Hi everyone. I just wanted to give an update and see if anyone else has experienced anything similar. A little history: I had bacterial endocarditis in 1982 at the age of 2. Spent 58 days in the hospital and received a mechanical mitral valve. Had that valve replaced with an adult sized St. Jude mechanical in 1993, because I outgrew the Bjork-Shiley valve. I am now 37, will be 38 in a few weeks. For the most part, I have had no problems with anything heart related. Have been on Coumadin since 1982. I did have 4 bouts of a-fib and/or a-flutter in 1996, 2008, 2010 and 2016. Had 3 cardioversions and one ablation. Other than that, I've been healthy (besides the brain surgery in 2002 to cure epilepsy, and the internal bleeding after delivering both babies 
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As of 3 years ago, I really began slowing down, but chalked it up to getting older and raising kids. Last year, the fluid started accumulating on me, and the SOB was worse. I thought the valve needed replaced again. After many appointments with cardiology and seeing a few different doctors and getting different opinions, we went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN...the same place that did my brain surgery. Mayo did a few tests last month. They think I have Constrictive Pericarditis. They need a few more tests including a heart cath and TEE to confirm a diagnosis. We go back the week of Feb 12th for tests. Testing will be Feb 13-16th. If they want surgery, they will do a pericardectomy on Monday Feb 19th. I'm excited to get some answers and put this all behind me. I'm also glad to hear that they think I will get to keep my mechanical valve. They think it is working great. Does anyone else have experience with Constrictive Pericarditis?
Thank you to pellicle for showing me other options. I really felt that that hospital was going to accidentally kill me by trying to replace this valve for the 3rd time. I finally have peace about this whole situation. Mayo is where I feel we are supposed to be.
) As of 3 years ago, I really began slowing down, but chalked it up to getting older and raising kids. Last year, the fluid started accumulating on me, and the SOB was worse. I thought the valve needed replaced again. After many appointments with cardiology and seeing a few different doctors and getting different opinions, we went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN...the same place that did my brain surgery. Mayo did a few tests last month. They think I have Constrictive Pericarditis. They need a few more tests including a heart cath and TEE to confirm a diagnosis. We go back the week of Feb 12th for tests. Testing will be Feb 13-16th. If they want surgery, they will do a pericardectomy on Monday Feb 19th. I'm excited to get some answers and put this all behind me. I'm also glad to hear that they think I will get to keep my mechanical valve. They think it is working great.
Does anyone else have experience with Constrictive Pericarditis? Thank you to pellicle for showing me other options. I really felt that that hospital was going to accidentally kill me by trying to replace this valve for the 3rd time. I finally have peace about this whole situation. Mayo is where I feel we are supposed to be.
