Ronald's Posts

Well, my recovery has been essentially over for over 6 months now. The heart seems to be strong as a horse, but now I am having issues with my lower back. I don't think this has anything to do with the surgery or new valve but just another nagging problem to deal with. Has anyone else had back issues after surgery? Maybe the new meds or something is contributing to this pain. I had an X-ray (MRI's are frowned upon for Mech Valves as you all know.....) and it shows some stenosis and degenerative disk desease, just like everyone else my age apperently? Anyway, I will update when things change. Keep the faith everyone!

Sorry, it's been a while since I have updated my journal. Since my last writing I have just gone for another Echo and it appears that the Pericardial Window is keeping my heart "fluid free". Yay! I am trying to get back into a more normal routine, back into my Volleyball and golf season just started, but now my back is acting up and I am having a lot of Lower back pain, I think from walking on uneven roads and possibly sitting too much? Doing PT now and they think they can resolve and I can get back to fun stuff. The heart and valve are great! The cumadin does not seem to be an issue. I haven't noticed any excessive bleeding, and I have cut myself a few times. All in all, I think I am pretty lucky and I plan on ticking away for a long long time. Keep on ticking everyone.

Well all was going very well right up to about 4 weeks ago, when I was doing a work out. I had worked up to alternating walking and jogging so that I could jog for about 2 min. up to 6 times during a work out and it felt great. Well then about 4 weeks ago I noticed that I was not able to do the Jogging. I got very winded and pulse raced. I started getting winded just going up a flight of stairs. I knew something was wrong. Went to the Dr's and they did an Echo. I had a very large Effussion (fluid in the pericardium) I had a Pericardialsentissis done but they wrere not able to remove all the fluid and I had to go back to surgery for a Pericardial Window Procedure. I was in the Hospital for 7 days (4 days longer than the actual OHS for valve replacement!) I had a drain tube in for the entire 7 days and it just kept draining until the last day when it finally stopped. My INR was in range so I was discharged and came back home. That was 2 weeks ago. I just had another Echo and it showed no fluid accumulating so that was good news. This should take care of the problem, but it was scary for while. Good luck to you all out there.