Pericarditis

Just an update as I often see people ask about recovery time, I know that this will vary greatly for each individual, but knowing that recovery (hopefully) will happen (for most) is comforting, well it was for me when I was first diagnosed.

Mine started mid July 2021 with a chest infection (pneumonia), which it seems was a result of a virus, over a couple of weeks this worsened, breathing was badly effected, was sent to hospital where they heard the Pericardial 'rub' and it was diagnosed, so nearly 4 months of NO exercise except gentle walking, on treadmill as easy to control the speed and more recently gentle cycling (on stationary bike), this week started weight training again, first time I have actually felt up to it, done 4 sessions so far this week, mix of weights & gentle cardio, if I feel ok I will push the cardio a bit more each week.

So nearly 4 months to start to recover, assuming I don't suffer a relapse!!

Gaz

[Terrywill12]

Hi Gaz. I too was diagnosed beginning August with minor heart attack and pericarditis. Anyways a different cardiologist repeated the MRI and said I've not had heart attack the scarring is in fact inline with previous inflammation from myocarditis. This was September. I found the meds slowing me down alot especially the beta blocker (bisoprolol). Anyways it's literally only the last 2 weeks I've had a bit more energy and still got odd chest pains if I've overdone it.

I think the best thing to do for people is take the cardiologist advice of 3 to 6 months but expect the 6 months to be the minimum.

Glad your on the mend.

[Hidden in reply to Terrywill12]

Thanks Terry, it's a fine line between pushing enough and overdoing it.Think I was very lucky in so much as I had no effusion and never had chest pains!

Good luck with you recovery 🤞

[Sunnie2day]

SO good to read you're on the upswing! Pericarditis is not 'fun', hopefully this will be the only time you go through it.

Sometimes recovery can take so long the person starts to think perhaps they'll never recover - but unless it becomes 'relapsing' or 'recurrent' (like mine), a one-off is over and done with, just not as quickly as the person would like.

[Hidden in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks Sunnie, I really do feel for you and thanks for sharing some of your tips.

Gaz

[Chappychap]

Hope the recovery progress continues, best of luck for the next four months!

[Hidden in reply to Chappychap]

Cheers mate 🤞

[Scho1]

Hope you continue to improve. Peri is such a debilitating illness.

[uzininemm]

Good to hear the you are still improving and thank you for the positive message.

My circumstances are different in that I have HF however there are similarities. 6 months on and I am much fitter and healthier than I was when I started (mentally too), and feel that I still have some way to go.

I started with gentle walks slowly increasing distance (thankfully it was summer), then some online heart exercise videos, then the cardio team led exercise regime at a local gym followed by joining the said gym, (it's nothing excessive and was designed for me by the heart rehab staff).

I think the circumstances with face to face still being banned really did work in my favour as I was able to start gentle exercise before going (as I said walks and the heart exercise videos) mind you everything I was doing was with the agreement of rehab team who I was having fortnightly telephone chats with them.

The time line you mention to me sounds bout right, the only things I would add is increase your rate of exercise steadily, (listen to your body), don't miss rest days and if you do plateau don't worry, I was finding when this happened, when I was least expecting it I seemed to go up a gear.

[sdonate]

Please explain all about pericarditis for me....\how do you find out you have it ,what are the symptoms etc. Thank you.

[Rain76]

I've just found this post and it was really very helpful. I'm only 4 weeks in after being admitted to a&e with heart attack and after various tests it turns out that was not the case. I have to say my experience with my hospital was excellent but it took a few weeks later to get to my diagnosis of Myo-pericarditis. I just now need to rest which is easier said than done.