Hello all,
I am four weeks post-op today, from the AV repair, and three weeks post EP/ablation. Have been having lots of, what felt like, irregular heartbeats, so to be sure, my cardiologist had me come in, and ran some ECG strips. Good news: I'm NOT in atrial fibrillation, but my heart rate is all over the place. Anywhere from 49 to 107, within the 10 minutes they were monitoring me. When I left Mayo, my ECG showed a "short PR interval", which they interpretated as "junctional", and that appears to still be the case. Also, when I left Mayo, I had a small pericardial effusion, but an echo done Friday, shows more effusion.
I asked my Dr (who is also someone I work with......I'm a cardiac sonographer) if I am experiencing Dressler's Syndrome, and he said "Yes. That happens when you're in the medical field" (his attempt at a joke. He says if anything is going to go wrong, it goes wrong on people he works with, and/or are friends with).
Bottom line: I know all of this is common, and to be expected, AND will all resolve, but, not gonna lie......feeling a little bummed. I thought I would feel better by now, but still short of breath, and still having pain in back, and chest (probably from the effusion). PLUS, I'm sick of being home! They said I might experience some depression, but I also feel kinda mad. Mad at my slow progress. Mad at being bored. Mad at not sleeping well.
On a positive note, our friends and family have been fantastic. They have provided dinners for us, since we've been home, and been very supportive.
Okay, thanks for letting me vent. I know this will pass...........I appreciate having this forum to be able to say how I'm feeling, to people who can possibly relate. Hope everyone is doing well! Cherie
I am four weeks post-op today, from the AV repair, and three weeks post EP/ablation. Have been having lots of, what felt like, irregular heartbeats, so to be sure, my cardiologist had me come in, and ran some ECG strips. Good news: I'm NOT in atrial fibrillation, but my heart rate is all over the place. Anywhere from 49 to 107, within the 10 minutes they were monitoring me. When I left Mayo, my ECG showed a "short PR interval", which they interpretated as "junctional", and that appears to still be the case. Also, when I left Mayo, I had a small pericardial effusion, but an echo done Friday, shows more effusion.
I asked my Dr (who is also someone I work with......I'm a cardiac sonographer) if I am experiencing Dressler's Syndrome, and he said "Yes. That happens when you're in the medical field" (his attempt at a joke. He says if anything is going to go wrong, it goes wrong on people he works with, and/or are friends with).
Bottom line: I know all of this is common, and to be expected, AND will all resolve, but, not gonna lie......feeling a little bummed. I thought I would feel better by now, but still short of breath, and still having pain in back, and chest (probably from the effusion). PLUS, I'm sick of being home! They said I might experience some depression, but I also feel kinda mad. Mad at my slow progress. Mad at being bored. Mad at not sleeping well.
On a positive note, our friends and family have been fantastic. They have provided dinners for us, since we've been home, and been very supportive.
Okay, thanks for letting me vent. I know this will pass...........I appreciate having this forum to be able to say how I'm feeling, to people who can possibly relate. Hope everyone is doing well! Cherie
