My Heart! Constrictive Pericarditis! My Heart Surgery!

I had heart surgery for constrictive pericarditis; welcome to (I think) the first "opt-in" to be "grossed out" picture page. This is a page with links to actual pictures of my heart surgery to remove a constrictive pericardium (called "constrictive pericarditis") January 31, 2001. I'm putting it on the Web in hopes it will help others who are facing what I went through, and to calm their fears a little (or a lot).
Yeah, they split my breast bone, cracked open my rib cage, and did heart surgery. That is, the folks at the Swedish Heart Institute / Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA did it. The main doctor was Dr. Ed Rittenhouse. He was referred by my Cardiologist, Dr. Dennis Enonomoto, of Evergreen Cardiology.
The story: For the past several years, I kept feeling dizzy and weak, especially while running, playing/coaching soccer, etc. In addition, I kept going into Atrial Fibulation (an irregular heartbeat). After two cardioversions, Dr. Enomoto decided to do an angioplasti (sp?). While he was doing that, he noticed calcification on the pericardium. After ordering a MRI to make certain, he confirmed, with Dr. Rittenhouse, that it was Constrictive Pericarditis. This disease has been described as having your heart encased in cement or stiff plastic, which limits the ability of your heart to pump normally. I was going to wait until the end of summer of 2001 to have the surgery done, BUT toward the end of January, 2001, I almost fell from dizzyness while walking across a parking lot at work. When I talked to Dr. Rittenhouse, I decided I wanted to go ahead with the operation to remove the sac (the pericardium) around the heart.
Basically, I was told that, while it served as a protection to the heart, it wasn't really needed, and certainly, in my case, I'd be better off without it. He described the surgery as somewhat like peeling the skin off an orange (obviously not quite that easy, but you get the idea!) So on January 31, 2001, I went into surgery at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
Two hours later I came out of surgery. My wife immediately could tell that my color had returned. I don't know what they did in there ... but I do have pictures! So, IF you have a strong stomach, go ahead and click on the links. WARNING! THIS IS NOT FOR THE WEAK OF HEART! There's BLOOD and GUTS .. and it's pretty weird for me to look at, because, well, it's MINE!!
Isn't technology wonderful!?!
To get back to this page, click "back" on your web browser.

The first view! This is what my heart looked like before the surgery. The white junk you can see on it is the pericardium, calsified, scar tissuized, and filled with fiberous material. They don't know what caused it... maybe some childhood virus or something.

The operation starts! Here you can see them lifting the pericardium, as they lift and cut, lift and cut.

And the operation keepts going! They keep lifting and cutting even more. Something like three-fourths of the heart was constricted: covered with calsified/fiberous pericardium tissue.

And here's PART of the results! But only part... that glop below the heart is about 50% of what they cut off!
Well, that's about it! This is not very technical, but if you're heading into surgery, it might give you some idea. Make certain you tell visitors no flowers (sneezing will hurt for at least 6 weeks!) and try to get them to NOT make you laugh, because laughing hard REALLY hurts!
Special thanks to my mother in law who came to help, to C. Petersen who's gone through something similar and who really helped out when I was scared 2 days before the operation, and to my wife who is still carrying the load... and to my kids.
Oh, yeah, if you're going to do this, make certain you have people pray for you. It helps. And I want to thank EVERYONE who kept me in their prayers, and gave me visits, laughter (but not too much!) and LOTS of cool balloons. I know it helps (especially the prayers) ...

My e-mail is [email protected] if you have any questions. I'm not technical, but, hey, sometimes you just need someone who has "been there done that". PS: Once my system started working, my blemishes cleared up, my energy level went WAY up, AND I lost 16 pounds... but it's not a recommended weight loss program!

An update: September, 2002. Nearly 2 years later I am STILL coaching soccer, running around like crazy, confident that I would be sicker or dead if I hadn't had the surgery. This web site is also doing what it was supposed to do: it's put me in touch with people who are considering similar surgery. As I get more time and information, I'll tell their stories as well, when it's okay with them.
I should put in a caveat here: I'm no doctor (oh, wait, I already said that!), and "every deal is different" , "there's no cookie cutter approach", etc. What may be true for me may not be true for anyone else.
But go ahead and write me if you want my 5 cents worth on my experience! I'll answer whatever questions I can!

Heart Conversations: The following are e-mails between Ed in Florida (as of July, 2002, Constrictive Pericarditis patient) and Dave in Seattle (veteran of the surgery). Ed wrote me July 4^th, 2002; I responded the same day with the following e-mail. Our conversations continue through September, 2002. Ed's wife wrote an excellent summary of his surgery, which you'll find in the last e-mail:

4 July, 2002: Dear Ed: I was hoping when I put the Heart page on the internet that I could help someone like you, because I (probably like you) found almost no information on Constrictive Pericarditis when I first did my research 2 years ago. I'll attempt to answer your questions as best as I can; if you and your wife would like to call some time, I'd be happy to talk to you as well. I think the best way to answer will be TO USE ALL CAPS in your message below -- those will indicate [MY COMMENTS], okay? Here we go:

----- Original Message ----- Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 Subject: Heart operation. "My name is Ed < ___>, I found out 3 weeks ago that I have Constrictive Pericarditis, this was after 4-5 months of 3 different drs. dozens of tests. I had in Jan. a viral pneumonia. I then became short of breath shortly after and developed a dry cough. My primary care sent me for stress tests, echocardiogram and chest x-ray. The chest x-ray showed fluid in my right lung, the echo showed I have mitral valve prolapse with regurg. [MY WIFE HAS SOMETHING SIMILAR ... ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT FIXED (IF YOU CAN) TOO?] and my injection fraction was 45 to 50 %. I am told too low for someone my age (56). Then went to a pulmonalogist who taped my lung, not once, but 3 times, it kept filling up. Finally he sent me to a cardiologist. He looked at my echo and sent me for a MRI. The results, Constrictive Pericarditis. The cure, surgery, much to my dismay. Sent me to a cardio surgeon in Lake Worth Fla. Dr. Lance Lester, I and my wife had a 1 hour consult with him. He told us about the surgery, explaining that there was a hard film or covering on the right part of my heart, and it was causing my shortness of breath and the fluid in my lung. [I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE FLUID IN YOUR LUNG. YOU MAY WANT TO GET A SECOND OPINION ON THIS -- I'M SURPRISED THEY ARE RELATED. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AT LEAST NOT THAT I KNOW OF] He said he had to do a periocardio peel. He had to literally peal this off of the pericardium. He would not know until he actually saw it if it was thin, med. or thick. The seriousness of the surgery depended on this and of course my physical condition. (which other than this rare disease I have developed, is good) I had a heart cath. done last week, thank god, not coronary blockage. Arteries are clear. [THIS WAS THE SAME RESULT I HAD. ALL THAT CHICKEN AND FISH MUST HAVE HELPED ... MY CARDIOLOGIST SAID 'YOU LOOK LIKE A FREEWAY AT 2 A.M.!'] My wife asked him how many of these have you done, referring to the surgery. He replied 1 in the last 2 yrs. He did about 20 yrs. ago at Emory Hosp. in Ga. My wife said is there someone who specializes in this. He said no, because it is so rare, actually he has done more than anyone around. [THAT ANSWER KIND OF SURPRISES ME ... WELL, NOT THAT THERE IS NO ONE WHO SPECIALIZES, BUT THAT HIS EXPERIENCE WOULD BE SO LITTLE. I GOT THE SENSE FROM MY CARDIO-SURGEON -- WHO WAS REFERRED BY MY CARDIOLOGIST -- THAT WHILE IT WASN'T COMMON, THAT IT WASN'T A VERY BIG DEAL, AND THAT HE'D DONE SEVERAL A YEAR (HE'S ABOUT 60 YEARS OLD).[NOTE TO READER: You'll see later I misunderstood what Ed wrote … his Dr. was more experienced than I thought!] The Doctor said I was lucky the virus did not attack my heart, it would have destroyed it and I would have needed a heart transplant. (that was the good news I guess) [WOW. I GUESS WE'RE BOTH LUCKY! THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED MINE ... COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILDHOOD DISEASE, COULD HAVE BEEN NUCLEAR RADIATION FALL-OUT (WE LIVED IN THE MOUNTAINS DOWNWIND OF THE NEVADA ABOVE-GROUND TESTING SITES IN THE LATE 50S/EARLY 60S.] We like the dr. he has done about 10,000 hear surgerys in his career, he is about 50. He is chief of the heart institute at JFK Hosp. in Atlantis Fl.It is one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation. All this is conforting, however my wife and I are scared. [THAT'S A LOT OF SURGERIES! THAT'S WHY IT SURPRISES ME THAT HE HASN'T DONE THAT MANY PERICARDIUM LIFTS OR STRIPS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM] Rightfully so, my wife has worked for physicians for about 22 yrs. Unfortunately they are ob-gyn. Drs. I will never need, …

When we went into the internet and looked this illness up we came up with your article. This meant more to us than the articles we pulled up. It is always good to talk to someone that has been there, done that. So could you tell us was your calcification thin, med or thick. Did they tell you this? [ACTUALLY, NO, THEY DIDN'T TELL ME. HOWEVER, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT... IT SEEMS TO BE TO BE PRETTY THICK, PRETTY STIFF, FROM WHAT I RECALL FROM THE CONVERSATION] I am told the surgery is more serious than a bypass, another statement that scared us. MY DR. TOLD ME EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE, THAT IT IS NOT INVASIVE (TO THE HEART), THAT, UNLIKE BY-PASS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO STOP THE HEART, AND THAT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO INTO THE HEART, THEY JUST HAVE TO GO AROUND THE HEART. HOWEVER, THEY ARE DOING NON-INVASIVE BYPASSES NOW, (GOING UP THE VEINS/ARTERIES) SO THAT MAY NOW BE A TRUER STATEMENT ... BUT THE THING I LIKED THAT GAVE ME COMFORT WAS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE HEART AT ALL ... MY DR. SAID IT WAS LIKE PEELING AN ORANGE OR TAKING A GLOVE OFF... THE HAND (AND THE HEART) NEVER GETS BOTHERED AT ALL. How long was your surgery? NOT LONG. I WANT TO SAY I WAS OUT LESS THAN AN HOUR. I WISH IT WAS LONGER (THAT I WAS OUT)(I LIKE SLEEPING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS ;-) ]How did you feel after your surgery, other than the first day? HAHAHA OTHER THAN MY FIRST 4 WEEKS! (IMAGINE SOMEONE TAKING A BASEBALL BAT TO YOUR RIBS. SOMEONE LIKE ... UH... HANK AARON! IT HURT!)(OF COURSE, ALL WOMEN WILL SAY I'M A WIMP. BUT I HAVE A FEMALE FRIEND WHO HAS HAD HER RIBS CRACKED OPEN FOR OPEN HEART SURGERY, AND HAD 5 KIDS... SHE SAID THE RIBS RECOVERY WAS WORSE)(GEE, I'M HELPFUL!) BUT, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE REALLY ASKING IS, HOW DID I FEEL OTHER THAN THE RECOVERY PAIN? MY WIFE SAID WHEN SHE SAW ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER SURGERY, I LOOKED BETTER THAN I HAD IN 3 YEARS. MY COLOR WAS BETTER, WITHIN A WEEK MY SKIN CLEARED UP, I WAS ON MY FEET IN A DAY OR SO AND I FELT A TON BETTER. I LOST WEIGHT RIGHT AWAY, MY SYSTEMS SEEMED TO BE WORKING BETTER, AND WHEN I COACHED SOCCER 6 MONTHS LATER MY 14-YEAR-OLD GIRLS TEAM COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE SAME GUY. NO SHORTNESS OF BREATH, NO DIZZINESS,ETC. I RAN THEM INTO THE GROUND. I WAS READY TO GO BACK TO WORK IN 4 WEEKS WITH SOME DISCOMFORT, BY 6 WEEKS I WAS REALLY READY, AND BY THE TIME MY MANDATORY (FOR MY COMPANY) 8 WEEKS WERE OVER, I WAS LIFTING ROCKS AROUND THE HOUSE AND PULLING WEEDS (NOT RECOMMENDED!) IN OTHER WORDS... I WAS A LOT BETTER! By your letter, it seems you had this condition longer that I have had this. Other thant this disease, were you also in pretty good health? I'M 45, I THINK IN PRETTY GOOD HEALTH, PLAYED SOCCER IN COLLEGE, RODE HUNDRED MILE BIKE TRIPS (NOT RECENTLY), SO I DIDN'T NOTICE IT AT ALL GROWING UP; CURRENTLY AM 5 9.5", 210 POUNDS, 205 AT SURGERY, CAME OUT OF RECOUPERATION (AFTER ABOUT 5 WEEKS) AT 185 OR SO ... I'VE GOTTEN FAT AND LAZY... BODY BUILD LIKE ROBIN WILLIAMS, PROBABLY TOO LAZY FOR WHAT I SHOULD BE, BUT I CAN PLAY A FULL SET OF TENNIS PRETTY WELL... I WOULD SAY I'M IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. The Dr. said they go in just like they do for bypass surgery. Open the chest, separate the ribs, this is all scary. Can you enlighten us on some of this. FAIRLY TYPICAL PROCEEDURE. I'M CERTAIN YOU COULD FIND SOME FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY AND ASK THEM WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. IT HURTS (AKA BASEBALL BAT!) BUT YOU LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT. BUT THE BODY IS AN AMAZING THING... THE WAY THEY DID ME WAS CUT ME OPEN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF MY STERNUM, TAKE A SAW AND SAW OPEN THE STERNUM, SO THE RIBS STAY CONNECTED TO THE STERNUM, THEN PUT A VICE IN AND CRANK IT OPEN (YOU CAN SEE THE VICE IN THE PICTURES... IT'S THE SILVER THING) AND REACH IN AND CUT AWAY THE PERICARDIUM. MY BACK WAS OUT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BECAUSE OF IT... BUT NOT BAD. JUST TYPICAL UPPER BACK PAIN. How long was your stay in the hosp. [4 DAYS, AND I WAS READY TO LEAVE IN 3] and your recuperation period. LIKE I SAID, UP ALMOST FULL TIME IN A WEEK OR LESS, ACTIVE IN 2-3 WEEKS, REALLY ACTIVE IN 4, GOING NUTS BECAUSE I COULDN'T GO TO WORK IN 5 WEEKS! DON'T TRY TO PUSH IT, THOUGH. TAKE SOME TIME TO RELAX. I STARTED WITH SHORT WALKS UP & DOWN MY STREET. WHEN YOU GET TIRED... REST! IT SOUNDS STUPID, BUT WE ALWAYS TEND TO SAY "I CAN WORK THROUGH THIS FATIGUE". DON'T! I DID ONCE, AND I PAID FOR IT (IN PAIN) FOR THE ENTIRE NIGHT. THE HARDEST THING EARLY ON WAS TO GET PEOPLE NOT TO MAKE YOU LAUGH. THAT REALLY HURTS! ;-) SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO BE SOMEWHAT CREATIVE ABOUT ... BUT YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT. UH, NO LIFTING MILK JUGS OR ANYTHING HEAVIER FOR ABOUT 4-6 WEEKS... AND EVEN AFTER THAT YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART... AND YOUR RIB CAGE!! We would appreciate hearing from you. My email address is < ___> We are eagerly awaiting your reply. HOPE THIS HELPS! DON'T BE FRIGHTENED. I'D A LOT RATHER GO THRU THIS THAN BY-PASS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF HEART SURGERY. I ASKED THE DR. WHAT THE POST-OPERATION RESULT WAS... WHAT COULDN'T I DO NOW. HE SAID "YOU CAN NO LONGER PLAY FULL-CONTACT TACKLE FOOTBALL, RUGBY, OR ANYTHING SIMILAR!" oH, LIKE I WAS GOING TO DO THAT ANYWAY! LET ME KNOW IF I CAN GIVE YOU OR YOUR WIFE ANY OTHER INFORMATION

Dear David: Thank-You for answering my email so quickly. It was a pleasure reading your reply. First of all let me make a couple of statements I made more clear to you. The doctor doing my surgery meant that the surgery to peel was more difficult to do, meaning for him. It was a tedious procedure, and it took long sometimes, depending upon the amount of calcification. He has done yes, 1 in the past 2 yrs. but he had done about 20 at Emory Hosp. in Atlanta, Ga. Why he has not done more here in Fla. I do not know. Since he has done over 10,000 heat operations in his entire career. The cardiologist who sent us to him also said it was just like "peeling a orange" again how thick the peel is, is to be seen at the time of surgery. As far as my fluid in my right lung, or right plueral effusion, we had 3 opinions on this. One from the pulmonalogist, one from the cardiologist, and one from Dr Lester the heart surgeon. The reason, if I can explain this intelligently is, the constriction on my heart is not allowing it to beat, or squeeze properly. That is why my ejection fraction is 45 to 50%,for my age it should be at least 55 to 60%. When the heart squeezes it pumps blood into the system, and pumps out the fluid. If you look on the internet at some of the symptons, plueral effusion, in the right lung, swollen ankles,(which I have) and fluid in the abdomen sometime, which I had. I am on 20 mg. lasix per day to keep this all at a minimum .Also I have in my neck veins that are distended. from the poor lack of circulation. (DAVE'S NOTE: I HAD THIS TOO). Actually my shortness of breath was just a small symton. .So yes, the plueral effusion is from the constrictive pericarditis. Not all people get this, I never had chest pain, and some people do. My wife as I said works for drs. (the wrong kind ) but she scheduled surgery for them and often is present during the drs. consultations. She knows the dr will always say what could happen, gives the worst. and always adds, "now this surgery may not relieve your symptons" Actually they cannot guarantee you everything will be all right, but you still want to hear that it will be. Did they ever tell you exactly how much , I am sorry, I just read your answer, no. I also got from the conversation from the Dr. that he felt it to be serious, however he felt he would have not trouble dealing with it at all, that is when he mentioned the amount of surgeries he has done. He is extremely experienced, I guess I was looking for guarantees and there are none, as is in any surgery. My surgery is July 17th. at JFK hosp. , you said the hospital stay was approx. 4 days, He said 5 to 7 , again giving the worst , and if its shorter, we are pleased. If he said 3 to 4 days and its longer we are disappointed. Drs I am told by my wife do things like that. Again thank you so much for your input. Yes we would like your tele# so we can talk to you. I am not sure where you live now. I have the surgery, my wife plans on staying down in Atlantis Fla. for a few days, the drive back and forth is about 1 1/2 hrs one way, and after a day at the hosp. she would rather stay down there. She will let you know, if you like on the outcome. We live in a place called <____>. If you can think of anything else to "cheer me up" please feel free to e-mail me. I will be checking my mail daily. Thanks again and lets keep in touch. We seem to have something in common, even if it is a calcified pericardium. Ed

Dear David: I want to get this off quickly. Again thanks for your quick reply. Believe it or not I did forget to ask you a couple things. The doctor told me that I will have a chest tube after the surgery for a day or two. Did you have this? [I DID BUT I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING IT IN VERY LONG… I JUST HAVE THE SMALL SCAR TO SHOW FOR IT] He said that that is always necessary following this type of surgery. Also after the surgery I will be on a ventalator for just a few hours ( of course I will be out of it, so I won't know it) they take it off as soon as it it safe. Do you know if you had that? [I DON'T KNOW IF I DID OR NOT… I ASSUME I DID] I will keep your number, and I will be calling I am sure. We have to go now, but I will be e-mailing you again soon. Actually my wife has most of the questions. Thank-You.

Dear David: The past few days have been very busy ones for us, trying to get things, and our thoughts together. Today at 8:00 Am I went to the hospital for my preadmit. You know the blood work, questions, Ekg, Abg's (breathing tests) Spoke with the nurse practioner, and also the cardiac nurse, who was very helpful and informative. They gave me a binder with information in it, a short movie to watch about when you are admitted, and an incentive spromoter to use today, and tomorrow. I am suppose to breath out and put this mouth piece into my mouth and suck in, I am to raise the little ball to where it says 2500. Then after surgery I am suppose to do this every hour to keep my lungs clear. [I HATED THAT THING! IT HURT!! BUT IT FELT SO GOOD WHEN I COULD KEEP IT AT 2500 FOR A WHILE!] I am to be at the hospital 7:00 Am Wed. July 17, they said it takes from 1 1/2 to 2 hrs to prepare me for surgery. They will give me versed, in my IV in my room. This is a amnesiac drug. My wife has your telephone #, so probably as soon as I am out of surgery and she talks with the Dr. and sees me, she will start to make some calls, however, what time that will be I do not know. If its not feasable that day, she will call the next. I was told by 3 different people when we were there that Dr. Lester is the best there. One said if she had to have anything done to her heart, it would be by him. Another one said he is considered a "god" in heart surgery. Funny, (not ha ha) but in spite of this I am still so nervous, and apprehensive. My wife is even more so. I wish it were all over. Well, with the help of prayers, and skill I hope to get through this . We will keep your posted.

Dear David: Wanted to keep you up to date on Eddie's progress so far. He came home on Wed. July 24th. So far he is doing good. We had a visiting nurse come out yesterday per drs orders, he wants one to come out 3 X a week for 3 weeks. Of course that is if the ins. gives it ok. You know they know better than the Dr.. So we will take it as long as the ins. says it ok. When they do not come, I get his temp. pulse, blood pressure and weight and record it. Have to watch for a 3-4 lb. gain in a week. indicating he would be collecting fluid. However, so far his lungs sound clear, something they have not been in 7 months. Its amazing, swelling in stomach gone, as well as ankles, the veins on the side of neck do not bulge anymore, all the spider veins in his legs, gone. His color is not bright red anymore, but a natural rosy color. The doctor sent us pictures on the e-mail of his surgery. We will be sending them to you soon, when you see them you will be amazed at the thickness of this mess. Dr. said it was 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 " thick in places, it was all over his heart, the front, back, sides and even up into his bronchial tubes.(not sure is i spelled that correct). It shows on the pictures the thickness, and its quite clear. I honestly do not know how he could breathe at all. I am sure eventually his heart would have not been able to survive the constriction. Thank the good Lord the cardiologist found it. The doctor who performed the surgery is wonderful. I as you know work for Drs. and I must say I have never known one to spend 18 hrs a day at the hospital, either in surgery or caring for his pts. One evening Eddie went into Atrial Fib. (rapid heart beat) at 12:15 am. they called Dr Lester because he was in the hospital finishing up an emergency surgery. He told them what to give him and took care of the problem for then. He developed this 3 other times in the days that followed. Per Dr. his heart is now irritated because of all the pulling, cutting, etc. so it will do this. The gave him a medication called betabase to take 2 daily for a while and so far so good. He also had a bit of a problem with the two chest tubes they put in. It seems that Dr Lester's phy. assistant, came in the day after surgery and started to remove them, cutting a stich, they stopped him saying Dr. Lester did not want them removed yet, due to the nature of the surgery, I guess bypass gets them out 1 day post op. Well because of his honest, but costly mistake, the Dr thought he developed a small air leak in his lung, which turned out to be a air leak aroung the hose the pa cut. Then it started to seep all over his bed clothing, and one day he stood up and one of the hoses just fell out of his stomach. ( which I am told is a first) They called Dr Lester, he seem a little upset this happened, and told the pa that he might as well take out the other hose. So he did. Dr Lester said he would have taken them out the next day, but now we needed to watch and make sure the fluid did not build up in the lungs, he said probably the body would absorb the fluid and put him on an anti-inflamatory (indicine) 3 x daily to help with the fluid. He said when you do this type of surgery, as extensive as Eddie's was it caused irritation to the lungs as well, and also the hoses alone irritate the lungs. So again, so far so good. I called and made appts with the cardiologist next thursday, and Dr Lester next Friday. In the mean while he is taking small 10 min walks 3 times the first week, and again so far he is doing ok with that, He also uses the incentive speromoter 4 to 5 times a day, and today has made it up to 2000. He eats well, and he is getting excellant care from yours truly. Right now he is the king, but when all this is behind him, the queen will get her chance to sit back . Well, as I said I wanted to give you his progress, and yes you can use our letters in your E-mail. If it helps others as your letter helps us we will be willing to do anything. Write us when you have time. I will continue to keep you updated.

22 August 2002: David,
I am trying to send you my operation pictures again,I have tried before but I didn't hear from you and I didn't know if you received them. I am doing O K, 5 weeks & 1 day and counting. I was told by my doctors that I can return to work on Sept. 3 rd. on light work duty, no heavy lifting. Again my wife and I thank you for all of your help and advice, it was invaluable to us! Please let me know if you receive the pictures.
Thanks again, Eddie

10 Sept 2002: Dear Dave , Thanks for the E-Mail, yes back to work and doing better than I have for years!!!! Sorry I left out your question on thick my calcification was ? Mine was 1-1/2 " thick on the back of the heart and up to 1" thick on the rest of my heart mainly on my right side. I am doing great ! I am up to 3 miles a day on the tread mill in 40 minutes,and 2 miles on a stationary bike in 10 minutes. I start back bowling next week!!! This is my second week back to work and I am 56 years old.

Eddie

Dear <___> The reason I am writing to you is to hopefully give you some information that will help you and relieve some of your anxiety. My husband was diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis after a 5 month illness. He too was filing up with fluid, legs, ankles, stomach, and lungs. He coughed all the time, and was very short of breath. He had ekg, chest xrays, cat scans and went to 3 different doctors. His lungs were so full of fluid that he had to have them tapped 3 times. Finally they sent him to a cardiologist who reviewed his echo and sent him for a mri. It came back positive that he had this disease. He was told he now needed a heart cath. to see if he had any blockage along with the pericarditis. I work for Drs. in Stuart Fla. and knew that JFK Hospital in Atlantis Florida had a wonderful heart institute. So we went down there.

He first had a consultation with Dr. Lance Lester, a wonderful heart surgeon. He explained all about the disease, the causes, the surgery, the pros and cons of the surgery. He said yes it was a rare thing to have, however the chances of his survival was 97 1/2 %. Pretty good odds. He also said he had performed 20 of these such operations at Emory University in Ga. before he came to Fla. These constrictions were caused by the betadine solution they used in other surgeries that they put on the pts skin to sterilize and cleanse it, some of it getting inside the chest. He performed one before my husbands in Atlantis at JFK. He has performed more than 600 open heart operations per year. He is a great surgeon and head of JFK heart institute. His father was a heart surgeon and well as his grandfather.

The heart cath. was set up, and went very smooth. My husband said he felt nothing. The Drs who did it were very king and caring. Luckly he had open arteries, and no blockage. The surgery was then set up. Dr. Lester said he had medium build up. He went in to the hospital on July 17th.the same day of the surgery. His surgery lasted about 3 hrs. The doctor came out and told me he had at least one and a half inches of calcification all over his heart, including his diaphragm. He said the surgery went well.

My husband progressed very well, had chest tubes to drain the fluid in the lungs, for maybe 4 days. All other tubes were removed either the day of surgery or the next day. He went to his own room the day after surgery. He went home 6 days later. He felt 100% better right away. All the fluid gone, no more coughing or shortness of breath. No more beet red face. He just improved every day.

The scar is almost non visible. Dr Lester (per the visiting nurse) does a very neat incision, using a dressing with gold in it and it stays on for 1 week. This makes the incision neat and almost invisible. This letter is to help you, when we read of your fear (which is very normal) we wanted to let you know there is a doctor or doctors that do this surgery. From what I can read in the article I think my husband's build up was thicker then what you have and look at his recovery. He is back to work (after 6 weeks) and doing all that he did before. He was told he cannot ever play tackle football. He never played it before, so not big loss. You are living a nightmare I am sure. Please believe me when I say all will go well if you can find the right dr. Please let us know if we can be of any help to you at all. I hope we can help you and this letter gives you some positive feelings. By the way my name is Judy and his is Edward, He is 56 yrs old. no youngster and he came through this fine.