Myopericarditis with a two week old baby & 18 month old

[StillTrying1000]

Looking for honest opinions please- ideally from a woman who’s had a baby and experienced Myopericarditis…

My husband kept saying he felt like he was having a heart attack every time he tried to calm our two week old baby. I of course explained it was just a panic attack and to breath deeply- anyway turns out it was Myopericarditis and I’m just a terrible wife.

He’s now home and recovering, aspirin & colchicine. Told to have a week off work and come back for bloods in 6 weeks.

Our baby is 4 weeks old breastfed so I’m up literally most of the night plus my 18 month old still doesn’t sleep through and they wake each other crying. I’m ridiculously tired, I haven’t had more than 90 mins sleep yet, no naps, not one lie in.

My husband is tired all the time so I do all the night feeds and take the children out every morning so he can lie in until 12/1/2pm. So he’s getting lots of rest.

What I don’t know is how important this rest is? Can he really die if he doesn’t sleep this much? Should he be helping more?

He says he can’t do much physical so can’t take the kids out, or anything that involves bending over.

I’m seriously concerned I can’t keep going like this, trying to keep all three of them alive. He says he can feel his heart pulsation and gets pain through his whole body when he does anything. His back really hurts.

I’m struggling so much to know if I need to tell him to take it easier or pull it together and push himself to step up.

I’m recovering from birth with tears, I have strep A, thrush, cystitis, on antibiotics, struggling with tricky breastfeeding. Caring for the new baby and big active 18 month old baby who doesn’t nap. Should he be helping more or can he really die if he does?

What should his rest levels be? Can he push himself a bit more or do I need to just keep doing it all and supporting his recovering?

I’m terrified he could die but I’m caring for small children, driving them about on 3 hours sleep a night- surely there’s a risk of me not sleeping too?

Independent views would be appreciated please xxx

[Bagrat]

I am replying cos I'm awake too and have a husband who had no idea how to help with children or understand what it was like operating on next to no sleep with a toddler and a baby who needed far too little sleep.You are not a terrible wife and it sounds like you have reasons for thinking panic attack rather than physical reasons, so again, you are not a terrible wife, far from it.

I have no knowledge of myopericarditis, except from Mr Google (never a good source)but am thinking you feel he is making a bit of a meal of it. The advice is rest, that much I know.

Have you had time to look at BHF info. Google but put BHF in front of it then maybe it will pop up. I realise a big ask while babe squawking in one ear and toddler needing attention.You will get through this but I really feel for you. Wendy

[HenryTudor]

As an older male I’m thinking hard about replying. But clearly you’re going through hell with a husband who’s swinging the lead. He needs to think about his family - surely the most important thing and people in his life.

The reason I have replied is one comment you made - he’s been signed off work for a WEEK. It’s impossible that he’s about to die if he’s been signed off for just a week. Anything serious would mean staying off work for 5-6 weeks. He needs to step up to the plate. Harsh but true.

I feel for you. You’ll find, I’m sure, a lot of support from good people in this forum who’ll have more practical solutions than I can offer. You need to look after yourself xx