Fluid round my heart.

[Juliette35]

Hi , I was admitted to hospital last week due to a build up of fluid round my heart. So had to have it drained , I couldn't walk more than two steps as I couldn't breathe. The doctor at the hospital said I need a window ;;put in my chest or on my chest . Got the letter yesterday to say I have the operation in two weeks at Leeds general hospital. As anyone else had this procedure done .l will be having a general anaesthetic and will be in out patients,so I am hoping I will be home the same day .

[ScardyCat40]

I thought you were joking about putting a window in? Can they really do that? Isn’t there an increased infection risk?

Otherwise I emphasise because I have a build of fluid around my lung so have had an indwelling catheter in my chest to manage the fluid

[Juliette35 in reply to ScardyCat40]

That's what the doctor said to me lol, but your reply maybe it's something like you have .

[ScardyCat40 in reply to Juliette35]

Maybe but mine went in under a local but I suppose anything nearer the heart is always more risky. Keep us posted I intrigued to find out what they do. Are you feeling more comfortable?

[Juliette35]

Hi scardycat , yes I will keep you posted unless I forget 🤔 I am sure my memory is getting worse .I first had fluid drained a week before Christmas . But this time he said as there was a lot more fluid it was a lot riskyier. So not really looking forward to the operation. Yes I am feeling a lot better thanks , hope you are home ok as well as can be,with this awful disease. Xx

[ScardyCat40 in reply to Juliette35]

My drain was put in as a day case and the district nurses have been coming out every day for the last 3 weeks to drain off the fluid at home. I say every day for the first two weeks it was every other day but that wasn’t enough.

I am glad you are feeling better.

[Juliette35 in reply to ScardyCat40]

Hi scardycat , thanks for your reply . I use to have the district nurses come out to flush my picc line,,but often as not I ended up having to go to hospital to have it done. So now I go there every week to have it flushed .Also I only had two chemo's to go but my oncologist as delayed it till after my op.😕 sending all my best wishes . Take care . love Julie xx

[ScardyCat40 in reply to Juliette35]

When I lived in Barlick the district nurses would come out to try and flush my portacath. More often as not they couldn’t do it so I would end up going to Burnley to get it done.

I am grateful that the nurses come out to see me every day as it saves me an hours round trip to the hospital every day

[Juliette35]

Just had a look at the letter I had sent , and it is called a pericardial window .x

[kristinaapril in reply to Juliette35]

Pericardial window is to build a fistula from pericardial space to pleural space. Basically it’s a less risky place for the fluid to go - and I presume, that it’s easier to drain.

[Juliette35 in reply to kristinaapril]

Thanks Kristina, do you know how long the operation takes .?

[kristinaapril in reply to Juliette35]

Not sure on the length of time for this procedure - as I only know of the use in combination of an open-heart surgery. In this situation - I do know they put a temporary drain in for a few days to get the liquid cause by the surgery/irritation.

Not sure if you'll have a temporary drain placed - but if so, I'd imagine a day or two stay in hospital!

x.

[Seasun36-uk in reply to Juliette35]

Hi Juliette, not sure...but I think it will be a little ‘hole’ type-thing to allow the fluid to drain out (not build up). I would think they will take a sample of the fluid, to look closely at it - to see why it is happening? ATVB xoxo

[Juliette35]

Thankyou seasun, I have just seen my GP and she said more or less the same. When I asked the surgeon what was causing it , he said the chemotherapy could be a factor .xx