Hi
I’m 7 weeks post OHS to deal with AVR and a dose of IE, The operation was followed by an aggressive IV antibiotic programme and then 4 weeks of oral antibiotics. As I have completed the antibiotics I was asked to get my bloods done and got the results yesterday showing my CRP level of 52.
I couldn’t get hold of my cardiologist and worried that the IE is resistant to the antibiotics and my IE is back again and obviously in serious trouble.
Any thoughts or experience around such.
Many Thanks
Sorry, I don’t have any experience with this particular issue however, your CRP is elevated. I would give 111 a call, especially if you start to experience symptoms as you may not be able to get a hold of your cardiologist over the weekend.
All the best.
Tos
Thanks Tos, I will keep contact 111 should I experience symptoms, and follow up with cardiologist on Monday.
Take care
Hi. I contracted endocarditis 8 weeks after my first OHS for a mitral valve replacement. I was kept in hospital for 2 months and given iv antibiotics. The antibiotics held the endocarditis at bay but I needed surgery to repair the damage. After my second OHS (to re-do my mitral valve replacement) I then had 6 more weeks worth of oral antibiotics which cured the endocarditis. It took a long time for my crp levels to come down. They were 240 at the height of the infection.
I know that you will be worried about your crp levels but they could be raised for a number of reasons, not least that you’ve had recent surgery and have been fighting an infection. That said, it’s definitely worth speaking with your GP or ringing 111. You should also be guided by any symptoms you have like a fever etc. If you are feeling unwell again you should go to A&E to get checked. I know how terrifying it is to have endocarditis and, like me, you will be worried about it coming back but it is a rare disease. There is no harm in going to A&E to get checked if you are worried. X
Thanks Anon
I’m not presenting the symptoms which I had when the IE first hit and will see how I feel tomorrow. My doctor sent me the blood results and simply said sent to your cardiac team to see if they are happy with them?
I can’t believe you had a 2nd operation and such a long duration in hospital which must have been horrendous.
Was the 2nd OHS any easier to deal with as opposed to the first.
Thanks for your response 🙏
Hi. Thanks for your reply. It’s reassuring that you have no symptoms. As you’ve had endo before you’ll know what to look out for and this definitely places you at an advantage. I’m sure your crp will come down as you recover.
I had sepsis two weeks after my first surgery and was in hospital for 2 weeks. While there I also caught cdiff. These illnesses developed into endocarditis. It was subacute so it lingered for a long time before the doctors worked out what it was. By the time I was admitted to hospital again I was gravely ill and the infection had caused a lot of damage and ruined my new heart valve. When they replaced the heart valve again they cut away all of the infected tissue and then gave me more antibiotics for good measure. I had just been incredibly unlucky.
The second ohs was hard because I was very poorly going in but recovery was more straight forward. I knew what to expect and that helped. This was 18 months ago. I was terrified for a while about getting endocarditis again but that fear does fade over time. It is a very rare disease although there are others on this forum who have had it. The good news is that we’re still here to tell the tale.
You certainly have been through the wringer as has Heedio61, you are right I need to loose the fear for sure but first I need to find out what my CRP was at the height of the IE and get the experts to keep an eye on this.
Thanks for all the feedback you lovely people.
Anon2023 is quite right, your lack of symptoms should be the indicator that you are ok. 111 might tell you to go to A+E but that would be just for reassurance. When you have had IE, you know what to look out for.
As your GP is aware of your recent history they would send you to A+E straight away if there was any concern, when I developed it a second time (FE) he drove me to the hospital himself! No blood test to check etc, he gave his remaining appointments to the other doctors in the practice, told me to get in his car and off we went.
3 months later I was released from hospital, this was after spending 4 months in hospital the first time the previous year.
By the way, how did you get IE?
Hi BigM
Thanks for your reply, must appreciated. That was good service from your doctor, not many would do that 😊 and to spend another three months in hospital having already spent 4 months is fairly severe.
Not sure how I picked up the IE but as I was at severe stage with a bicuspid valve I was fair game for the bacteria, could have been dental work but that was back in May and symptoms started in July.
I hope you are well, all the best!
Don't dismiss the dental work as being the source for your infection, it can take weeks or months for it to develop.
Did you have invasive dental treatment without antibiotics?
I did yes, I was never advised to have them simply due to having severe bicuspid av, I was severe but asymptomatic and they were waiting for symptoms to present before surgery! Then along came IE and forced the issue.
Hoping to get some answers on the elevated CRP today and if I done I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow night.
Still no symptoms which is good aside from anxiety, time will tell.
Thanks for coming back to me 😊
You need to read this:
eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/121...
Demand antibiotics for any future invasive dental work, if they refuse to give them, find another dentist who will.
Hi, Hopefully, the antibiotics have worked judging by the lack of symptoms, but, if in doubt best to do as Anon2023 has suggested.
Unfortuntely, I'm another who had to have further surgery following contracting Endocarditis, so I'm a three timer.
Thanks Heedio61, appreciate the note and yea will take your advice and get it checked asap. 😊
Do you mean endocarditis! Oh my days, hope your ok x
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