Myocarditis

[Hidders]

Anyone who’s had myocarditis did you have any aftereffects showing in scans afterwards? Mine wasn’t picked up when I had it but I had an MRI scan that showed mild left atrial dilation and fibrosis. This is suspected to be from Covid myocarditis or early cardiomyopathy. I am still waiting to see the cardiologist at the moment and feel a bit in the dark so after others experiences.

[Mentdent]

My wife has heart failure post viral myocarditis with enlarged ventricles

[Sunnie2day]

Great answer!

[Hidders]

I have post viral fatigue (ME/CFS) too so staying active is more challenging than it should be but thank you for your reassuring answer

[Sunnie2day]

For what it's worth and I hope helpful:

My cardiologist says he can't rule out my having had myocarditis in conjunction with one or more of my acute flares of pericarditis OR/AND from my bout with Covid; after carefully examining my scan (echo) results - scarring and 'thickening' where pericarditis wouldn't leave such consequences but myo would, he deems the damage 'trivial'.

Also affected is my aortic valve, he thinks the slight increase from 'baseline' scans (owing to monitoring damage from Rheumatic Heart Syndrome) is owing to covid or myo or pericarditis but most likely all three.

I feel a winner for that 'trivial' and despite having numerous acute flares the past two years of the recurrent pericarditis, the other consequences aren't slowing me down as much as some would think possible.

If it helps any at all, try to be careful about physical activity no matter how well you feel, until you've spoken with the consultant.

Also avoid humidity (no hot tubbing or long hot steamy showers), and sleep with your upper body slightly elevated - either a specialty pillow/reclining back rest, or stacking several bed pillows lengthwise down the bed. Oh, and try not to sleep on your left side to avoid putting body weight pressure on your inflamed heart and pericardium. A hot water bottle against the left rib cage area helps ease 'discomfort' (meaning that horrid dull aching that radiates to your left side and alternates with sharp stabbing pains that make you worry you're having a heart attack).

[Hidders in reply to Sunnie2day]

Yes, I’m sleeping pretty much sat up with a hot water bottle but that’s more because on top of everything else trying to do too much when I was fatigued made me fall and break two bones in my left shoulder rather than for heart related reasons. Thank you for the detailed answer and advice.

[Geejay1709]

Hi Hidders thanks for posting, I'm very interested in these responses, as I have viral myocarditis and follow up scan in March to assess any permanent damage. Thank you to everyone too for responses, nice to be forewarned😊

[Hidders]

Yes Covid or more the lack of recovery from it has really hit me hard - the chronic fatigue is from that too as well as the impacts on my heart. I’m managing at home now but go out the house and attempt to do anything active I’m back to square one feeling terrible again.