Pericarditis - well I'd not heard of this 3 weeks ago ...

[Mezle]

Hi guys, my first post to this site. I guess I'm looking for advice/reassurance really as I don't know anyone with this condition.

I was diagnosed with acute pericarditis 3 weeks ago, after 5 GP visits, 2 A&E visits with one hospital admission. Currently taking Colchicine, Ibuprofen and Co-Codamol for pain. Still feel so dreadfully ill, constant pain in chest and back, palpitations, lightheadedness, extreme tiredness. Is it normal to feel this poorly after 4 weeks (3 under treatment)?

I'm getting plenty of 'rest' as signed off from work at the moment. However no follow-up received from cardiologist as yet. I understand it's not an urgent case and non life threatening, but as I've no improvement, how do I know if the drugs are working or if it's getting worse?

Not normally one for this sort of thing, but feel a little bit isolated (GP just printed off a leaflet and told me to read up about the condition) - thanks for any replies I really do appreciate it xx

[AlibaliM]

Hi unfortunately I too have had pericarditis. I had 2 courses of colchicine, cannot tolerate ibuprofen and took co- codamol. I developed it after small heart attack in March. It does take a long time to improve. Try not to exert yourself in anyway. I’ve had better days now but the chest pain and upper back pain still comes and goes when I exert myself, sometimes on simple tasks like hoovering or hanging up washing which is very frustrating.

[Mezle in reply to AlibaliM]

Thanks AlibaliM I will. I know it takes time or it could set you back.

You've had a rough 6+ months haven't you. Fingers crossed you're much better now!

[AlibaliM in reply to Mezle]

Getting there thanks

[Snowyp]

Hi Mezle, I was in exactly the same place that you are last November. I got a mystery virus at the beginning of November. Back then I was very fit and active. After getting the virus I couldn’t do anything except sit propped up on the sofa for weeks and weeks. The drugs took a long time to work but I gradually improved. The virus eventually goes but I was still left with the fluid in the pericardium. The gains were slow in coming I admit but I was feeling greatly improved by Christmas. I was able to go skiing over new year period. Unfortunately later in January the pericarditis came back due to over exertion when cycling I think. It came back several more times but I am free of it now. I am now back to trying to get fit again after pretty much 9 months of not being able to train. Good luck. There is light at the end of the tunnel

[Mezle in reply to Snowyp]

Thanks Snowyp - I’m so pleased you are now better & it’s very encouraging to know that my sitting, resting & waiting is going to pay off. You can’t imagine that you we’re fine before & now after a shower & walking downstairs you’re shattered. Particularly after 4 weeks. Fingers crossed it improves soon x

[Snowyp]

Another note is that I cutting out all caffeine will help recovery in my experience. I just couldn’t shake the pericarditis until I cut the caffeine

[Mezle in reply to Snowyp]

Ok that’s interesting to note too. I had already thought that the caffeine added to my palpitations so I will cut them out. Thanks again!

[Dockdog]

Hello Mezle, just catching up on this, pericarditis is a really scary condition with a number of causes, typically viral or bacterial. I flew back from Dubai perfectly healthy, next morning felt like a cold or flu kicking in, took some paracetemol felt better but a day later thought I was having a heart attack with chest pains and total loss of strength. The hospital thought pneumonia to begin with but next day it was defined as pericarditis "probably" viral or bacterial! I recovered slowly feeling very tired and on antibiotics, etc. Echo cardiogram showed heart was not damaged. In fact I never made a full recovery and over successive 5 years developed firstly pleaural effusion in right lung which finally got treated with a pleuradectomy where the pleura is glued to the wall of the chest cavity using talc. All that did was transfer the effusion to my left lung! All this time my breathing got worse and my energy levels and physical capability severely diminished. Heart monitoring showed all was well though the electical output seemed diminshed under test. Every winter saw me have pneumonia or severe chest infections. Various NHS specialists went through the box ticking exercises without diagnosis of the real problem over this time. A variety of opinions, lung cancer, asbestosis and so on -all scary and all incorrect. I was on foresemide to reduce the pleural effusion. Finally taken seriously ill off a cruise ship in Lanzarote with ascites -drained off 10 litres from my abdomen and diagnosed severe liver disease! Flown home after 10 days and a liver specialist found severe scarring to the liver and inflamed pancreas! As this was not caused by alcohol abuse it only left portal vein overload -so why was my heart giving this problem but not showing signs of failure? More head scratching! Finally I went private to see a top physician who after MRI scans and tests introduced me to a colleague who finally arranged further MRI scans at the Brompton where he had trained- they confirmed I had constrictive pericarditis where the liner thickens and restricts the heart's capacity to beat and pump adequately. It is very rare in the Western world and more common in the Middle East where I had spent many years travelling and working. Finally this year I had a pericardiectomy at the Brompton under the NHS and now after 7 months I start to feel quite some recovery. So my advice is do monitor yourself after this attack to ensure hopefully there will not be a future longer term problem. I really empathise with your problem and good luck for the future

[Mezle]

Wow Dockdog you certainly went through it to say the least. Hopefully you’ve made a full recovery now? It’ll be 4 weeks since being diagnosed next week with 5 weeks of the symptoms (early days for most I guess) but I’m very surprised that given no improvement that I haven’t had a cardiologist follow up yet? I’m amazed actually. Dr’s still awaiting my discharge letter!!! Until then they can’t do anything