Pericarditis Pfizer vaccine

I had my first Pfizer jab in Feb 2021 & blue lighted into Royal Free with suspected heart attack 6 weeks later. Consultant said it was pericarditis & was an auto-immune response to an infection in the previous 2 weeks. He said it couldn't be the jab as I'd had it more than 2 weeks previously. I have since read that side effects can occur within 7 weeks of the vaccine. I've never had heart problems before. Was prescribed colchicine for 3 months and pain went within a few hours of attack. However still feel a bit off colour with vague achy chest/neck sensations and slightly nauseous.

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I don't intend to have a 2nd jab or booster at the moment. Luckily I can work at home full time and I can retire if I want anyway as I'm 66. I'll see if there is any further research on this and maybe there will be a 'safer' vaccine in future. Someone I know who works in Pharma in his 30s isn't having the jab as he says there should be 5 years trials before release to the public.

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Thanks. I'm having some follow up ECGs soon to see how things are.

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Thanks for the info.

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Yes I did report it on the yellow card system & they did seems to follow it up wanting to know who my doctor was, etc.

[Rolfie]

Hello Easington I was eventually diagnosed with pericarditis after a few back and forths to a and e and various calls with 111 GPS (last July). It completely took me by surprise and was out of the blue. I didn’t even know I had a pericardium! (No previous heart problems either).

Colchicine, a good consultant Cardiologist and several echocardiograms sorted me out. I am none the wiser as to why or how it occurred (common cause is said to be a virus of which I did not have). Covid tests negative and asymptotic test negative.

I’m fine now and happy to hear you are pretty much too.

One of the main pieces of advice I received was don’t try and go back to what you did early eg sport, gardening, any exertion as it simply can reverse everything that is healing.

I too have read what you have. Scary stuff.

Ali

[Hidden in reply to Rolfie]

Hi Ali, glad to hear you're ok now. Perhaps I've gone back to doing sit-ups, etc for 45mins every day a bit too soon. I'll give it a miss for a couple of more weeks & see how it goes.

I do about an hour's walking every day and usually I feel better for it. For some reason I do get good & bad days but hopefully it will fade away in time. Good excuse not to do the sit-ups, stomach crunches, etc too!

[Rolfie in reply to Hidden]

Ha! It’s very frustrating. I’m also an active bod but found even small exertion created discomfort. It’s so tempting to do what you normally do even in the ‘good’ days but you will pay the price and the pain soon let’s you know to stop … but everyone is different so you’ll just have to go with what you feel is right for you.

Good luck and good health. May your condition never return!

[Hidden in reply to Rolfie]

Thanks for the advice. I'll take it easy for another couple of months before I do any more rigorous exercise.

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Hope it goes ok! All the best.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Thanks,

My Cardiologist is being uber careful as I live with an unusual longterm heart condition.

Even after 9 years I still get caught up in the boom and bust cycle. However I have learned the hard way the importance of pacing.

The need to rest, listen to your body's needs, most of all be kind to yourself.

Maybe try some yoga for a while to slowly build up your stamina?

It can be a process of 2 steps forward one step back.

You might find the Spoon theory a helpful strategy.

healthline.com/health/spoon...

[Hidden in reply to Milkfairy]

Yes, wise words, I should slowly build up & not jump in with both feet as I have been doing. Thanks for the link.

[Fish4Info]

TBH, no one can be sure. I was 47 generally fit and well and was blue lit to Milton Keynes Hospital with a suspected heart attack. That was 15 years ago. Within 8 days of admission, it turned out I didn't have a heart attack, but I did have a quadruple bypass in Oxford. Deffo yellow card it as a concern ... but it may be unrelated. Sorry to say. Hope you are feeling better soon.

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I had an xray at the time & they didn't see anything wrong with the heart but I do need an ECG to check it out now. I hope you're bypass went ok.

[Fish4Info in reply to Hidden]

Hi Easington, generally fit and well, thanks. Now at the younger end of beginning to be old (i.e. 62). At the time of the pain measuring Troponin is the easiest way to tell if you've had a heart attack (see e.g. healthline.com/health/tropo.... ECG's can give an indication of blocked artery and other heart problem. X-rays aren't great because a heart is soft tissue which X-rays don't pickup well - though they can be used to tell if a heart is enlarged - which may be how they've concluded pericarditis. I think you just have to take each day at a time, rock up for any tests they recommend, and as for exercise, have a look at this: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo... and google "Perceived exertion". Don't be afraid to exercise, but don't overdo it either ;-). Good luck.

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Thanks for the info. I'll check out all the links. Keep well!

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Thank You Bradee12 for your website for USA. I already have heart issues and do notfeel lead to get any Covid 19 shot. My daughter 44, husband 71, and mother in law 87 got

covid in December 2019. We didn't know it was Covid then. I knew it was fast because

his sister came over for Christmas Dinner from an apt building saying she had a headache.

1-2 day later they were all sick. Later learned some people had died in her apt building. Then, they were thinking it was the flu. I was around them but I didn't get Covid. I wonder why? Husband still has the antibodies to this day. I am thankful for this site about vacines.

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Sorry Lolamoons, I think I missed your reply somehow. Thanks for the info. I'm pretty much ok now thanks. I'm not at all sure about having a covid booster. I've had one dose of Pfizer with possibly bad repercussions and now I'm very wary!

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Hi Ru,

I didn't take zinc tbh but I was on colchicine for 12 weeks up to about the end of June I think. I still had some uncomfortable sensations up to about a 2 or 3 weeks ago but now 5 months after diagnosis I would say I'm almost back to normal thankfully.

I couldn't honestly say I was struggling with it after I stopped taking the colchicine but it was a bit uncomfortable when moving around, getting dressed,, walking etc for quite a long time.

I had an echo a couple of weeks ago and the guy doing it said it looked good but he wasn't a doctor. I haven't heard from my doctor yet so I suppose I ought to chase it up.

Hopefully you will improve a lot in the next couple of months or so. All the best!