Endocarditis

[Westiesdad]

Hi folks

I'm otherwise healthy but just been in hospital for 3 1/2 weeks on iv antibiotics with endocarditis. Now home on ivs for further 2 weeks. Anyone had similar experience?

[kefalonia1]

Hi, l was in hospital with sepsis then severe endocarditis which ate my heart valves and led to AVR. lt is a long battle but please be patient and rest whenever you need to. lt wipes you out physically and worse - mentally. However stay strong mate, you will get through it but you MUST fight. Everyday when you wake say "l can do this!!!" l am now 19 months on and life is so much better. Take care, Sue.

[Westiesdad in reply to kefalonia1]

Many thanks for that. Much appreciated.

[Mary_Janet]

Hi

I had endocarditis May 2017, was admitted and within 24hrs diagnosed with endocarditis, a bicuspid valve with severe aortic stenosis. The infection gained entry via a lost filling. I did not realise that I had any cardiac issues and that a was a ticking time bomb. I was previously healthy and had a busy family and work life.

As Sue has said , the treatment and the illness is brutal and takes time. Please listen to your body and rest as much as possible, don't try and ignore the tiredness and any other symptoms. It is important that you follow all the instructions you get from the medical staff and you will get there but it's going to take time. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or just need someone to listen.

Best wishes

Mary

[FMW62]

I've had endocarditis twice. In terms of surviving in hospital, my advice is get yourself a fully loaded Kindle with a wide selection of books, and a phone full of a wide range of music, a radio and lots of photos of family and friends. All ways of mentally escaping the ward. Have a range of ketchups, sauces, salad dressings, jams to help make the food more interesting.

My first episode of endocarditis was completely unexpected by me, although I had already been diagnosed with a major heart murmur. I had pushed myself physically beyond reasonable bounds - a hazard of small scale self-employment in a family business. As a result a couple of years later I had a mitral valve replacement, but then a couple of years after that I got endocarditis again, almost certainly caused by having a colonoscopy without an antibiotic first. Now I will have no dental treatment or hygienist visit or anything that might break skin, happens without antibiotic cover.

[Evans90]

Hi Westiesdad,

I had endocarditis in 2015 and had a replacement metal aortic valve. I was in hospital for 3 weeks (on a constant drip every 4 hours) and then also had to go to the hospital for the drips as well. It was pleasant as you are healing from the heart surgery and trying to drag your ass into the hospital but I would assume that this is common. although you can get nurses to come to your house to do it for you but I live in a city where nursing is well under funded.