Congestive Heart Failure/Pericarditis

My 70 year old mom who was vibrant and in overall good health had a pacemaker last week. She had a sick sinus node and the monitor showed her having a heartbeat of 30 beats per minute quite frequently throughout the day. This was the reason for the pacemaker. She has been struggling ever since the operation. They say she has medically induced congestive heart failure (from the pacemaker surgery) and they "think" it will get better over time. Tonight she was diagnosed with pericarditis. This has been a nightmare of a week. She can't breathe, has incredible swelling and I am quite worried she may not survive this. She is at a hospital with a great reputation. Is this just something that happens sometimes? Anyone experience anything like this or have any suggestions?

Thanks you!

4 Comments

Better

by qwerty - 2010-12-15 06:12:48

Hope your mom is better soon. Keep us posted.

qwerty

Wishing Your Mother The Best

by SMITTY - 2010-12-15 11:12:05

Hello Shellbell,

I'm very sorry to hear your mother is having such difficult time after her pacemaker surgery. The symptoms you list are classic pericarditis symptoms and hopefully will go away a day or two, as they often do. I don't know why, but it seems the body is sometimes overwhelmed by all that has to be done to help it and tries to go in the other direction.

I'll join many others in praying for a speedy and complete recovery for you mother,

Smitty

Percarditis

by Pookie - 2010-12-16 10:12:14

I was 42 when I received my pacemaker...I am almost 49. I can relate to the Percarditis because it happened to me after my surgery too...just to let you know so you won't worry so much, but having Percarditis does, sometimes, take a long time to recover from. It took me a good 2 -3 months. I couldn't lie down to sleep, and I too had a hard time breathing, and getting comfortable was not in the cards, however, I remember finally being put on Prednisone and that helped tremendously, but it shredded my poor stomach to shreds as it is a very powerful drug...but it works.

Time is the answer right now and you say she's in a very good hospital which must be very re-assuring to you. It's so difficult to watch someone you love go through such a hard time, you feel helpless & powerless, that is what my husband said when I went through my ordeal.

Try and take it one day at a time. I know it's hard. She only had her pacemaker a week ago? - she should be feeling somewhat better in another week or so, which sounds awfully long, but she has been through surgery and is healing within. Again, time, and just try and keep a positive attitude:)

Please keep us posted on your mom, okay?

Hugs,
Pookie

Cardiac Tamponade

by Shellbell - 2010-12-22 10:12:19

Thank you all for your comments. My mom was finally diagnosed with cardiac tamponade and had the fluid drained (which was blood) and a drain remains. But, she is filling back up with fluid again even with the drain in place.

Pookie - I am so sorry you had to deal with this so young. I didn't realize it could take that long to heal from pericarditis. Perhaps, time is the key to her getting better. She is still in the hospital.

Thanks again to all for your support!

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