Pericarditis

[golf202]

Hi, I have had several cases of pericarditis over the last couple of years, I have pain across my chest which is debilitating and frightening at times, the current diagnosis is chostocondritis, I fear niether is accurate my bloods and x-ray came back clear but my ECG showed a spike. I'm not sure what to think now as I have been given anti-inflammatorys and paracetamol, my work are talking about me going back but I'm not sure I can manage it. Any advice would be much appreciated thanks.

[Sunnie2day]

Have you had an echocardiogram to check for pericardial effusion? Have you been offered Colchicine? (not everyone tolerates it but for those who can it works very well against pericarditis)

If the answer is no to one or both of the above, you might want to think about asking the medic who diagnosed your pericarditis to get you booked for an echo sooner rather than later, and to consider prescribing Colchicine to see if you can tolerate it.

I have recurrent pericarditis since the early 2000s after my first case in the late 1990s. Recurrent pericarditis is usually diagnosed after the initial case completely clears then a few months later a new case 'flares' up. Rinse and repeat three or four times and the medics declare 'Recurrent Pericarditis'.

Relapsing pericarditis is diagnosed when the initial case SEEMS to have cleared but really didn't - the patient will feel a bit better but not quite right after a few weeks with the initial case then worse again. (I hope that made sense!)

Pericarditis bad enough to send a sufferer to the GP is rare in the UK, relapsing is more rare - usually pericarditis requiring medical attention does clear up and never come back - but for some the initial case is stubborn, and for others, like myself, the condition progresses to 'recurrent' and that condition is quite rare in the UK. All pericarditis is so rare in the UK many GPs don't recognise it, and many cardiologists have only seen a few cases in their entire career. We do have a very few pericardial specialists but getting a referral to one really is a bit of a postcode lottery owing to there only being a few specialists in the UK.

Meanwhile, to make things easier for you:

**Sleep with your upper body slightly elevated (a wedge pillow gives the most reliable non-shifting elevation) and if you are a side sleeper, sleep on your right side to take the pressure off your pericardium.

**Avoid heat, humidity, and mould. Trust me. No more hot tubs, no more long hot showers, no more saunas or steam baths. At least until you're completely clear of your current case, and if it progresses to recurrent, say good-bye to those things forever. Trust me.

**Speak with your doctor about reducing your sodium/salt intake. The pericardial specialist in the US where I was first diagnosed put me on a 1500mg sodium (approximately 3g salt) maximum per day and it made a huge improvement in my condition. Don't reduce your salt intake until you speak with your medic - everyone is different and your needs will be different from mine.

All the best to you as you fight this wretched condition off, and please update. I'm going to 'follow' you so I'll be able to stay updated if you start a new discussion.

ETA: If you can work from home, try to do that. If not, speak with your employer about special considerations - you will become tired more easily, and if you try to 'push through' you'll only relapse. Wish I had better advice but pericarditis is horrible.

For the pain, try a hot water bottle. I've recently been given that tip and WOW does it work!

[golf202 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks for the advice will try anything to get better, will update in a couple of days

[Lovetheoutdoors in reply to Sunnie2day]

I'm sorry you have to put up with this in a recurrent way. I had myocarditis in january. First I was diagnosed as having a heart attack as apparently blood results look the same. I took colchicine for 3 months. Before myocarditis was diagnosed i was told I had chostochronditis too. I had different with acid reflux for ages and get now all that pain has subsided. However last month had similar symptoms and was diagnosed with AF. Now on meds for that and never felt better. I'm 71. Hope your symptoms really improve. Jennie

[Lovetheoutdoors in reply to Lovetheoutdoors]

Sorry typos. Different should be suffered and get yet! Over enthusiastic spell checker!!

[Sunnie2day in reply to Lovetheoutdoors]

My pet peeve is predictive text, especially when it decides to override me by changing back to its preference after I've gone on to type several more sentences. grrrr!

I am doing much better, much much better, thank-you for asking I'm on a beta blocker (Bisoprolol 1.25mg+300mg aspirin for angina), the pericardial friction rub sound is gone, and I'm pain free now from the acute flare - happy days and I'm currently focussed on rebuilding fitness.

Myocarditis is a monster quite like recurrent pericarditis, in my opinion (my untrained but 'been there-got the tee shirt' experience) and both conditions made even more 'fun' if there are concurrent conditions like angina and AF. But the medics do persevere (usually) and once they work out all the things going on and start meds, wow does it make a difference in quality of life!

Every morning when I take my little beta blocker and aspirin I send up a little thank-you for modern medicine - like you, I feel better than I have in years.

Did the Colchicine help? I read something yesterday (on a newsfeed with a somewhat tabloidish reputation so I'm not sure if I believe it or not) that some limited studies found coronavirus patients who were put on Colchicine (500mg twice a day) during their hospitalisation responded very well - faster recovery with lower complications and death rates. If true that must be very reassuring to those who can tolerate the drug!