Jim's Posts

Hello fellow Heart Valve Brothers and Sisters. I was wondering if anyone else that had minimally invasive Mitral Valve surgery has had recurrent issues with pleurisy? Since January, every month, I've gotten at least one bout of pleurisy that gets somewhat better, and then comes back. Usually worse than before. I've been on Prednisone each time in January, February, and in March the pleurisy was back on the 17th (Happy St. Pleurisy Day?!!). I went back on Prednisone the 19th-24th. It got better but I can't say it went away. In the early am of Mar. 27th I had the worst case of it I've had and it woke me up. So, Mar. 28th back on Prednisone thru April 2nd. On March 29th I went to see my cardiologist again, and he put me on Colchicine. He said it's usually prescribed for gout, but has been helpful in some patients to get rid of pleurisy. Here it is, April 6th and it's slowly getting worse again. I'm scheduled for another echo on April 17th. Has anyone other Mitral Valve patients experienced this? If so, what did it take for you to be rid of it once and for all? Thanks for any input.