dresslers syndrome

I had my PM put in Oct 27 2013. Four days later got chest pain neck and back pain shortness of breath.Was told must be muscle spasm was told by cariologist to take ibuprophen and heating pad. Got somwhat better. Another 4 days visiting nurse called cardiologist and I was told to got ER at hospital where PM was put in. At ER they did blood work,Xrayand exam was told nothing wrong. That afternoon pain was unreal in middle of chest.Pain got better next couple of days
On Nov 6 more pain called cardiologist assistant was told again muscle pain.I then called a local cardiologist in my small town.He had my come to his office did EKG and exam could find nothing but sent me to small town ER for CT scan GUESS what??? I had Dresslers syndrome or pericarditis.
Was sent by ambulance to Hospital that installed PM and had to have chest tube into pericardiac sac for 3 days to drain fluid.
Also extensive pain and IVs etc.Today is Nov 10 and they took chest tube out.
Hope to go home tomorrow but was told it may occur.
Couldnt find any info on your web site about this anyone have this happen???

1 Comments

Pericarditis

by Grateful Heart - 2013-11-13 05:11:36

If you do a search for pericarditis on this site, you should get some results.

18 days after my implant I had severe pain in my chest, out of the blue. I was progressing fine before that day. I was admitted to a hospital and given all kinds of tests. Like you, they found nothing wrong and sent me home after 2 days.

I went home and waited a week to see another Doctor for another opinion not affiliated with that hospital as the pain got worse. Thank God he listened to me and decided to do an echo. That's when he saw some fluid around my heart. He treated it with extra Lasix for a week and that worked so I did not need to go into another hospital. I was told it is a rare complication after implants or trauma to the heart. Now I know what to look for when it is replacement time for me.

The first Doctor and a male nurse on the hospital staff did not listen to me. I think they thought it was all in my head. If he ordered an echo....that would have revealed the fluid. I believe the CT does the same.

I just posted a similar response to Honey Badger as she has something similar going on and her Doctor is not believing her.

Needless to say, I no longer go to that Doctor nor will I be a patient in that hospital again.

Hope you are home by now and on the mend.

Welcome to the club.....Take care,

Grateful Heart

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