Pnuemonia post ablation

[Lamplight37]

Hi. Not sure if anyone can advise me I am three weeks post AV node ablation (Pace and Ablate) I was in hospital extra four days because of breathlessness and dehydration. I had a chest crackle but thought no more about it on leaving hospital. Had a rough week felt really ill finally went to GP who diagnosed chest infection (Pneumonia) put on Doxycycline with instructions to go to A and E if breathing got worse. Which five days later I called ambulance because I felt so rough…A and E hydrated me …did ct scan which showed multiple cysts on the liver….still very breathless …they put me on drip gave me antibiotics and eventually said there was no reason to keep me in hospital! ? So here I five days later still wheezing and coughing …very distended stomach ..,swollen legs and ankles ….still not feeling great ….I am at a loss I know Pneumonia is very debilitating …and takes time to get over . The distended stomach is very uncomfortable …..btw the Pnuemonia was hospital acquired …I didn’t go in with it. Any advice would as always be great fully received.

[jeanjeannie50]

I'd give your GP a call today and certainly say about the swelling.

Jean

[BobD Volunteer]

Have you spoken with the people who did the P and A? I wonder if it could be related since I know that pulmonary stenosis can mimic pneumonia. Not sure how much of a risk this is from AV node ablation but best to check.

[mjames1]

Call you electrophysiologist because like Bob says it may be procedure related. I would also put in a call to your GP. If you can't reach anyone, and your edema (swelling) or shortness of breath gets worse, then go to the A&E to be safe. Hope you feel better soon.

Jim

[SeanJax]

sorry to hear about your story. Go back to the hospital since you described crackles in the lungs, out of breath and swollen ankles all the symptoms of heart failure on top of pneumonia. You should be in the hospital now not at home. Need serious treatment and under observation until all the symptoms subside. Best wishes

[Ablation7]

ugh. I feel for you. So hard to get good hospital care these days. You really have to be your own advocate, which is not easy when not feeling well. I just had a sh*t show when hospitalized in USA. don’t take No for an answer from anyone when it comes to your health and you know something is amiss! Good luck and feel better!

[pusillanimous]

I'm curious to know why the NHS prescribes Doxycycline so much when there are so many efficient anti-biotics. I live in South Africa (ex Pat Brit), but when visiting my sisters in England (just before Covid lockdown, I developed a chest infection. My sister made me an appointment with the sister at her practice and she prescribed Doxycycline and inhaler (which I could not use - I'm mildly asthmatic but my Cardio does not allow me to use that type of inhaler as it increases the heartrate- she prescribed that despite my telling her I had AF). When the prescription was filled, I was surprised to see the Doxycycline, as I have only ever seen it prescribed by my Vet for a dog with tick bite fever.! When I got home, I still had the problem ,so I saw my GP, she was surprised to hear I was prescribed Doxycycline,as she and others only tend to prescribe it for Acne these days !!!

[Dippy22 in reply to pusillanimous]

It’s probably cheap!! Cost to be the guiding factor in the way medications are prescribed in the U.K. these days. Oooh, do I sound a bit cynical?!? 🫤

[pusillanimous in reply to Dippy22]

No, I wondered - but the inhaler prescribed was the branded one when there are lots of generics at half the price. Makes no sense to me !!!!!!

[Dippy22 in reply to pusillanimous]

Oh ok. That’s unusual. Unless there isn’t a cheaper version yet? I know that the pharmaceutical companies hold the patent on new drugs for ten years(?) before they can be cloned by other companies for a cheaper price.