Returning to training

[Bazcon]

Hi folks,I'm currently recovering from Pericarditis(7 weeks now) and back doing a little bit of daily exercise again. I'm a 45 yr old Male and come from a high level of exercise. 14/15 hrs /week comprising of strength work and competitive cycling. Has anyone any experience of getting back to normal levels of daily routine and recommended the do's and don'ts. ie to what levels of exertion

[Hidden]

Hi Bazcon you will know your body and how hard to push yourself better than anyone.I train pretty hard 4 or 5 days a week.All I would advise is make sure you warm up and cool down.This is especially important now.Good luck.

[Bazcon in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Really appreciated.

[Sunnie2day]

Hiya, Bazcon. I have recurrent pericarditis and am currently just about fully recovered from an acute flare. Well done you to feel well enough to get started on the road to regaining your previous level of fitness! Well done - however, there are limits to how hard you should 'push' to regain fitness no matter how well you're feeling.

Owing to the pandemic it may be difficult to get into see your GP or the cardiologist who diagnosed and treated your pericarditis but before you get started on building back your fitness level it would be best to at least do a telephone consult. Best of all would be a face-to-face consult so your chest could be listened to for the presence of pericardial friction rub - the surest non-invasive way without an echo to be certain any effusion has drained and the flare has fully cleared. Until then the most intelligent way to move on is to be very cautious, I'm sorry to say.

Pericarditis is a 'not nice' condition and it likes to try to come back especially if the patient tried to push too hard once feeling better. If you've been unwell with the pericarditis for seven weeks, it may take as long again to fully recover - but only if you do not 'push' thinking it is the way through the state of unfitness caused by the illness. Pushing with pericarditis is the sure way to recurrent pericarditis and believe me, you do not want recurrent pericarditis!

Let your body guide you - the second that wretched dull ache in the left side of your chest even hints it is trying to return, the second you feel it's just that little bit harder to catch your breath (even if you have quick recovery on stopping whatever brought on the mildest shortness of breath) - stop and give yourself several hours/overnight to really recover. If it happens again when you return to the activity, that is your signal you need to dial back no matter how boring/frustrating/and well you feel (until you try to push again).

I have to say I hate pericarditis, once you're past it and fully recovered (meaning back to your usual fitness) you'll look back and hate the condition that took such a bite out of your life.

[Bazcon in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks so much. It definitely helps when you hear from someone who has experience of this. Appreciated.

[Bazcon]

Thanks for the reply. Hearing from people who had or have the condition definitely helps. Really appreciate your reply.