How concerned should I be?

[ALCapshaw2]

I'm surprised they aren't treating you for the fluid around your heart. Diuretics are usually prescribed for excess fluid retention in the body. I'm not sure this works well for fluid around the heart. Is your Surgeon aware of this condition? If not, call his office and tell his nurse. If it's not going away, he may want to do a 'procedure' to drain it away.

 

[bugchucker]

How concerned should I be?

Howdy-

Well I apparently had a TIA about 3 weeks ago. Went blind in lower ½ of my field of vision in my right eye for about 2-3 minutes. My INR was low (about 1.7). They hospitalized me to get me on Heparin. I have been therapeutic since then?

They did an echo while I was in the hospital and they saw fluid around my heart (this was my first echo since surgery which was just shy of 3 months ago). They said, ?it?s no big deal, your body just has not absorbed it yet?? I saw my cardio today for a follow up and another echo, the fluid is still there and does not seem to have reduced in volume. I felt like my cardio was not telling me everything. Ironically I also saw my gastro doc today for a follow up on my Crohn?s disease. He wants to put me on Predisone for my rectal bleeding. The cardio hinted that he might have to put me on Prednisone too. Prednisone makes me a bit goofy, grumpy, lose sleep and gain weight. So needless to say I?m not real thrilled about it, but if its short term I guess I can deal with it.

My real question is how concerned should I be about the fluid around my heart? I did have bleeding issues right after my surgery and they almost had to re-open me.

I do tend to dwell on negative news and expect the worse. Am I being too paranoid? Should I decline the Prednisone and let my body do it?s thing and heal on it?s own?

Thanks in advance!

Phil

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Well, lots of us ended up with fluid around our hearts. I find it interesting that it's not causing you pain or SOB. A small amount will usually resolve on its own. A larger amount often needs assistance - meds, drainage, cutting a window. I agree with you about Prednisone. It's definitely one of those meds where the benefits have to outweigh the risks, because to me at least, the risks are often hard to live with. I remember waking up in the middle of the night sweating and starving. However, when you need it, you need it.

Good luck!

 

[Johan]

My AVR was 2 weeks ago and the first echo they did in hospital before releasing me last week showed fluid around the heart. The cardio and the surgeon did not seem to be too concerned. My follow-up echo is only in a month's time, hope it is gone by then. Johan