Pericarditis : Hi So not quite three... - British Heart Fou...

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Pericarditis

themymble profile image
11 Replies

Hi

So not quite three weeks after my heart attack and stent I was admitted back into hospital, had a raft of further tests and discharged three days later being told I have pericarditis.

I feel like I have taken a million steps back and feel dreadful. I have medication (the gout medication which kind of ticked me!) but finding it a struggle with the pain and the feeing of having my recovery knocked back. I am not so much asking for advice as I am following everything I have been told and taking all my medication just reaching out to anyone who has had the same happen

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themymble
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11 Replies
Tos92 profile image
Tos92

Hi themymble

I’m sorry to hear about your recent heart attack.

Although I have not personally had pericarditis, there is this information on pericarditis below on the BHF. The possible causes are also on there, and injury to chest is one of them, although rare. I wonder if it’s your body’s reaction to having the stent procedure? Though having a virus and inflammatory conditions as stated in the site seem to be more common causes.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

I hope others with experience of pericarditis come by shortly to share their stories.

Just think of this as a small glitch in your recovery and you’ll be on your way to a smooth healing process soon.

All the best.

Tos

Hi there,

I wouldn't wish pericarditis on anyone, it's quite a unique pain and difficult to explain unless you've been unfortunate enough to experience it...

I found the colchicine helped me within a couple of weeks, bit I do still get pain that I manage myself and will stay on colchicine longer term to try to beat it.

I could suggest investing in a wedge pillow if you can - I got one of amazon for about £45 and it was a game changer for helping me sleep... couple of normal pillows on top for side sleeping

Westie2012 profile image
Westie2012 in reply toCaptain_Birdseye

I’ve never felt so unwell as I did when I had peri, it’s an awful illness to experience . It’s very difficult trying to explain how the pain feels to others , and it’s such a long recovery . Hope you’re doing as ok as possible

Westie2012 profile image
Westie2012

So sorry to hear you’ve been through so much , as if one traumatic scary cardiac event wasn’t bad enough then you have this to cope with. I needed a pacemaker then due to complications I developed pericarditis so had a much longer recovery from the pacemaker procedure . Being so unwell with pericarditis was a very difficult time , I also had a pericardial effusion . It took me many months to recover physically and emotionally , if I did too much at home because I’d felt a bit better and thiought I’d be on to do some housework then a day or so later I’d be in more pain . Complete rest in the early weeks was vital , I wasn’t told this until I ended up back in hospital a further two times . I was put on colchicine which is used for gout , I needed strong pain relief . Sleeping as upright as possible helps reduce the pain , I have a v shape pillow that really helped . Take it very easy , do nothing at all , I remember just walking across the landing to the bathroom and back tired me out the first week or so after discharge .

Echo24uk profile image
Echo24uk in reply toWestie2012

can I ask what your symptoms were

Westie2012 profile image
Westie2012 in reply toEcho24uk

I had pericarditis and a pericardial effusion , I think my problems were more from the effusion . When I was first diagnosed with pericarditis I felt sudden left sided chest pain , if I lay down too flat the pain was worse . Very sharp stabbing g type pain .

VelvetSky profile image
VelvetSky

I had a HA and a few days after discharge I was back in hospital with Pericarditis, Dressler’s Syndrome, this was in 2019, it certainly takes some time to get over it, lots of resting and small steps getting back to normal. You soon know if you are doing too much. I’ve only had one reoccurrence since then, I rested and got over it. Big hugs it will improve for you.

Echo24uk profile image
Echo24uk in reply toVelvetSky

can I ask what your symptoms were

VelvetSky profile image
VelvetSky in reply toEcho24uk

Hi, I had severe chest pain with Pericarditis, I thought it was another heart attack, this was a few days after being discharged in2019, called ambulance, several more days in hospital. Told it was Dresslers Syndrome. Then I was okay until I had the 4th that cannot be mentioned, I had already had Stevens-Johnson Syndrome from the 1st and second and a seizure from the 3rd. It wasn’t until I was so very ill after the 4th that my Gp said there was a connection, who knew. Anyway I had Pericarditis following being unconscious on the floor then for some hours. I knew what it was by then, the chest pain is slightly different from the actual heart attack, it was a time of lockdown, I called Gp for advice, he called me back 4 weeks later! I now pay for private treatment! You need to rest, it takes some getting over, I’m very aware it can flare again. X

Echo24uk profile image
Echo24uk

hi

I had a stent following chest pain and unstable angina (luckily managed to avoid a full HA!

A week after stent I was getting pains still and went back to hospital and diagnosed with pericarditis. Despite not having ‘sharp pain’ and blood tests being ok.

I was back three weeks late and again told pericarditis and once again to A&E with chest pain shivers ( no temp) and bloods ok slight ecg changes. I too feel dreadful weak tired and pretty miserable !

TaylorW profile image
TaylorW

I've had Chronic Pericarditis for 14 years. Its a Brutal situation physically and Mentally. Good luck on your recovery.

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