Pericarditis

[katya0131]

Hello all,

I have recurring pericarditis and am struggling to beat it. I was hoping maybe someone here heard of something similar and has some advice on how I can get past this.

Thanks in advance

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

Copied from heart.org

Types of treatment

First, your doctor may advise you to rest until you feel better and have no fever. If your pericarditis is caused by a viral infection, you may be told to take over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain and inflammation. Examples of these medicines are aspirin and ibuprofen. Stronger medicine may be needed if the pain is severe. Your doctor may prescribe a medicine called colchicine and a steroid called prednisone.

If a bacterial infection is causing your pericarditis, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic or other medicine. You may need to stay in the hospital during treatment so your doctor can check you for complications.

Symptoms of acute pericarditis can last from one to three weeks. Chronic pericarditis lasts three months or longer.

Other types of treatment

If you have serious complications from pericarditis, you may need treatments that require hospital stays.

Cardiac tamponade is treated with a procedure called pericardiocentesis, in which a needle or tube, called a catheter, is inserted into the chest wall to remove excess fluid in the pericardium. Additional procedures may also be needed to extract the fluid from around the heart. This relieves pressure on the heart.

With constrictive pericarditis, the only cure is surgery known as a pericardiectomy to remove the pericardium. This is only done when symptoms become severe.

[Nettekin]

Hi katya. You might like to try the BHF site in health unlocked. There will be many members on there who have experience of pericarditis. X