About Me (In My Own Words)
On January 10, 2024 I had the removal of a TAVR pig valve that was replaced with a larger 27mm mechanical aortic heart valve, as well as a double bypass around a stent that was put into my coronary artery that failed (became totally stenosed/plugged up with scar tissue/huge inflammatory response from the TAVR that was done in May 2023. Anyway, I have been suffering with recurrent pleural effusions ever since my surgery on January 10. I have had to have a thoracentesis done every 2-3 weeks to drain out over 1200 mLs of fluid. Since January 12, I have had a total of SIX thoracentesis procedures done! I get SOB on exertion with the fluid buildup in my pleural space, fluid retention, (which has caused stasis dermatitis, which is quite painful and irritating to my calf skin on my left calf only), and a low grade fever ever since surgery, with fatigue. ESR was elevated. My cardiac surgeon and office cardiologist said the cause for this is "probably" due to excessive inflammation from the surgery and cutting of the intrathoracic/mammary artery to use for one of my bypasses. They also harvested my left radial artery for the second bypass. Long story short: I have felt crummy and hard to breathe with my pleural space filling up constantly. When asking my surgeon/ cardiologist about what is going on and what can be done to STOP the filling up of my left pleural space every 2-3 weeks, the only options for treatment they gave me were: 1. Watch and wait to see if it slows down/stops on its own 2. Have a pleurodesis procedure done (which sounds awful and very deforming to me). I am totally mentally exhausted living with this condition like this after heart surgery, am becoming very concerned about the longevity and quality of my life that hopefully remains. I finally decided to get a "second" opinion from an experienced pulmonologist I knew about downstate. He did an exam with me as a new patient. Then shared that he believes I may have a condition called Dressler's syndrome. I have a lot of the symptoms of this condition. So, he ordered for me to take Naprosyn 1000 mg daily for one week, and taper down 200mg for the next 5 weeks, along with taking colchicine 0.6mg twice a day with food to prevent stomach upset/bleeding. I pray that these antiinflammatory medicines with work to put this syndrome into total remission.
So, has anyone else ever heard about this syndrome? I have read it is more commonly diagnosed in patients who have had a heart attack, but it can occur in patients like me who have had open heart surgery (the second time for me.) Has anyone else been diagnosed with this Syndrome, and if so, what treatment worked for you for it to go away? Thank you for reading my story and any insights/knowledge you can share with me.
PS: Adam, it would be super cool if you would be willing to call me about my story, as I think I am a very interesting Case Study that other patients could learn from. I am still learning, of course. If you would be willing to email me/call me, that would be really exciting for me to hear from you personally if you ever call/communicate with patients like me. I think patients need to know about Dressler's syndrome and to diagnose much earlier than I did. It may have saved me going through at least 3 thoracentesis. Hope to hear from you. Steve Deller Scottville, MI 231-757-2531
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Scottville, MI
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My surgery date is:
January 10, 2024
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Robert Downey
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My hospital is:
Trinity Hospital in Muskegon, MI
