Gained Weight - My Dad

[jojofromct]

Yup I looked it up, I GOOGLED it. I am going to try and not be so nervous about this. As I type this he is having the ECHO. He had an ECHO about a month ago...time for another one...I just PRAY for good results.

 

[CThrock]

JoJo,
Your dad sounds like a great person. I do think he is trying to do to much but his body WILL let him know. I hope the Echo comes back fine. Maybe the dr will tell him to slow down a bit.
You just TRY not to worry.

 

[jojofromct]

I got a call from my mom, the ECHO showed a little bit of water around the heart, they said they dont want to give my dad a pill for that because it can mess up his blood...I am confused about that...now they are sending my parents over for a chest xray and blood work...my mom thinks they are looking for fluid in the lungs...I am so upset - my husband said water around the heart is common, his mom has it...I think this is serious, HOW serious is this. He is going home tonight and waits for a call from doc with chest results...what about the water around the heart...oh and the valve is good...I cant even eat dinnner but I better try or my husband is going to freak out on me.
PLEASE someone tell me what is going on with my dad.

 

[Ross]

You better eat dinner or I'll make your husband look like a wuss!

There are two or three routes to go here,
1. diuretics like I said before. Possibly steroids.
2. more excercise to see if it can be worked off.
3. Do nothing and wait to see if it increases.

Unless dad is gasping for breath and turning blue, there isn't much to worry about.

I don't understand their logic about not wanting to give diuretics because it might mess up his blood? Make them explain that one.

 

[jojofromct]

Well I was just talking to my mom again, she is so upset she sounds like she wants to cry, my dad is worried...and I need a ciggerette!!!

Ross, my mom said the docs said no to the water pill because of all the other medications my dad is on, there is a LOT, I should get the list for you. Maybe they want to wait to see if the fluid goes away, like I said it was a little bit and it didnt show last ECHO...

So, he goes for another ECHO a week from tomorrow, they are goign to watch this fluid...and then he had the following blood tests CBC and
Hemagram PLT. Whatever those are. THen he sees the cardio againt next week.

Do you guys knwo anyone that went through this POST surgery?

Anything I Need to know or do for them??? I am scared all over again...I am going to try and eat. I will be back

 

[jojofromct]

OK I ate... I dont know what advice to give my parents during this time. I know my father will be watched CLOSLEY the next few weeks, they told him he can exersise...dont over do it...they think maybe he did a little too much too fast in the beginining. I dont know, who knows ya know...Things have been doing so nice and smoooth now this. But the valve is working good. I am thankful for all the good. But I am scared for this water/fluid, they said its a little bit but I am still scared. HE MUST EAT low sodium now, MUST! I would like to know if anyone on here or anyone on here that knows someone that is going through what my dad is with this fluid/water...around the heart...It sounds so scary and so dangerous to me...Yet my husband tells me his mom has water on her heart and takes a pill...they dont want my dad to do that, not now anyway...who knows if that will change...I am so scared right now, I am going to eat ice cream. I cant stop eating...I want to smoke...I just eat...I am up 12 pounds...NICE...I am getting FAT!!! Can anyone give me some advice, I am whinning...I know, ROSS, do you want to smack me now or what? But you know I am seriously worried...I truly am.

 

[jojofromct]

if my dad had Pericardial Tamponade wouldnt they keep him in the hospital??? I asked my mom if they named it what he has and she said no, just a little bit of fluid around the heart...

 

[Ross]

I've had both water around the heart and lungs. Mine is treated with Diuretics, which is why I don't understand their reluctance unless what they see is very minimal, then I can understand it. Diuretics play hell with the kidneys. No need to add additional problems if it's not absolutely necessary. I'm gathering from the limited intel that what they see is minimal and want to watch it to see if it is indeed increasing or just a temporary thing.

Pericardial Tamponade is a medical emergency and your dad most likely would not be able to breath and turning blue like I mentioned before. So no, that is not what this is about.

 

[WayneGM]

if my dad had Pericardial Tamponade wouldnt they keep him in the hospital???

Yes they would, so I doubt the fluid has progressed to that level. When I had pericardial tamponade I didn't turn blue or have any swelling, but I was very lethargic, was SOB, and had hardly any pulse. I was rushed to surgery in an ambulance and had to be drained surgically. They'd know if your Dad's fluid levels were heading towards having pericardial tamponade so this is likely not the case and I'd put that scenario aside. If he's being monitored now, they won't let it get that far. My problem is that I didn't get checked-out right away so it progressed passed the point where it could be treated without surgery.

Having some fluid isn't necessarily life threatening. In fact, after my week in the hospital when I had the pericardial tamponade, there was still some fluid when I was released but the tests showed it was reducing slowly so I just continued to go to my GP weekly to monitor the progress to ensure it continued to reduce and after a few weeks the fluid was totally gone. I took diuretics while I was in the hospital but nothing after I was released and the fluid reduced on its own. After all the fluid was gone, I was precribed a drug called Colchicine as a procaution as apparently it helps prevent fluid build-up.

 

[jojofromct]

Oh yeah Wayne, I know ALL ABOUT Colchicine...Thats stuff made me so sick when I took it.

Well, I slept ok last. My dad is going to be ok. Ross, you had a little fluid around your heart and lungs too huh? WE should here the results from the chest xray today too. They did say A LITTLE bit around the heart and he has to go back NEXT Tuesday for another ECHO, so its being monitored. I am thinking the same thing Ross, its not enough for meds yet...because my dad is on like A TON of meds and maybe they want to hold off on a duretic unless its truly needed. Oh, the tiny leak that was there is smaller now too...so thats a good thing. I think this whole thing from yesterday was just a shock...he has been doing great and its a small setback...thats all...Ross you said its a long recovery, you werent kiddin...

 

[Ross]

Expect things to always change for the first 6 months. After that, it's pretty smooth sailing to the full 12 months of healing.

Colchicine is my hero. It keeps me walking! GOUT. Funny thing is, I take it for gout attacks so I can walk, but while I'm taking it, I spend more time sitting on the pot.

 

[Lynlw]

Small amounts of fluid around the heart are pretty common. Justin has had pericardial fluid after most of his surgeries, When there is just a small amount it is pretty common and usually goes away. Justin has also was given motrin, sometimes and they just watched it. it was no problem. When it he had large amounts they admit him and usually did taps and steroids. We usually keep an eye on his temp too.

 

[Thankful@43]

Weight gain

Weight gain

I had my aortic valve replaced 2 years ago with a mechanical vlave/conduit. I had gained some pounds post-op due,I think, to several factors. Maybe something as simple as not being on track with his daily constitutional. It was several weeks before I got back on track. My weight is still up probably 35 pounds or so but I feel o.k. mostly. I am not nearly as active as I used to be either but try when I can. I like to say that after surviving my anuerysm, surgery I have good days and better days. So if your Dad feels upto it he should do what he wants to. For me trying to get back to a "normal" life as soon as possible was very important for me to not feel like an anchor on my family. Honestly though I was very close to my Dr's for all the new events in my life after all the purpose of surgery is to recover. Enjoy all the time you have with your loved ones because none of us are promised a tomorrow.

 

[jojofromct]

I got good news...the results are in...no fluid in the lungs, his blood work came back good - he can exercise but he CAN not over due it...

So, next Tuesday he will have another ECHO to check the tiny fluid around the heart.

 

[Nancy]

That's great!