In September I had an NSTEMI and after Angiogram was told I didn't need Stents as there was no signifacat blockage, Ejecvtion Fraction as good and had preserved left ventrical function.
During my time in Hospital (a week) I felt fine and was actively encouraged to wander the corridors.
First week home I felt fine and was slowly but surely exercising a little bit more all be it short walks round the block.
Then things began to change. I started getting extreme pressure in my upper chest and this resulted in myself being blue lighted to A n E in October with another suspected Heart Attack.
ECG Fine, Traponin levels normal and Pericarditis diagnosed. Given a 3 month course of Colchicine and told to rest.
Nearly 4 months later I'm no better and feel absolutely wiped out. Though the sharp stabbing pain upper left chest has subsided the feeling of over whelming pressure in my upper chest fluctuates still, varying between very dibilitating to an mild annoyance. Today it's pretty bad after 2 weeks of it being manageable. Breathlessness is also an issue
The major worry is that the pain felt by Pericarditis mimics that of a Heart Attack but if I called 999 everytime the pain got too much I'd have been at A n E every week.
Gone from a fit and healthy 63 year old to a wreck in the blink of an eye.
Hasn't helped we're currently in the middle of a house move which doesn't do the stress levels amy good.
Curious to know other peoples experience with Acute Pericarditis. I think mine may now have moved to the Chronic stage.
Have a cardiology appointment on the day we actually move house next Tuesday,
UPDATE:
Been quite a month since I posted this. Moved house successfully and everything has gone superbly. Even my Health has taken a huge upturn.
Saw my Cardiologist on the day we moved, yeah, stressful, and he sort of blew my head away with what he told me.
Actually cast doubts on whether I'd had a heart attack in September due to Traponin levels of only 100 and suggested that it was Pericarditis causing the severe pain from the very beginning.
As for the Pericarditis now, well it finally seems to be fading away. The sharp stabbing pains are few and far between and though there is still some residual feeling of slight chest pressure that took seems to be dissipating.
Still get a bit breathless and still very careful to avoid exertion but I seem to be winning.
New GP practise seem to be a lot more proactive and I'm already on the list of my new health authorities appointment schedule for a thorough check up.
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hello hope you ok,I’m going through same thing at the moment after open heart surgery in October,on colchicine 7 weeks but had Covid and chest infection also after😞but I felt there was reaction to the med my nasel and respiratory felt shut then got infected,so halfed the dose but now had to up it again,pains had eased after week or so but now feel there back but they mimic my old pains that had daily so it’s so hard to know what is what it’s frustrating,but hospital want me to complete the coarse for 3 months
you might find it helpful to read some of the earlier posts on this and Myocarditis by doing a search within this group
this is not a common condition, but it is painful and distressing - i hope you can find a way to take some time out and rest as this is often the main thing with helps by reducing the demands on your heart
Hi, so sorry tohear you are suffering AND in the middleof a move!!!
2 bits of good news the angio showed your heart was in quite good nick and the symptoms you're experiencing are quite typical and will improve in TIME.
Time is the issue and REST is critical. As you are in the middle of the move if you can afford it I'd suggest you pay for movers to do EVERYTHING or call in favours from family & friends. Your heart is avery important MUSCLE which has been/is going through a significat trauma and REST is the only real treatment.
Ivemoved 8 times in 12 years so do speak from experience and I had acute myocarditis & pericarditis 7 years ago.
We all recommend on here, REST REST and REST some more so difficult I know BUT that ticker needs to last longer than the move!
Personally I would be asking for a scan/echo on your heart to check the size, any swelling or fluid build up. But PLEASE try to make life easier in any way you can Rest is Best & Stress needs to be Less to aid a full recovery. Good luck you can do this 🏡
so sorry to hear you are suffering with pericarditis. You are not alone with such a debilitating condition. I have had peri now for 18 years and take colchicine daily. I also have celecoxib and oramorph to help prevent hospital stays. Rest is key to recovery but some of us do become chronic. My peri is deemed idiopathic but with underlying autoimmune disease.
Some even go on to needing pericardiectomy. There is a UK pericarditis group and a global one which might be beneficial to you. It’s UK, Eire &Channel Islands group. I joined in 2019 and it has proved invaluable to me as I am able to talk to others and get support about my condition.
It’s advised to try to keep your heart rate below 100bpm and rest, rest, rest.
Hope this has helped a little. Please feel free to message me and I will try to answer any questions you might have.
hi I am 31 and been diagnosed with pericarditis recently. I’ve been on tablets for a few weeks but I’m really struggling with getting back to normality - should I be tying to so that and get back to work when I still have symptoms to or should I be resting? Is there anything that will help. At this stage my GP is sick of seeing me and their advice has been pretty rubbish up to this point. The BHF sent me here for some support and advice
Hi, rest is key to recovery along with colchicine, a PPI to protect your stomach and anti inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, ibuprofen. The more you do at this point the worse the peri can get. Try to keep your heart rate below 100bpm too. Hope this helps. I also joined the UK, Eire and Channel Islands pericarditis group, which has lots of members some who have also had to have pericardiectomy. You might find it helpful and supportive.
That’s great thank you how do I go about joining those groups? Are they on this platform?
So far my gp has refused to give me anything other than ibuprofen, should I be pushing for more medication? I’m about 8 weeks in from first symptoms but only started the ibuprofen and stomach tablets 3 weeks ago, it took them that long to diagnose. Also how long would you advise to aim to keep the Hr below 100?
Hi, yes do push for colchicine and maybe stronger anti inflammatory drugs such as naproxen or celecoxib.
Ask to be referred to a cardiologist too if things are not settling. Recovery will take at least 3mths. Rest really is key.
I didn’t rest due to incorrect diagnosis for years so I’ve now had it since 2006 and it’s classed as chronic.
Many doctors and cardiologist don’t fully understand pericarditis. There currently is a working research party consisting of some of the top cardiologists, rheumatologist and immunologists in the UK, Europe and America.
That’s super helpful. It was a cardiologist that diagnosed me with it but didn’t prescribe anything and sent me to my GP who seems completely determined to keep me on ibuprofen and not to give me anything else! Seems mad to me that with something that can become so serious they won’t prescribe me proper drugs for it.
Hello,I have had myocarditis which has left a small amount of scarring on my heart muscle.
I was told to rest, rest and then rest again.
I didn't get any better and I was admitted to A&E again.
I continued to have chest pain especially at rest and during the night. I don't have blocked coronary arteries.
I do have ECG changes and small rises in my troponin blood levels.
I told it was anxiety and prescribed beta blockers which made my chest pain even worse.
I was found later after appropriate testing to have Vasospastic angina.
This causes transient constrictions of my coronary arteries.
How was your pericarditis diagnosed ?
Do the doctors listen to your heart to see if a pericardial rub is present ? This is a sound similar to sandpaper being rubbed on wood, it usually indicates pericarditis.
I suggest you ask your Cardiologist whether coronary vasospasms may be a possible cause of your ongoing symptoms.
The only diagnosis I received was a month after my MI when I was rushed to A n E. Discharge Doctor indicated he could here the Rub and gave me Colchicine. For the last 2 months I've been begging for an Echo ever since to confirm. One wasn't done at the time of diagnosis. Funny you should mention Vasospasms because that's been on my mind for a while. GP just dismissive. The serious discomfort and pain gagan after I stopped taking Isosorbide Mononitrate as I could stand the headaches. As this present time I'd rather have the headache than the permanent chest pain
I had out of the blue onset of extreme chest pain and alarming difficulty in breathing for no apparent reason. After two visits to A and E finally I was diagnosed with pericarditis. Admitted to cardio ward and monitored before discharge a day later. I had colchicine prescribed but also furosemide to treat /use as a diuretic to reduce fluid retention around the heart/pericardium. I also had several echocardiograms (to examine the heart). My understanding of pericarditis is that the cause remains largely unknown but is largely due to a viral infection. I’d had no (knowingly) infection/virus whatsoever prior to or leading up to getting it and I’m still at a total loss as to why it occurred. It took me around 4 months to become completely well again. It is a horrid horrid condition but hang in there it will pass and maybe consider approaching your GP re an echocardiogram and or furosemide if not already discussed or had.
Mine was eventually found on cardiac Mri. There seems to be a lot of grey areas around pericarditis and effusions amongst the specialists and its frustrating when youre not heard. TThe chest pressure is horrible but i find colchicine and rest do help the discomfort even if only short term. I don't know if any quick fixes unfortunately!
Good luck with your cardio and the move, try to adopt the role of supervisor!
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