prescription. 1000 mg of acetaminophen alternating with T3's every 6 to 8 hours and I was fine. I slept better, too. Once home, I started with OTC acetaminophen with codiene. (T1's).

I'll say it again about pain meds, they are tools. If our pain is a nail that needs to be pounded into control, the meds are the hammer. Make certain you're not using a five pound sledgehammer on a thumbtack. Talk about overkill.

And congratulations on getting through that first month post op. It's good to see the scar healing up, isn't it?

 

[sknydave]

Perhaps I was confusing in my post. The symptoms present themselves without pain killers of any kind.

And yes, the scar is healing up very well! I am pleasantly surprised because I already had a large scar in that area from a sternum/rib surgery.

 

[pamela]

Perhaps I was confusing in my post. The symptoms present themselves without pain killers of any kind.

And yes, the scar is healing up very well! I am pleasantly surprised because I already had a large scar in that area from a sternum/rib surgery.

Oh, I thought it may have been the pain meds giving you the feverish symptoms and sweats. I hope you and your doc can discover the underlying cause, I'd hazard a guess that the toxins from your surgery are still playing havoc with your autonomous nervous system.

Keep massaging the incision area, that will desensitize your scar and inhibit adhesion. (You likely know this, already.)

Have a good day and be happy that soon you will be driving! (If you're not cheating already.)

 

[Marguerite53]

Well I'm just over 5 weeks out and the chest feels much better, I have much better stamina, etc.. except for one problem.. I keep having fever-like symptoms every day. I get chills, my body aches and I feel exactly as if I have a fever, only without the high temp. I'm not sure what to do? This is a daily occurrence, and the only way I get rid of it is with the pain killers + tylenol? I'm at a loss here

Gee, I thought that those symptoms you describe were what everyone felt post op!! I know I sure did. It was the "being hit by a truck" feeling.

Please check to see that you are not anemic (low iron) because that often happens due to the heart lung pump machine....I guess as the blood flows through the machine, it leaches away at your the iron in your blood. I don't know (forgot to look) what kind of valve you got, but perhaps you can add some things to your diet which might counteract those feelings. Be SURE to ask your doctor, anyway.

I also concur with the don't use an elephant gun to shoot a mosquito notion of pain meds. I weaned myself onto tylenol and those symptoms did wane....hard to know if it was time or the med change.

The best news is that you are happily progressing toward your new normal. Congrats on the great job through surgery and recovery thus far!!!

Marguerite

 

[sknydave]

I completely forgot to update this thread..

Turns out I have bronchitis. My doctor prescribed antibiotics and something for the cough. I feel better already. The "fever-like symptoms" are going away except for when I have a big spell of coughing So that answers that question!