I’m almost five weeks post aortic valve replacement (August 7th). Everything had been going swimmingly until the end of last week.
Felt chilly four days ago (Friday), with pain beneath my sternum and up the left side of my chest to my neck when I inhaled. At first I thought I’d slept awkwardly and perhaps pulled some muscles.
The chills continued throughout Saturday, with the pain seeming to worsen.
Sunday I was feverish. And Sunday night my temperature crept up to 38.2º (100.76F). And my heart rate was up, even higher when I did the simplest exertion.
I was taking paracetamol. Next day my temperature had reduced a touch but I was still in considerable pain when inhaling and sweaty and clammy. And a slight dry cough had developed.
Called my Lead Cardiac Nurse contact at the hospital. She advised I see my GP and ask that my doctor listen to my heart and refer me to hospital if there were concerns. Got an emergency appointment with GP who said she could hear a murmur and my temperature was slightly raised. She advised I go to the hospital A&E. She gave me a note for the A&E team. It gave various readings and asked them to consider possible sepsis or SBE (which I knew to be subacute bacterial endocarditis).
Called back my cardiac nurse to say that’s what I would be doing. She said that often a murmur can be heard soon after surgery anyway but it was best to go and get things checked.
At the A&E I had an x-ray (was clear) and full bloods taken (all seemed good). And a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (also seemed fine). Saw an A&E doctor and eventually a cardiac doctor. He asked for a urine sample which showed traces of blood, therefore possible infection in the body. They didn’t do an echocardiogram in the end, something that was suggested earlier they’d do.
I was given a seven day course of Co-amoxiclav and discharged and told to return if things hadn’t improved in three or four days.
They said it was good I’d gone to the hospital with my symptoms. That it was important to get such things looked at sooner rather than later.
I’m still exhausted today with a touch less pain on inhaling, but pain still noticeable. And my temperature is still above normal and the occasional dry cough not yet gone.
My cardiac nurse called earlier to see how I was, which was incredibly thoughtful of her. She said it could take between 24-48 hours for the antibiotics to kick in. So fingers crossed.
Felt chilly four days ago (Friday), with pain beneath my sternum and up the left side of my chest to my neck when I inhaled. At first I thought I’d slept awkwardly and perhaps pulled some muscles.
The chills continued throughout Saturday, with the pain seeming to worsen.
Sunday I was feverish. And Sunday night my temperature crept up to 38.2º (100.76F). And my heart rate was up, even higher when I did the simplest exertion.
I was taking paracetamol. Next day my temperature had reduced a touch but I was still in considerable pain when inhaling and sweaty and clammy. And a slight dry cough had developed.
Called my Lead Cardiac Nurse contact at the hospital. She advised I see my GP and ask that my doctor listen to my heart and refer me to hospital if there were concerns. Got an emergency appointment with GP who said she could hear a murmur and my temperature was slightly raised. She advised I go to the hospital A&E. She gave me a note for the A&E team. It gave various readings and asked them to consider possible sepsis or SBE (which I knew to be subacute bacterial endocarditis).
Called back my cardiac nurse to say that’s what I would be doing. She said that often a murmur can be heard soon after surgery anyway but it was best to go and get things checked.
At the A&E I had an x-ray (was clear) and full bloods taken (all seemed good). And a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (also seemed fine). Saw an A&E doctor and eventually a cardiac doctor. He asked for a urine sample which showed traces of blood, therefore possible infection in the body. They didn’t do an echocardiogram in the end, something that was suggested earlier they’d do.
I was given a seven day course of Co-amoxiclav and discharged and told to return if things hadn’t improved in three or four days.
They said it was good I’d gone to the hospital with my symptoms. That it was important to get such things looked at sooner rather than later.
I’m still exhausted today with a touch less pain on inhaling, but pain still noticeable. And my temperature is still above normal and the occasional dry cough not yet gone.
My cardiac nurse called earlier to see how I was, which was incredibly thoughtful of her. She said it could take between 24-48 hours for the antibiotics to kick in. So fingers crossed.
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