Complications due to Pericarditis, are there others who have had Pericarditis?

My story, January 23, 2024 I was standing in my kitchen, when without any prior warning, I collapased and fell on the floor with my eyes open but unresponsive. An ambulance arrived within 3 minutes and I was taken to North York General where heart rate was 30 beats per minutes. ECG showed a complete heart block. I was diagnosed with Syncope, complete heart block, Bradycardic. They installed an emergency pacemaker and over the next 12 hours it took 4 adjustments, before I was stable. 3 days later I was transferred to Sunnybrook Science Centre where a permanent pacemaker was installed. I was discharged two days later.

February 4, I woke up at 2:20 am, lightheaded, chest aching pain, wretching and started mild convulsions. Once again we were fortunate and the ambulance arrived within three minutes. Blood pressure was 70/50 and heart beats were 50. I was awake and arrived at North York General and started vomiting and more convulsions. ECG showed a narrow complex rhythem, with complete heart block and paced complexes. I was disgnosed with a large pericardial effusion and subsequently went into atrial fibrillation. A tube was inserted into my heart sac to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure, It drained over three days, then with no further signs of fluid build up, I was discharged with a treatment of medications (antiinflamatories) for the pericardial effusion. 

Over February and March, I was experiencing some stabbing pains in the chest and tightness which worsen with any kind of exertion. I thought it was from the trauma the heart experienced and part of the recovery time. 

April 3, the pains continued. Consulted my cardiologist who recommended the pacemaker program of AAI-DDD be switched to DDD. The pacemaker clinic  changed the programm to DDD 50/130 and changed current medications.

May 14, I am feeling much better and am able to exert without pain. Have started light weights again and am doing chores around the house...cutting grass and some gardening. Not perfect, but I say 95% better and I'll take that.

July 10, my cardiologist advised that my ECG and blood pressure are both excellent. Next appointment will be in one year.  I continue to do light weights and activities. Finally starting to feel healthy again. 

September 25, 2024 It happen again. I woke up at 4 am with chest pains across my stern. I had just seen my cardiologist so I thought I was good and it was indigestion or a upper stomach issue. In the morning I called my family doctor who told me to go to emergency. I was there for 12 hours getting bloodwork, xrays, an ultrasound, a CT scan and monitored closely. They diagnosed me with Pericarditis - an inflamation of the sac surrounding the heart. The same thing I had in February. With an Echocardiogram they determined this time I only had inflamation and no fluid around the heart. I heard another man in his twenties with a pacemaker also had the same issue 2 weeks after having a virus. I was also sick about two weeks ago with a virus.  Apparently, once you have had Pericarditis, you can easily get it again. A virus like a flu or COVID gets into the heart sac and your immune system attacks it in trying to get rid of the virus thus causing an inflamation.  I caught it early before fluid formed and I am now on medication treatment, with plenty of rest. 

Have others on this site been diagnosed with Pericarditis?


4 Comments

Pericarditis

by Insane Bolt - 2024-09-29 03:56:03

Hi there, sorry to hear about your turbulations with pericarditis. I have had both peri- and myocarditis many years ago. First peri and 4/5 years later mayo, although not half as bad what you have experienced. It was merely treated with anti-iflammatories and cleared up within 2 weeks.  Bradycardia were "part" of the symptoms. I have not had peri- nor mayocarditis ever again. The spesific "cause" were never actually established.  Take care of yourself.

You have been very brave

by Gemita - 2024-09-29 08:35:46

Rick I am truly sorry to hear about your Pericarditis and how much you have suffered from these sudden attacks.  I am glad emergency help was quickly on hand during your acute periods.  I do hope your team can prevent further sudden attacks from taking hold and causing longer periods of illness.  You will certainly be aware of the early signs of the condition when you can perhaps take immediate action to slow down the inflammatory response from your heightened immune system.

I have not been diagnosed with Pericarditis although I experience intermittent chest pain from other conditions and I know how frightening this can be when it suddenly occurs.

I send my best wishes for a full recovery this time.   At least you have experienced returning to 95% better, so you will know that it can be achieved and I hope you will reach that level of fitness again very quickly.

If you type in “Pericarditis” top right under “Q”, there are a few pages of members who have experienced this condition.  Might be worth reading their posts.   I am sure many members will be able to relate to some of your symptoms and your post will be very helpful to so many.  Thank you so much for posting

Pericarditis

by Lavender - 2024-09-29 10:30:30

Yes I had pericarditis in about 2019. My mom was in a nursing home and was about to fall. I grabbed her and her weight pulled my entire left side sharply. I ended up with lots of sternum pain-costochondritis. That led to pericarditis. So incredibly painful and I had to breathe lightly so it wasn't so painful. It took nine months to get over. I didn't have an effusion just inflammation. 

I was treated with colchicine, 3200 mg of ibuprofen daily for nine months and meds to cope with the stomach irritation from the meds. Carafate, prilosec and other measures were taken. I ended up with stomach erosions and still can never have tomatoes, chocolate, alcohol, or coffee. 

I had to stay sitting upright leaning forward with ice packs around me and voltaren cream front and back. 

Thankfully, I never got pericariditis again. It's the worst pain ever experienced.

Thank you for your comments

by RickBT - 2024-09-29 21:12:44

Your comments are appreciated and I did not think to search under the look field. Will do. Thanks again.

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A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.