parcarditis

Posted By Janet on October 23, 1998 at 20:11:05:







My husband (age 33)  had aortic valve replacement (St. Judes)  on 9-22 due to possible aortic disection and heart enlargement from Marfans. He was then readmitted 1week later w/ fluid around the heart .  He now has parcarditis, but no more fluid.  He is in severe pain, mostly after sleeping, to the point he can't sleep more than two hours.  The surgeon has him on ibuprophen and steroids, percocet and keflex.  He keeps telling us it will go away, he knows it hurts, but it will pass. This seems to be slowing his recovery as he doesn't feel like walking or doing the rehab he should be doing.  He is now 4 weeks postop and it doesn't seem like he'll ever get better, or the pain will ever go away.  Do you have any words of encouragment?  Is there anything else we should be doing?  What about heat, ice, etc.   He had a CT scan today, Dr. is sticking w/ diagnosis of paracarditis, but wants the CT just for sure to check behind the incision for infection.  He doesn't want to open my husband up again for the 3rd time only to find his original diagnosis of paracarditis. The pain is terrible, for both of us.  Why do some people seem to get all of the symptoms and others heal w/ no problem?  Especially at 33, he should be doing better.