Pericarditis; anxious and overwhelmed

[Beloxxy]

Hello! I would like some advice and support/reassurance about my current situation. I had pericarditis a year and a half ago following C word, which resolved completely. I was fully well and due to be discharged by the cardiologist in my next appointment(next week). 4weeks ago, I took the V word and my symptoms returned. Only this time, there seems to be no significant improvement with ibuprofen, colchicine and rest. In the last 3weeks, I’ve been having resting tachycardia (HR 80-120) and coming down in bouts of isolated raised HR of 160-180 lasting a few minutes which happens randomly and sometimes wakes me up. Since my bloods have been fine although ECG positive for symptoms, I have been asked to go home twice from A&E without any further investigations and I am just worried I’m not being taken seriously. I woke up this morning to a pounding chest and HR 179 which made me so anxious. I live alone and I’m so worried and fearful. I am normally fit and well, in my thirties so I feel that makes it easy for me to be classed as low risk but I just don’t feel right. Any advice/ support will be appreciated.

[Yumz199725]

Hi I'm so sorry to hear what you going through it's even worse going through alone 😞. I'm also devasted for you that you have been sent home twice from A&E I can't sympathise enough with you 3 years ago I was waking up and gasping for breathe so I went to A&E and they sent me home twice aswell it wasn't until I had my echo a day later they realised I had a worsening in my leaky valve and pnemonia brought on by a exabberation of my asthma I could of died and I made a formal complaint which I would recommend you do please go back and fight for someone to listen to you because of your history they should at least run tests that's so out of order! 😢😢😢

Hope you get some answers and some genuine help from a doctor.

Take care.

[Beloxxy in reply to Yumz199725]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and offer me valuable advice. I’m sorry you also had a difficult time when you were unwell. It helped me gain the confidence to return to the A&E and insist on more tests. I eventually got a bedside echo there which at least put my mind at ease that things weren’t more complex. I do have a cardiologist appointment soon and will hopefully be able to ask more questions about the way forward.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Beloxxy]

Aw im so glad your were able to get an echo and an appointment with a cardiologist. Hope everything goes well for you take care ☺️

[Hidden]

hi I had pericarditis from the V word you really need an echocardiogram at least ask your Gp to refer you for an urgent one and also to the Royal Brompton Dr Lyon they specialise I’m there cases and will arrange an MRI mine was missed as had normal bloods, ecg and echo it was only picked up on MRI. I too was treated the same by a&e. The V triggers cases like these so in your case it’s not worth the risk in my opinion. I never had c but I got it from the V sadly. Don’t be fobbed off keep pushing for help you can see the doctor privately by remote consultation and generally they will do the tests via nhs you may need steroids as I did good luck

[Hidden]

also take aspirin not ibuprofen as I was advised 300mg daily

[Beloxxy]

Hello. I’m so sorry to hear you also had to go through this especially because you never had to. It must have felt awful and I a know from my experience. I hope you’re fully recovered by now. More awareness and information need to be provided to people about the v word to reduce these issues. I have eventually been able to push for a quick bedside echo which like yours, was also normal and I was made to believe was unnecessary. I think what’s worse is you’re made to feel your symptoms are due to anxiety when you know for certain they’re not. I do have a cardiologist appointment soon and so I will have this discussion about further tests. I do live far from London and so it may not be feasible to get a cardiologist appointment there, however, I will see whether there are private cardiologists nearer here. Many thanks.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Beloxxy]

I also live from far from London my hospital I go to is St barts been going there for 7 years now I'm supposed to have a phone call appointment today but no one has called yet I woke up early especially for this appointment too 😢.

[Beloxxy in reply to Yumz199725]

Hi Yumz. I’m sorry about the appointment. I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation and I will suggest that you contact the secretary of the specialist so that they can straighten this out,

[Yumz199725 in reply to Beloxxy]

Thanks that's very sweet I would do that but anyone associated with my consultant treats me the same I get treated like that by any medical person that's how I was treated in A&E I had a nurse laugh in my face 2 days later I'm in hospital on critical care ward for heart problems. They don't ever take me seriously and I'm done.

[2Livebetter]

Hi, I’ve just been discharged from hospital with Pericarditis which they have suggested was due to C. I completely understand your anxiety Beloxxy, my bloods X-ray and I think ecg were negative but I was still have this crushing painful chest and BP kept shorting up too. I’m 59yr nurse who before C was jogging 3xweek. I’ve not jogged since!!

Now I don’t know whether my chest tightness and spiking BP is due to anxiety?

They did do an echo which found dilated left atrium and regurgitating Mitral valve, this just adds to stress as I need to strengthen my heart through exercise and rest my heart while I have pericarditis? They also did a 24hr BP monitoring which I did it home. I found this reassuring.

So I’m doing daily breathing exercises, journaling and reflection to reduce stress.

Addressing my weight and reducing caffeine, fat, carbs and salt to protect my heart.

Slow daily short walks as my fatigue allows and I’m taking the rest of the year off all responsibilities and work to recover.

Then hopefully fade back to work. I like the aspirin suggestion idea. I’m also wearing masks as there are so many bugs around at the moment.

So personally Beloxxy, you can’t loose out trying to reduce stress. I would ask for a 24hr BP monitor, echo, and MOT bloods to check if anything else is a factor. Just do an e consult request.

Let us know how you get on

[Beloxxy]

Dear Livebetter,

I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with the chest pains and relieved you are receiving the right treatment and slowly recovering. I do look forward to when I would start to feel like myself again too because it has truly been a challenging couple of weeks. It’s tricky isn’t it? Trying to find a balance between rest and exercise or eating a balanced meal for recovery versus following a diet good for the heart. I would agree with you that the anxiety and stress plays a role because I definitely feel much relaxed since having the echo. My heart rate is also more controlled when I’m less anxious. I will follow your suggestions about reducing stress because I find myself googling my condition a lot which I know is not helpful. I am also considering taking the rest of the year off to recover totally because I am a bit of a workaholic to be honest. We do need to prioritise our health. I have stopped journaling for a few days when it got rough but I will start again slowly. I’m so grateful for everyone’s support and advice because it definitely makes me feel less alone and more supported.

[MustyK]

Hi. I suffered from viral Pericarditis for many years. It took several months ; severe chest pain, and two trips to A&E before it was finally diagnosed. I was told that it was common for people who travelled a lot (and I did travel a lot : flight every week). None of the UK anti-inflammatory worked for me. The pain was severe and it can last a few days. Once I was in the US and I had severe pain; I got some Advil (Ibuprofen based tablets) and for some strange reason, it worked. It took close to 5 years before it petered out completely. I was around 39 when I had the 1st attack. During those 5 years, I had notice in periods of extreme stress; then I would have an attack (and that is not surprising). Hope that helps

[Beloxxy in reply to MustyK]

Dear Mustyk, thanks for sharing your experience. That is very helpful and I’m glad you have now fully recovered from the episode. It goes to show how long it can last and how debilitating they can be. My initial episode seemed to be less severe and resolved quicker than the current one but I am slowly getting there. I will take your advice and try some Advil to see whether they are more effective. Best wishes