Pericarditis / Colchicine

[Challiefan]

This may be of interest to the forum. Other similar experiences out there? What happened in your cases?

I had viral pericarditis which lead to Atrial Fibrillation, and Flutter a long time ago. I've had two Radiofrequency Cardiac Ablations spaced 4.5 years apart. Pericarditis returned - though not viral related this time - soon after the second ablation 5 months ago, so I suspect it has something to do with the procedure itself. Maybe a consequence of mucking about with nerves, but I'm guessing.

It takes the form of sharp stabbing pains which can be quite intense, and which can last for anything between a few seconds to a few hours. I wasn't too worried about it as I knew it wasn't a heart attack - symptoms very different - and I was hoping it would settle down. However, my Doctor has told me it should be taken seriously, so I am!

I've been prescribed Colchicine which has eliminated the pain. However, I also have a consultant appointment next week, and an echo scan a little later. I'm hoping the condition will settle down in time. If it doesn't I'll continue to take advice, and live with it. Still - fingers crossed...

Cheers, y'all

[sotolol]

Hi Challiefan

I had that viral one 1979. Didn’t know what it was back then.

I was going to the coast with the kids for a break. Doctor gave me indigestion relief.

Ended up in a men’s ward!! No room at the inn.

No drugs rest and keep still ! Deep dark ages they had no idea. Found out by a young doctor.

Hence AF. amongst other ailments.

I thought heart attack on the way. They don’t call it a heart attack now it’s Myocardial infarction! Not sure what they call me now. !! I call it heart attack. I like what I know.

Should be taken seriously I was really ill. 👵🏻🙄

[Challiefan in reply to sotolol]

Yeah, it seems such an underhand way of getting AF, doesn't it. But the progress in the last 40 years is enormous. Doctors were saying that AF was a guaranteed early death sentence back in the day. I was told as much by an old Doctor just 5 or 6 years ago.

[Kaz747]

I developed pericarditis after one of my ablations and was put on Colchicine and Prednisolone. The doctor said it was a strong inflammatory response, a bit like an autoimmune reaction. He said it’s rare but sometimes happens, especially in women 30-60 which is the age that women tend to develop autoimmune diseases.

[sotolol in reply to Kaz747]

I was 29 so got in early. Weird eh. 🙄

[Challiefan in reply to Kaz747]

Thanks very much. That's useful to know. Another thing to investigate - which is great. The more I know, the better.

[Cat04]

I had pericarditis & oesophagitis caused by my RF ablation. When I came round from anaesthetic I was in so much pain I was knocked out again with i/v fentanyl, then had morphine 2 hourly, codeine, tramadol etc. After 4 nights in hospital went home, readmitted two days later due to severe pain for a further 6 nights. Echo/bloods showed pericarditis (with effusuion.) After many more tests put on puree diet cold(!) and colchicine added into the cocktail of drugs. I can't take steroids but I believe they are usually given too.It took a good year for the pain to subside and now some two and a half years on I am frequently still aware of it.

[Challiefan in reply to Cat04]

Dear god. That sounds dreadful. Mine hurts, yes, but nothing like that.

What happens if you need an ablation in the future? Can it be carried out without the risk of a reoccurrence? If not, what are the alternatives? Would the risk of something going wrong make you a candidate for a pacemaker?

Whatever happens, all the very best!

[Kaz747 in reply to Challiefan]

I had another ablation six months after the one where I developed pericarditis and I had no dramas at all. Two years later and my heart is behaving better than it had for a long time.

[Challiefan in reply to Kaz747]

That is encouraging. I was wondering if I'd have the same, or worse issues the next time I have an ablation (assuming there will be a third time).

[sotolol in reply to Cat04]

Wow horrible. Bless you.

[Hidden]

Nice yeah I read a lot of afib is caused by infections and a particular virus...can't remember the name... Damages the heart signal cells somehow...did you have it before you got the ablation surgery? Might have Made it flare up if viral was the cause... Nobody seems to get tested for what might cause their afib. No viruses no infections no deficiencies just weird. I don't get it. we know things cause it why aren't we checking for the causes.

[Auriculaire in reply to Hidden]

Looking for root causes of illness and correcting them is not a large part of modern medicine especially if this correction involves lifestyle changes. You see that might result in actual cures, and cures rather than masking of symptoms with lifetime drugs would result in drastic loss of profit for pharmaceutical companies. Through the influence of professors of medicine in teaching hospitals and the overweening influence the companies wield in continuing medical education ( conferences etc) they control medical education to a far greater degree than is healthy. One of my granddaughter's aunts is a consultant pulmonologist and is married to another doctor. She admitted several years ago that they are not taught in med school to probe much into causes - just what treatment to prescribe for ailments. They are in their early fifties so not a very recent trend.

[Hidden in reply to Auriculaire]

True. I only know one doctor and she was in training...she said so many appalling things that are unscientific and oretty horrific but there ya go. It is what it is. so many people don't want to take responsibility for their own health and just want a pill too. I mean there's a huge market for what they're selling. So long as wrote remember its not the only thing you can buy...

[Challiefan in reply to Hidden]

I had the Pericarditis well before the Ablation. I was OK on various different types of medication for a while between the infection and the ablation, but the condition became progressively worse, and an ablation was called for. The procedure made the AF go away for 3.5 years which was a blessed relief - until I had to have it done again.

[Hidden in reply to Challiefan]

Was in inflammation caused by an autoimmune thing or did the virus damage the heart? I'm just fascinated and nosey to be honest. I had read about a virus being more common than realised and dismissed it as probably rare there wasn't a lot of info and it was a very technical paper but they say even gum infections can affect your heart. I've got dreadful gums! Eek! Better be more careful with my teeth as well.

[Challiefan in reply to Hidden]

I believe it was the virus that did the damage. One of those things that happen as we make our way through life - eh? I reckon I've fairly lucky so far. I know a lot of people with far worse conditions than me.

[Hidden in reply to Challiefan]

True nobody gets out of here without a few scars! And at least you know the cause of it which is good.

[dwright12]

After my ablation for flutters, I had pain everyday. My cardio prescribed it and the pain was gone.

[WallMatt]

Yes - I had similar issues after ablation three years ago...taking a deep breath was incredibly painful and on the second day I called the surgeons office. An infrequent thing they said, "we used to give everyone RX for colchicine....here's one for you>" and that took care of it. Now I have in in my medicine cabinet for gout!