Chest pain only when lying down

[April_May]

Long and boring history, suspected myocarditis causing some dilation of right heart. Was getting a lot of right sided chest pain and shortness of breath during even easy exercise with really high heart rate. As a bit of a guess they started me on Bisoprolol three weeks ago and all of a sudden I can run again! From only 100m to now a few km, which is fantastic. No complaints there.

What’s weird now is that I only really get chest pain through to my back and shortness of breath when lying down. Is that common? Does this go away too as heart health improves? It’s not a big deal, just curious really, given the improvements in my heart rate and ability to exercise.

[Sunnie2day]

You should report the chest pain on lying down to your medic. I have recurrent pericarditis and a dull ache only when lying down (albeit mine is always on my left side, not my right as yours is) is my first sign I'm heading into an acute flare.

Not saying you've developed pericarditis - I'm not a medically trained person, just a patient. The best, only person(s) to take advice from is your GP/cardiologist/cardiac nurse if you have one.

What I am saying is chest pain only when lying down is a signal of something happening that should be reported to the doctors soon. Very soon.

Please update after you've spoken with your medics.

[April_May in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thank you. I did tell my GP yesterday on the phone when I updated him on the improvements in my running since taking the beta blocker and he didn’t sound at all interested. He just said it sounds like it’s improving on its own. To be honest because I’m young(ish!) and slim and female with no vices I very much get the impression that they all think it’s anxiety and I’m making it all up. Even the dilation on MRI and low cardiac index he wasn’t bothered by.

I’m ok if I prop myself up to semi sitting, worst if I lie on my side and just a pressure or ache if I lie on my back.

[Sunnie2day in reply to April_May]

If it continues (or you develop a cough lying flat), ring him back and ask point-blank 'Could this be pericarditis?' - I'm smiling and perhaps giggling the wee bit as it's funnier now than it was, but the truth is during my last acute flare (which I'm now finally clear of a year on!) until I did that ask, my GP and cardiologist both hadn't thought about it being a possibility.

I use a wedge pillow, and I also have a reclining bed rest (Amazon, one of the Heart Stars, MichaelJH has a link to the exact one but if he doesn't post it in, you can find it on Amazon just using the search feature). The wedge pillow is the perfect height for sleeping and the reclining bed rest is wonderful for sitting or sleeping (it's a little narrow for sleeping which is why I use the wedge pillow at night).

[SamBowerovm]

Chest pain isn't always caused by a problem with your heart, but it can sometimes be a symptom of:

angina - where the blood supply to the muscles of the heart is restricted

a heart attack - where the blood supply to part of the heart is suddenly blocked

Both of these conditions can cause a dull, heavy, or tight pain in the chest that can spread to the arms, neck, jaw, or back. They can also cause additional symptoms, such as breathlessness and nausea.instead, embrace anxiety as a part of your life, and then let it go. Scream at the top of your lungs, punch a pillow, stomp your feet, or pound your chest.

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[April_May in reply to SamBowerovm]

Sorry?