Complications

Valve Replacement Forums

Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

ponygirlmom

VR.org Supporter
Supporting Member
Joined
May 2, 2008
Messages
659
Location
Fountain Hills, Arizona
I just saw my surgeon today. It turns out that my fever and flu-like symptoms are caused by pericarditis (an inflamation of the sac around my heart.) Apparently getting this after surgery is more common in young people than older people. (It's so funny that people in the heart biz always say I'm "so young!" I don't think my teenaged daughter's friends would think I am "so young"!)

I wish I had gone to the doctors a day ago, because my back behind my heart is REALLY killing me.

So I'm back on a strong anti-inflamatory. I was off all pain meds because I kept getting such terrible migraines. (YES I missed my pain meds. I'm not just talking about narcotics. I'm talking about ibuprofen and tylenol, too.)

Fortunately my first dose of Indicin hasn't caused a headache. Please pray that I can tolerate this drug, because I have to take it for at least a week!

I am super tired but I am so uncomfortable I can't imagine sleeping. I can't even decide if I feel better with or without a bra. Without bra: breast pain. With bra: tight around chest.
 
Have you tried

Have you tried

wearing a really tight tee-shirt or "wife beater" in the smallest size you can find. This was very helpful to me. My college age daughter suggested it to me and it was the preferred wear until I healed up enough to wear a bra. Good luck to you!
 
Well its good you caught it and are on top of it. Its also good its not
bacterial related.
I had some effusion that kept me in the hospital for an extra 10 days,
for a while it looked as if they would have to reopen me, but the water
finally started to recede.
Re the bra , I wore a sports bra and that was pretty comfortable.
Hope you feel better soon-Dina:)
 
Headaches can be worse than the rest of the issues
Maybe your daughter can go to the store and pick up a bra for you in a longer band length.
If you usually buy a 34 then buy a 36 or even a 38.
Buying one with fabric covered elastic is a bonus for comfort.
 
So sorry this happened, but it must feel good to be on top of it with the meds now. I too would go for a sport bra- in fact that is still my preference at 6 weeks post op. That or one of those camis with a shelf bra. best of luck!
 
Sorry to hear about the bump in the road. I had a fluid set-back and ended up back in surgery. Sounds like you were lucky enough to catch it in time to avoid that. I hope you are feeling better soon. Best wishes for smooth pavement from here.
 
i had some pretty bad chest pain about a week after surgery. they thought it was inflammation too and gave me some toradol through the iv (works wonders) then told me to take a medrol dose pack. it sucks i know, because any chest pain is scary
 
my surgeon suggested his women patiens have some sort of supportafter surgery; in the hispotal, all they could find was a rib binding - it was like a straight jacket without the arms! When I got home, I started wearing sports bras, night and day. Wal-Mart has cheap ones that were wonderful, 3 for $15.00 up here in Canada, on a hanger.

I highly recommend them for women, and I think my scar has healed so well, partly because of that. Surgeon mplied that weight of breasts moving around could cause the wound to stretch and so on.

Any ladies wanting more info are welcome to e-mail or PM me anytime, to save the poor guys from blushing too much!:eek:
 
Sorry to hear about this 'bump'...especially as everything was travelling so smoothly! Praying that the smooth recovery returns very soon!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top