HI- I amy be in the wrong forum...but my father has fluid around his heart....

[selmaS]

and I need to know what else is going on. He has "attacks" where he falls or feels like he will and has to sit until it passes. His current heart dr doesn't seem a bit concerned. He said he'd see him in a yr.He has had 6 or more attacks since mid Oct.
He also had surgery on his gall bladder that took too long to dx and correct with the surgery, BUT he still does not feel well. They were going to do another surgery and when they found the fluid they refused to do nething else for him.His overall health is not great, but he doesn't have a foot in the grave??.....what is going on and what can we do?
sorry for all the ?'s, but what is normally done with this fluid?

Thanks,
"selma"

[selmaS]

so the fact that he has these  "attacks"...is of no consiquence?

the once a yr appoint is suffencient?

[xxbowiexx]

i don't see any wrong in seeking second opinion.  Even if the answer is the same, at least you gain a peace of mind.

[selmaS]

...thanks...and yes that is the type of bearing down I meant.

My big question is, y r these "attacks" happening more frequently....and y only once a yr to see his heart specialist anad y r they refusing surgery to correct an issue after the gall bladder surgery?

His drs have not given us an answer....do we need to seek new drs?

I only ask because he is in misery and the drs do not appear to be helping him.

"selma"

[xxbowiexx]

When the doctor told your father to bear down, he is asking him to perform a vagal maneuver.  Essentially, the act of bearing down for say 30-40 seconds as if he's having a bowel movement will stimulate the vagus nerve and it can potentially slow down the heart rate.  Other vagal maneuvers are burping, holding a big breath, etc... that help stimulate the vagus nerve as well.  Since he has a "leaky heart" i'm assuming he's probably have a mitral valve prolapse, which can be one reason why he's suffering from the arrhythmia or perhaps hypertension as well.  Mitral valve prolapse is usually not a tremendous concern.  But it's always important to keep an eye on.  

At the moment i don't have any advice, i recommend that the advices that you get should be directly from your doctor because there are many underlying conditions that most of us on the net are not aware of that can affect his plan of care.  Therefore, seek for knowledge but do not perform anything that you are not sure of, until the doctor gave the OK.

[selmaS]

))))))BUMP(((((

[selmaS]

Attacks= heart races....can't talk.....no pain.....no persperation.....lasts 20 mins.
he was told to bear down to releive  the symptoms.
he has a leaky heart. he had a proceedure to adjust his rythym....(electric something)
his stomach is distended since prior to a gallbladder surgery that took months of ER visits to dx by the drs...he told them he knew it was his GB, but they kept saying no!
He was told he would need another surgery to help with his stomach issues, but once they found he had fluid around his heart, they would not do it.

His heart dr thinkd nothing of his symptoms, even tho they r happening more frequently.Only once a yr visits??....is there something else going on...what can we do?

Thanks for responding
"selma"

[xxbowiexx]

Hi selma, the description that you gave sounds like your father is having pericarditis, which is a condition where there's an increase in fluid in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart.  This extra amount of fluid can create sharp pain when it causes the pericardial membrane to rub against the outer layer of the heart.  Sometimes the pain will ease if the sufferer lean forward.  Since you did not describe your father's "attack" as sharp, or even dull pain i'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing.  

[selmaS]

still praying someone will talk to me......

[selmaS]

can ne one offer some help?

[selmaS]

can u at least direct me to the correct forum , if I am in the wrong place??......I really need answers...my father's "attacks" r happening more frequently.

help