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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Pleural Pericarditis
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Pleural Pericarditis
by Gary__0, Nov 10, 1998 12:00AM
I am a 48 yr. old male. In May-1998 I had double by-pass surgery utilizing the mammary arteries. During the same operation, I also had a large bleb removed from my lung. I have had few good days since. I have been diagnosed with a very definite rub of a "Pleural" nature. Xrays show no fluid in the pericardium. I took prednisone for six weeks, (40 mg/daily) and discontinued use for side effects such as elevated glucose (525), muscle cramps. The steroids obviously masked the condition as I became symptomatic within 48 hrs after discontinuing medication. I have since taken Naproxen and am currently taking Colchicine. I have fevers almost nightly ranging from mild to 102. My chest cavity is inwardly extremely tender. I am very short of breath and have nominal stamina. Any insight or sugestions for treatment/medications would be appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Nov 10, 1998 12:00AM
Dear Gary, thank you for your question. It sounds like you are suffering from post-operative pleuritis (inflammation of the pleural lining of the lungs) and pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardial lining of the heart). Your treatment has been appropriate. Steroids usually work well to reduce the inflammation, but due the side effects you developed, you should not take steroids again. Naproxen is a better anti-inflammatory agent than Colchicine, so I would recommend that you take that instead (but, only your own physician can make treatment decisions). The fevers and chest tenderness are related to the inflammation. With time, however, the inflammation should subside and you should feel better. Good luck!
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
