What Are The Symptoms Of Bacterial Endocarditis? http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2007/08/13/what-are-the-symptoms-of-bacterial-endocarditis/#comment-12662 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:32:41 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2007/08/13/what-are-the-symptoms-of-bacterial-endocarditis/#comment-12662 Adam - In response to Cheryl's concern for patients knowing about endocarditis, I wanted to add that my Dad also got this infection in March of 2009. It was consistent high blood sugar readings for three plus days that brought him to the emergency room. He is a type 1 diabetic who was able to manage his glucose levels very well on an insulin pump but no matter what he did (including fasting), nothing kept the numbers from rising. We had no idea that this was a sign of an infection but we quickly learned an awful lot. He had an aortic valve replacement in February and a stent procedure in March prior to the endocardits diagnosis. I could write a book about this topic but my Dad had to undergo a second valve replacement surgery 8 weeks after his first operation. He is a 74 year old survivor who has had to overcome a lot during his recovery (anaphylactic reaction to penicillin, temporary kidney dialysis, 6 weeks in a nursing home upon hospital release to regain independence, back to the hospital to drain fluid from his lung, learning what antibiotics he can and cannot tolerate, anemia and extreme weakness). But thanks be to God his mind has not been affected and he is recovering. He has been home for two months (after having been in the hospital / home for two months) and he started cardiac rehab recently. He has had to overcome a lot but news is encouraging considering the seriousness of endocarditis. From Lori Williams in PA Adam - In response to Cheryl’s concern for patients knowing about endocarditis, I wanted to add that my Dad also got this infection in March of 2009. It was consistent high blood sugar readings for three plus days that brought him to the emergency room. He is a type 1 diabetic who was able to manage his glucose levels very well on an insulin pump but no matter what he did (including fasting), nothing kept the numbers from rising. We had no idea that this was a sign of an infection but we quickly learned an awful lot.

He had an aortic valve replacement in February and a stent procedure in March prior to the endocardits diagnosis. I could write a book about this topic but my Dad had to undergo a second valve replacement surgery 8 weeks after his first operation. He is a 74 year old survivor who has had to overcome a lot during his recovery (anaphylactic reaction to penicillin, temporary kidney dialysis, 6 weeks in a nursing home upon hospital release to regain independence, back to the hospital to drain fluid from his lung, learning what antibiotics he can and cannot tolerate, anemia and extreme weakness). But thanks be to God his mind has not been affected and he is recovering. He has been home for two months (after having been in the hospital / home for two months) and he started cardiac rehab recently. He has had to overcome a lot but news is encouraging considering the seriousness of endocarditis. From Lori Williams in PA

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