Post Op Issues......

[malibu82]

Hi there. In the hospital I had a slight fever every night but I was also taking motrin so I don't know if it was only at night or not. They never had a problem with it. The first night home, I had a fever of 101.5 which was a guideline for calling the hospital on my discharge sheet. So, I called and got the answering service. Waiting 2 hours, and nobody called back. So I called again, and then 1/2 hour later a doctor called back. He told me to go ahead and take some motrin and to call the hospital the next day for an appointment. Next day comes, I call, and can't get through to anyone. It's near impossible. I tried calling my nurses, my cardiologist there and nothing. Once again that night, I had a temperature. So the next day, I finally get through to a nurse, who transfers me to the cardiologists secretary. She takes a message and said she would forward it to my cardiologist. I waited all day and never got a call back. However, I got a call from the step down unit doing the 2nd day follow up call. I explained to her what was going on and she couldn't really help me. So then I called the nurse I was working with prior to surgery and got through. I explained to her what was going on, how i was getting fevers every night and would wake up sweating hot she said it's not a problem unless its really high.....but she ordered a CBC blood test today. Well they never called back to give me the results and they were put in "stat" as the nurse called it.

So what the hell. Why am I getting a high temparture which what seems like at night only, and why is the aftercare at northwestern memorial so ******?

On another note, when I was discharged, they ordered me a new pair of those socks you are supposed to wear so you don't get a blood clot. They even had to call the supply department to bring me my specific size. So that night at home, my husband put them on me and they were so tight he could barely do it. Then it felt like they were cutting off my blood circulation. They were so tight in the morning I had rings indented in my leg from the top of the sock. I only wore them at night, good thing because today the nurse that came informed me that those are the wrong size and will CAUSE blood clots and to get different ones, i needed a larger size. so again, what the hell is that about. here i am wearing them feeling safe that they are helping, now i have anxiety think what if i got a blood clot from them? why would they send me home such a small size, the ones at the hospital fit great....

i get bad headaches during the day....anyone else?

i can feel my pulse strong in my upper body and head at times...mostly at night when i am quiet......anyone else?

my throat feels like certain food gets stuck in it and goes down really slowly....i know this is probably from the breathing tube but its annoying. i can't eat bread or muffins or pretzels only liquid things make me feel like im not going to choke. any have this issue?

i have a lot of air that i keep burping up. i'll burp, then it builds up again....won't go away

the whole time in the hospital i called housekeping 5 times but they still never came to clean my room, i had to request for my garbage to get changed so the nurse came in and took it, they never offered to bathe me or help me clean up other then the first night i was there to get the iodine stuff off, they never gave me a new gown to wear the whole time, they never changed my bed sheets in the step down unit. the hallway floors were dirty and had stains that were there the whole time that could easily be mopped up. i thought northwestern would have been better then this but i guess not. i am very unhappy with them.

please let me know if you have experienced anything similar!

 

[JohnCalderwood]

I had high temperatures for a few weeks after my surgery. The pillow would be soaking wet. When I took tylenol the sweating got worse. Experienced headaches still to this day (9 weeks) Seem to be losing intensity. Had the burping of air too. Ate very little in the hospital. Just picked at stuff. My hospital was dirty too. I remember dropping that ball thing they get you suck on. I should have gotten a new one. But I picked that one up and got a lung full of dust. Gross. It should get better. Hang in there.

 

[ARGreenMN]

Sorry about your bad experiences with the hospital, but you're home now, right? So that's behind ya? Not excusing them (and you should certainly make sure they know about it) but at least you're out of harms way now (if you're home). My hospital was pretty good in general, although some nurses were a gazillion times better than others. Ranged from almost rude, to extremely nice/helpful. When I left, they asked if I had any complaints or if there were superstars. Did you have the same kind of "exit interview" type questions? Have had some weird sweating spells sometimes. Told my docs about them, but those kind of got lost in the shuffle cause I had bigger issues (irregular beats) so never got an answer what caused 'em. But they're pretty much gone now (3 wks post-op). Definitely feel my pulse strongly (and hear my valve loudly) in my upper body - mostly my neck and chest. Was told that's because my heart is used to pumping really hard because of the bad valve, and hasn't adjusted yet to the new, efficient valve, but will evnentually. Is a little annoying but getting used to it. Have been getting headaches too - and tylenol doesn't help them much - wish I could take some Advil or something. Had throat issues for a few days (voice changed for a few days, which was getting a little alarming wondering if it was gonna come back) but that went away after I'd been home for a few days. Don't know anything about the socks - I didn't get those (maybe because I'm on Coumadin to prevent clots). Hope all goes better from now on - and I'm betting it will now that you're home. But sucks you had to go through it...

 

[Bill B]

Well....

When are you scheduled to see your cardiologist or GP? I had a post-op check with both about 7-10 days after I got home.

I can't help you evaluate that fever, but it seems like the doctor you talked to and the nurses aren't too impressed. You have no focal symptoms to indicate an infection, but it should be watched.

Yes, your throat sensations are probably tube related and should get better soon. I was spared that.

I had no headaches. The Motrin should definitely be helping with that as well as the fevers. Not sure what the headaches are about.

Yes, I could feel my heart pounding, especially at night, as you are. As you recover that will decline. I still can hear/feel my heartbeat, but it is much reduced and not at all annoying.

I had tons of belching, especially after eating. For me it was a sign that my stomach was not moving food along as it should. Reglan, which stimulates gastric motility, completely resolved this. My cardiologist came up with that and prescribed it. Note this drug should only be taken short-term. It took a month before I was completely normal in that regard.

I am aware of the Job's stockings they are trying to get you to wear. I didn't think that was standard post-op therapy. I never had them.

You are having a lot of trouble getting in touch with any of your caregivers. It's terrible they are so unreliable. You need someone you can count on.

Bill

 

[kfay]

Jackie, I'm sorry you are having such a hard time getting some answers and help with your problems. You don't say that you have called your surgeon, but that's who I would be trying this soon post op vs. your cardio. The numbers on my discharge sheet were to the surgeon and when I developed a slight infection 6 weeks post op, he again was the one I turned to. You know the old saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"?, well, I would sure as hell become the squeaky wheel at this point. I would call your surgeon and cardio and anyone else you've had contact with concerning this fever every 15 minutes if that's what it took. If it persists and you still don't have any answers, I'd show back up in the ER. This whole scenario is ridiculous and unacceptable.

I did have a fever like this after my first surgery and it was determined I had Dressler's syndrome which is not uncommon after heart surgery (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dresslers-syndrome/ds00666). They obviously need to figure out what is the cause of your fevers.

As for the headaches, I was right there with you this last surgery. Mine started in the hospital and were just horrific. Some of the worst ones I've ever had. Unfortunately, for me, they lasted for about a month or more. Hopefully, yours won't last that long.

It's a shame that your experience in the hospital was so bad. I've never experienced something like that, but I can imagine how frustrating that must have been. Now you are home, so try and take a deep breath and relax and just let your body heal. Hang in there, things will get better.


Kim

 

[Ross]

Jackie to me, it sounds like you had heart surgery. Just about everything, except for hospital housekeeping, is pretty much par for the course. Fevers, chills, sore throat and swallowing and all. It takes time. Sometimes we have high expectations of how we should feel and that's not the way it is. The other way to look at it is, your miserable, but your ALIVE.

 

[ottagal]

Jackie,

I am sorry that you had such a bad experience. For the first 5-7 days after surgery I was soaking right through the hospital sheets and pillows every night (yuk...don't know if it was from the meds. or the anaesthesia). The nurses had to come in and change the bed in the middle of the night every night.

However, I ended up with a higher fever the night after being discharged (along with high heart rate and shortness of breath) . I was lucky enough that the hospital re-admitted me as soon as I called with my symptoms. I too was told it was post pericardiotomy inflammatory syndrome.


I hope you are feeling better and if not they get to the bottom of this.

Oh yes...I had the swallowing/belching thing happen as well and blamed it on the breathing tube.

 

[ARGreenMN]

Jackie, given that it's the Memorial Day weekend, if you're still having these problems and are still not getting help, I'd encourage you to just go on into the ER. I found out twice last week they give you some preferential treatment when you walk into the ER shortly after open heart surgery. Just open up your shirt and show 'em your scar as you walk in and say - I need some help. That oughtta get there attention. Seriously though, they do give you some special attention (at least mine did). So I wouldn't hesitate to use 'em if you're not getting satisfaction from the normal sources. Your hospital bills are already so high at this point, what's a little ER visit...

 

[Jeanie]

I am echoing what Andy said. I am really sorry to read of such problems, but yikes, the Hospital Administrator needs to be told about the poor cleanliness issues and other problems you mentioned in your (lack of) care provided. I had only a few glitches where I was, but it seems Murphy's Law apparently loves hospitals as a place to hang around and mess with people.

On the sweating, some of it could be medication related, but the persistent nature of it makes me worry you may have an infection. My surgeon has an NP (Nurse Practioner) on staff as the point of contact for any post-op problems, and I know that if I had reported a persistent, recurring fever they would have scheduled me for in office visit and quickie in office EKG right away. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Nancy]

Some of the things you are mentioning are maddening. Why give you a list of reasons to call your doctor and when you call, they don't even give you the courtesy of a call back? That is very poor care in my book, and a bunch of lazy people. The hospital filth is inexcusable. Not changing your gowns in the hospital is inexcusable. Ordering you the wrong size anti-embolism stocking is inexcusable. These are all things that you can chalk up to lousy care and again, lazy and incompetent people and very poor management.

When you are feeling better, you should compose a letter to the hospital administration, hospital social worker, with copies to your surgeon, the head of housekeeping, your cardiologist, and head of nursing. Start making a list right now while it is fresh in your mind. These people should be getting reamed out for this type of care. Filth is one of the problems that can cause hospital acquired illnesses like MRSA and other infections. You could have developed a clot from those stockings, put those things in your letter. BTW, you should never wear those stocking while you sleep, only while you are up and concious. That is because they could indeed cut off your circulation while you are not concious, even if they were the proper size.

Don't let these louts get away with this kind of care. They need to know what others think. If there is a way to rate them online, then go to Healthgrades or other sites like that and give them the rating they deserve.

You are technically under the care of your surgeon until you have been discharged by him at your post surgical appointment. That is the person you should be calling, especially with a temperature. If HE is unresponsive, I hardly know what to say, but it wouldn't be very flattering.

 

[Nancy]

Should have added, if you think the hospital was filty enough, you should complain to the State Health Department and also send them a copy of your letter to those others mentioned above. Perhaps they need an unannounced inspection.

 

[Luana]

Fevers are not that unusual after surgery and usually are not a concern; however, endocarditis is a big concern and one of the first signs of it is fever. I'm glad somebody ordered a CBC, but would feel better if blood cultures were also ordered.

I would be calling your doctor and asking for a call back immediately and would call every 15 minutes until you do get a call back. If your fever is high today, I would go to the ER.

Yikes, as for the housekeeping in the hospital, it's pitiful and I would take Nancy's advice and write some letters. If the hospital is JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations) certified, I'd send them a letter also.

 

[Daren]

Jackie, sorry about the bumps in the road to recovery. Keep calling until you get some action. If you dont feel well enough to do it have your Husband, Parents, Friends anybody keep hounding them untill they produce. As far as the Hospital conditions, it sounds like you were in one like I was in. I can honestly say that I have been in Gas station restrooms that were cleaner. Please stay on top of the Doctors and take care of yourself... Daren

 

[Philip B]

Rough Ride?

Rough Ride?

Geez, did you have your surgery in a Third World country or what? It doesn't sound like I'd want to have any kind of surgery at the hospital where you had yours.

Like others have indicated, low grade fevers and night sweats issues are common after OHS. Personally, I suspect it's the body's way of attempting to get rid of all of the chemical stuff that accompanies OHS.

If how you're feeling really bothers you and you have concerns that things just aren't right, you might want to make an appointment with your surgeon and/or cardiologist visit face-to-face about your concerns.

I really don't get why the professionals you're calling don't return your calls. I guess I've never experienced a lack of professionalism like that. This said, be persistent and advocate for yourself; keep calling.

-Philip

 

[malibu82]

Hi everyone! Wow, I truly appreciate all of your feedback. I read it all very thoroughly and will be taking all of the advice Thanks for caring and reading my posts. I probably sound like a hypochondriac by now don't i?

I am typing this from the hospital, I was admitted today! Here is why.

So last night I took my last pain meds at 9pm and actually fell asleep for a full nights sleep. I woke up at 8:00am all wet and sweaty, my heart was pounding worse then normal and felt fast and my head was HOT. I didn't even get up, I just leaned over, took my temp and it was 101.7 then i took my pulse and it was 94. That scared me so badly because in the hospital during recovery, the only time my heart rate got to 94 was after i did all of the walking around the halls but then it would return immediatly back to 78 within a few minutes. I didn't want to panic because i didn't want to make it worse but i told my husband thats it, we are going to the ER. however, the ER where i had my heart surgery is downtown chicago and is 40 minutes away. but i just happen to live 5 minutes away from a hospital that just merged with them earlier this year and it's the hospital i normally use so all of my doctors are there. so i took my pulse again and it was 104. i realized that i hadnt had any of my pain meds which contain tylenol in it so i can go to the ER and they can finally see my unmasked temperature. so we get to the ER and there is a guy ahead of us laying on the floor while his wife checked him in. i kinda looked at my husband like oh wow, i wonder why he is on the floor...she must have seen because made a like scrunched face and was like oh, he is having a gallbladder attack. i told her oh boy that must be painful. then the lady asked why i was there, and i moved my jacket out of the way and said, i had open heart surgery a week ago and i have a fever...it was kind of funny because you could tell the lady felt embarassed that she was explaining her husband laying on the ground and he had a gallbladder issue and here i am a week post op standing up remaining calm. but, i do know gallbladder attacks are very painful so i under why he was laying on the floor, it was just kind of funny.

so i explain the story to the er doctor about what has been going on the past week and she ordered blood cultures and another CT SCAN i was so mad about the CT SCAN since i JUST had one last week but she said she needed to make sure the valve wasnt having an infection. so i agreed to do it. my normal bloodwork showed that my WBC count was normal. she was able of course to call chicago and speak directly to my surgeon. he explained that it could be post op fever but it would be a good idea to admit me overnight. so they started iv antibiotics on me then (by this time it was 3pm) and guess what....i feel 100x better, and my fever started going down. I didn't realize until 6:30 that I still hadnt had any pain meds and i was starting to hurt, so i am back on 2 norco every 6 hours. They have me on iv treatments every couple of hours, my primary doctor will visit me tomorrow and see what else we can do. but my fever hasn't creeped back at all....so i wonder what thats about. maybe the blood cultures will show the problem. it's so scary when it comes to your heart. i am finding i dont know what is over reacting and what is normal and when to call the doctor. how long does this stage last?

 

[ottagal]

Malibu82,

I am so glad that you were admitted and now under 'hospital' care. Also, really glad that you are feeling somewhat better with the IV antibiotics. Hopefully, you have 'turned the corner'.

I can't help but say that your situation reminds me alot of what I went through. I, too had the high fever, high heart rate, (along with shortness of breath and felt overall really crummy). After being re-admitted and 24 hours in hospital the fever went away (I think they were giving me 4 tylenols every 2 hours!!).

After all the blood work and CT scans were done to rule out embolism, tamponade etc. the final verdict for me was post pericardiotomy syndrome (Dressler's syndrome) and a very strong inflammatory reaction to the surgery. I joked with them and said that I must have been 'allergic' to the surgery. I will be interested to know what they feel the final diagnosis is. I ended up on a course of small doses of prednisone for 4 days.

By the way, I also have a bovine tissue valve.

Take good care and it does get better. Hang in there girl...


P.S. For the record, I wasn't too pleased as I ended up having 13 chest x-rays, two CT angios and a CT scan over the course of 16 days in hospital. I was kept in the hospital longer because of the breathing issues and I did have some pleural effusion as well as collapsed lobes (so a little different in that dept.) I kept on voicing how much radiation I was getting, but they re-iterated that they had to rule out pulmonary issues and keep an eye on pleural effusion etc. I just had to resign myself to this.

 

[Allisoninoz]

You're hardly overreacting! You've had a crappy few days and obviously needed assistance or you wouldn't have been admitted. It's really interesting, isn't it? We should just go with our gut. You knew something wasn't right and were trying to get phone assistance to no avail. Hope you continue to feel better...

 

[ARGreenMN]

So glad you're getting properly cared for finally! And at a different (hopefully better?) hospital to boot! Sounds like you experienced the same kind of preferential treatment I did at the ER. They almost brought the whole hospital to a standstill for me. As I explained my situation to the front desk guy, even though I wasn't really having chest pains, he called back and said "chest pains in the lobby". He goes, I know you're not having chest pains, but watch how quick they get here. Within seconds, I was on a bed, with several people around me, being wheeled back to a "speical" room, with my clothes being stripped off while they were wheeling me down the hall. Pretty impressive I thought as far as response time. Makes me feel good knowing they take heart stuff seriously. But back to you, it sounds like maybe you're past the worst. Hope so! Now get back to your normally scheduled recovery, after that commercial break you had

 

[malibu82]

Malibu82,

I am so glad that you were admitted and now under 'hospital' care. Also, really glad that you are feeling somewhat better with the IV antibiotics. Hopefully, you have 'turned the corner'.

I can't help but say that your situation reminds me alot of what I went through. I, too had the high fever, high heart rate, (along with shortness of breath and felt overall really crummy). After being re-admitted and 24 hours in hospital the fever went away (I think they were giving me 4 tylenols every 2 hours!!).

After all the blood work and CT scans were done to rule out embolism, tamponade etc. the final verdict for me was post pericardiotomy syndrome (Dressler's syndrome) and a very strong inflammatory reaction to the surgery. I joked with them and said that I must have been 'allergic' to the surgery. I will be interested to know what they feel the final diagnosis is. I ended up on a course of small doses of prednisone for 4 days.

By the way, I also have a bovine tissue valve.

Take good care and it does get better. Hang in there girl...


P.S. For the record, I wasn't too pleased as I ended up having 13 chest x-rays, two CT angios and a CT scan over the course of 16 days in hospital. I was kept in the hospital longer because of the breathing issues and I did have some pleural effusion as well as collapsed lobes (so a little different in that dept.) I kept on voicing how much radiation I was getting, but they re-iterated that they had to rule out pulmonary issues and keep an eye on pleural effusion etc. I just had to resign myself to this.

oh man, i can't believe that! and i thought i was worried about the radiation! i'm sorry you had all of that in 16 days. it would have freaked me out. my mom has always been overly cautious about xrays she used to not let the dentist do them, so it stuck with me that they are bad! id better get over that real quick because im sure there is way more to come in the future now that i am a heart patient! it will be interesting to find out what my condition is.

 

[Luana]

Hi Jackie,
So glad to hear that you're getting good care. Blood cultures are the determining test for endocarditis, which hopefully you don't have, but at this point in your recovery, it needs to be made sure if you do or do not. I had endocarditis about 20 years ago. I had my own vavles, but a murmur from rheumatic fever as a kid and had been told to be careful of getting endocarditis. I didn't have a doctor at the time and went to a walk-in medical clinic. Very long story short, I was misdiagnosed at least 3 times (even when I brought up endocarditis) and was sick for 12 weeks with a fever (and only that, and going to work every day) before I found a doc who listened to me and put me in the hospital immediately.

As far as over reacting: it's better to err on the side of caution, especially since your surgery was so recent. I went to the ER about 2 weeks after surgery because I was having awful SOB. I wondered if I over reacted, and when the doc said I that I did the right thing, I felt better. Most of us aren't used to feeling fragile and that in itself can be scary.

Take care and feel better!