An explanation is needed

**GrnEyedDvl** · August 18, 2009, 09:43 PM

Obviously you guys noticed I was gone for about a week and didnt post at all. Since I didnt warn anyone of this I will now explain why.

I have been diagnosed with acute pericarditis which is basically an inflammation of the sac around the heart.

Last week I started having some mild chest pain sort of like indigestion. Later that day my core temp dropped to 94.5 F and I was too weak to even stand, so the wife took me to the ER where they ran an EKG and immediately told me I was having a heart attack since two of the leads reported my heart was in distress.

So I got slammed on a gurney and taken to the cardiac arrest unit where they ran another EKG that reported the same results. They put me under and ran a cathlab up the femoral artery in my thigh into my heart looking for a blockage, but they did not find one. They actually said my arteries looked pretty good. This is when they started thinking pericarditis.

The way they detect that is with a cardioechogram, which is basically the same thing as a sonogram for pregnant women except its done on your heart. This picked up the swelling of the sac.

They punched a hole in my chest with a needle as big as the Empire State Building and drained 750cc of fluid out which greatly reduced the pressure, and have me on indomethacin to further reduce the swelling andtibiotics for the infection, and pain killers that put me out about 30 minutes after I take them. This is the reason for my very sporadic activity lately.

They are not expecting any permanent damage, so no worries there, but I do have an appointment with a cardiologist on Friday to check things out a bit further. I expect no further complications as long as they get the virus killed.

As soon as the pain killers arent making me completely stupid I will try and catch everyone up.

**B. Ward** · August 18, 2009, 10:10 PM

Worry about your health man. TWC will be ok. The explanation is appreciated, but definitely not as important as your health.

**Harry Lime** · August 19, 2009, 02:41 AM

Yeah, don't worry about TWC, mate. Focus on your health & family, they're the only things that matter and get well soon.

**Alex-ander** · August 19, 2009, 03:13 AM

Sorry to hear you have not been well. Get your self right first dont even of coming back to TWC until
you do.

**Arto** · August 19, 2009, 03:21 AM

Hopefully you'll get quickly better.

**Killerbee** · August 19, 2009, 04:07 AM

Holy , make sure you get better , and don't worry bout this lesson or TWC man ..

**GrnEyedDvl** · August 19, 2009, 07:42 AM

I am fine now guys, but thanks.

August has been a rough month, my house destroyed by hail, my car smashed by a truck, and now this. I think I need to go into hiding for a while.

**Theodotos I** · August 19, 2009, 10:02 AM

Will pray for your recovery. Take it easy, man.

**Icedie El Guaraní** · August 19, 2009, 04:34 PM

Wow , i am so sorry GED if you have noticed, i have been bombarding your msn with questions, please accept my apologies, i didn´t know you were in serious pain.

Get well mate TWC is not as important as your health.

**♔Jean-Luc Picard♔** · August 20, 2009, 11:39 AM

Hope you get well soon. I have you in my prayers.

**aduellist** · August 25, 2009, 12:07 AM

Hey, GED. Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. I had acute pericarditis myself about 30 years ago, so I know some of what you've been going through. First time I went to the doc, they thought I had pneumonia. Second time I went, about a week later, they took a follow-up chest x-ray. The convo went something like this:

Doc: I've got good news and bad news.

Me: What's the good news?

Doc: You don't have pneumonia. You can stop taking the antibiotics.

Me: What's the bad news?

Doc: Your heart's twice as big as it was a week ago.

General panic ensued on my part, but I obviously came out of it alright.

Glad you're doing better.