Pericarditis Treatment? What works the best?

[misty14]

[Purpletop]

It depends on how serious yours is, whether you have fluid, or your heart got scarred. mine was caught at the beginning. I was on ibuprofen for about 4 weeks and it wasn't doing much, then started on colchicine for another 4 weeks, then I got diagnosed with lupus and my rheumatologist started me on steroids and stopped colchicine. Colchicine really resolved it, though, even before i started with the steroids my heart ultrasound showed that the pericarditis was gone but the steroids got rid of the residual breathlessness.

[misty14 in reply to Purpletop]

Hi Purpletop

My pericarditis has been caught at the begining and is mild but it keeps reoccuring quickly despite treatment. I've been taking diclofenac which has taken the pain away but when that stops working I have to double my steroid dose for one day and then the next day go back to usual dose which is 8mg daily and if that doesn't work to contact the Hospital. The steroids do work with the pain and breathlessness for a few days and then it all starts up again. Interesting about Colchicine. Is it an NSAID?. You haven't been diagnosed with Lupus very long?. Do you feel relief at getting an answer?. Have you been ill long?. My Rheumy is keeping an open mind as I'm not a clear cut CTD case and I've been ill for 26 years. Not easy to live with.

[Nightjar in reply to misty14]

Hi Misty, I saw this (see link) today. Perhaps your doctor can advice on risks in your case - as we're all different. Hopefully all is well. xxx

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

[Purpletop in reply to misty14]

Colchicine is an NSAID used for gout but for some reason it seems to work v well for pericarditis and reduces its re-occurrence. Steroids, on the other hand, seem to increase the re-occurrence. My GP didn't know about it but I researched it and convinced him about it, so he prescribed it.

I've been diagnosed in Sep 2012, so not long, but I had symptoms since 2009, increasingly worsening until I got diagnosed. Yes, i felt relief when diagnosed, not because i was glad to be ill but it validated that i was right all along in aserting that I'm ill. I really do not understand how a doctor can keep 'mind open' about a diagnosis. Even if it isn't clear which autoimmune disease one has, treatment can be started with Plaquenil for any of them. I don't know how you coped with 26 years of suffering!!

A quick note on breathlessness - I found that steroids long term cause breathlessness, I still had it for a month or two after I stopped steroids. So try not to get into a circle of taking steroids, feel better, reduce steroids, feel breathless, up steroids again. Try and see if you can ride it out, it is worth it.

Good luck!

[misty14 in reply to Purpletop]

Hi Purpletop. Many thanks for your info on Pericarditis, it's been really helpful. My symptoms are better with the extra steroids. I will see if I can get my NSAID changed to Colchicine and thanks for breathlessness tip. It's a constant juggle between risks and benefits with this illness and the drugs!. I've only had Pericarditis for 2-3years, took a long while to be diagnosed. I hope your worsening symptoms have got better since you've been diagnosed, what have you been prescribed?. You are fortunate to be diagnosed quickly as it can take years. Since being on this site I feel better about being told I'm UCTD, my Rheumy a fortnight ago said he doesn't give a diagnosis of Lupus unless very sure and he said my illness covers several CTD's.It's been a long struggle to live as normally as possible despite difficult health. Not easy!. I wish you as good as health as possible.

[scoobydoo1]

hi nightjar just looked at your link, funny as i hadnt put together the whole picture, since been ill had craving for ginger biscuits, now found out ginger is a good anti inflamatory. many thanks for the post, very informative. mark.