Chest drain agony

[Wildmeadow]

Drain gone in

Ltr out so far

In agony

Nothing like the pain in all my life

Can’t budge for the agony

All too much today

Xx

[Sunnie2day]

I hurt in empathy for you! Is your chest drain for pericardial effusion owing to your pericarditis?

I've had a pericardiocentesis in an emergency situation and another 'planned' and neither were anything but horrifying. But aside from an awful ache where the drain tube was inserted, the pericardial relief once it's withdrawn is amazing - except for the ache at the insertion, I really did feel as though I could have jumped off the table and walked back to CCU. Of course, once they did let me try to sit up my euphoria ended

Hang in there - the drain is doing what it must and in a few days you really will feel better. Much, much better. Hard to believe the now, I know from personal experience - but I also know you will feel better soon now.

[Calliope153]

Can you ask for more pain relief? Don't try to be stoic. Best wishes for feeling a lot better soon.

[Alisbabas]

Hope you feel better soon x

[Elaine101]

I agree with sunnie2day, I also had an emergency pericardiocentesis, with a litre of fluid removed.

I also felt an instant relief, literally a weight had been lifted of my chest!!!

You will still have discomfort and pain, but remember what your heart and body have been through.

My head was all over the place too, lying in that hospital bed thinking why me, but also I'm so lucky to still be here. ❤

Take time to recover and heal, physically and mentally, and don't be scared to ask for stronger pain relief if you need it.

Get well soon. XX

[Stevo1979]

I had a pericardial effusion a couple weeks after my AVR which required a drain, 2 litres removed, horrible at the time but felt so much better afterwards.

[IrisCarter]

Those drains are so painful. Definitely ask for more pain relief. There is no reason why anyone should be in pain with the medications available.

[Calliope153]

Hope you are feeling a lot better and the drain is out.

[Wildmeadow in reply to Calliope153]

Drain out this morning, resting and feeling a lot happier. Thanks for support, really appreciated. Xx

[Calliope153 in reply to Wildmeadow]

Having a panic of my own today - week 15 of recovery from new valve and graft and no one has seen me since I was discharged. Out of the blue in this morning's post I have an appointment next Friday to have a 72 hour monitor fitted. That was never mentioned...... No idea what it's all about but on the grounds any attention is better than none I will be going to have it fitted. Decided to talk to my inner worrier and think it will be explained when I get there.

[Wildmeadow in reply to Calliope153]

I would be pleased about something like that, monitoring is good to be able to know that all is going well and given you are this many weeks down, it has good omens. All little markers. Xx

[Calliope153 in reply to Wildmeadow]

I shall bear that in mind.... it's just it was so unexpected - the surgical team rang to say next check up would be in Jan/Feb 2021 last June..... so difficult to get an appointment for anything it was a surprise.

[Tessie28 in reply to Wildmeadow]

Wildmeadow, how are you feeling today? x

[Wildmeadow in reply to Tessie28]

A world away from the dark moment of the drain going in. Slight residual pain, Hoping the fluid will not regather. Legs a bit like jelly so just trying to find my deed. Thanks for checking in. Xx

[Sunnie2day in reply to Wildmeadow]

So glad to hear you're feeling a bit better. How long after they pulled the drain did you feel relief from the drained fluid?

[Wildmeadow in reply to Sunnie2day]

A few hours to notice significant difference, 24 hours to really accept I was out of the dark tunnel.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Wildmeadow]

Thank-you for replying For me the relief from the drained fluid was immediate - but blimey the insertion point ached for days!

Still, it definitely beats the alternative. Cardiac tamponade really can kill so I'm glad you were in hospital where they caught it and drained it. My first one was after being brought to ER (I was in the US at the time, collapsed on a walk and was lucky the woman whose house I keeled over in front of was looking out of her window. She called 911).

The second one I 'just had a feeling' it was trying to happen again and got to hospital before I needed to be scooped off the pavement A few hours later I was trying to ignore the topical (I hate needles. I really-really hate needles!), mobile echocardiogram machine to guide the cannula), and the sight of the tube going in reflected in the overhead surgical light.

You are spot-on, it is just like a very long, very dark tunnel. But you're out the other end now

[Smileyian in reply to Sunnie2day]

Wow Sunnie, how come you so much about a myriad of cardiac procedures. Quite amazing !

[Sunnie2day in reply to Smileyian]

Experience is a superb teacher

[Tessie28]

Take it steady. Baby steps xxx