Elizabeth's Posts

Hello to all the good folks who cheered me on for my second heart valve surgery in 14 months this last December 6th. I am happy to say I'm feeling great today! Working out moderately hard at cardiac rehab three times a week, lifting weights and starting to go to spin class again. I did have a major complication at 4 weeks post op. Woke up with painful inhalations, chest pain and malaise on 1/1/17. Not the way one wants to bring in the new year! Stuck it out for two days and tried to go to my pcp doc for a check on it but he sent me to the ER straight away. Turns out I had a mediastinal hematoma, pericarditis and a pleural effusion! INR at 5.5 so was given vitamin K to stop the bleeding. Stayed in hospital for 5 days but never needed any surgical intervention thank God. I was wondering if any other "valvies" had this happen to them. I thought I fully recovered from the pericarditis but this last Saturday I woke to breathing pains again . Went to the ER and was diagnosed with recurring pericarditis! I was given Tramidol for pain and continued on the colchine from the first time I was diagnosed with it. I am hoping this isn't going to become chronic as I am feeling so much better overall . If anyone out there can relate I'd love some feedback!

Hello fellow "valveies". I had a successful valve surgery last Tuesday. My valve from the repair Oct.2015 looked like one of the repaired leaflets had folded over itself and suffered from scar tissue damage over the last year. New mechanical valve looks good, I have pictures from the surgery. I've had a number of complications however that have kept me in hospital. needed transfusions day2, BP lows and for the last three days my INR is being super stubborn and hasn't yet gotten to a safe level for discharge. I should have been good to go this past sunday but for this dilemma!