Lifelong Pericarditis

[globeskater]

Hi there

I am 28 years old from Australia who was diagnosed with Pericarditis when I was 23 years old, the heart specialist I saw did not really give me much info how I got it and just advised it be there with me for life.

Currently I have a few health issues which are pericarditis, high blood pressure which is currently under control with medication (this medication my GP has advised I will need to take up for life),high ezymes in my liver (no liver damage and slowly coming down) and have inflamed duodedum. I have abused alcohol in the past and was a heavy smoker which I have now quit for the past few months and also I have anxiety attacks which I'm working to resolve with my psychiatrist at the moment.

A couple months ago I was admitted to the emergency ward at my hospital and they investigated my pericarditis which they did with blood tests, ECG and Echogram on my heart but they advised me that they don't know the cause of the pericarditis and again they relate it will be there for the rest of my life. Back in 2003 when I was diagnosed with the intitial pericarditis, they related  I had fluid around the heart due to the pericarditis but with the most recent result they related I still have pericarditis but the fluid has now disappeared. The current doctor has advised that my pericarditis is not life threatning at the moment but in the long run they do not know yet, they are currently getting me to do a 24hr heart monitor where I attached a equipment to monitor to my arm in the future and also do a 24 hr hour urine test to see if there are any other cause for anxiety.

The questions are which concerns me and does not help with my current anxiety are:

* Is correct that there is a situations where a person can have a lifelong pericarditis?
* Is there anyways or other methods I can remove this situation
* When the doctor says in the short term I'll be fine (is that like a couple of years or 10 years time line) and long term (is that like 15 or 20 years in the long run)?
* With my current situation of inflammed duodedum, I am unable to take any anti-inflamantory medication to ease the pain of pericarditis or antibiotics, but once this is healed, should I say look into suggesting to the doctor about taking those possibilites to possibly eliminate my pericarditis if possible.
* my doctors have advised that I can excercise, but is this ok to do with my current pericarditis, I'm going back to gym and this pericarditis sometimes plays in my mind and inhibits me from exercising.
* Is there any type of food or diet I should take or avoid to help my pericarditis?

The current medication I am on are:

* Corversyl 5mg for blood pressure 1 tablet daily
* Somac 40mg for acid/inflamed duodedum 2 tablets daily
* Alprazolam 0.25 mg for anxiety attacks 1 tablet daily
* Seroquel 25 mg 1 daily to assist me in sleeping and anxiety issues
* Pristiq 50mg 1 daily for anxiety

Your help will greatly educate me more into my condition and also give me a clearer picture about my current pericarditis situation.

Many thanks

[kenkeith]

For a diagnosis and prognosis may depend on the underlying cause.  It is often caused by a virus. It may also  caused by bacteria (including mycobacterium tuberculosis), fungi, or parasites.

Complication of pericarditis can be constriction of heart wall movement and that can keep the heart from pumping well. Some people develop shortness of breath, swollen legs and feet, and other symptoms of heart failure. The complication (if severe) may require the need for surgery to remove the scarred part of the pericardial sac. This helps loosen the pericardium's tight hold around the heart and allows the heart to pump more effectively

There is also a noninfectious pericarditis that can be caused by disease of the underlying heart muscle, injury, cancer, and other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, medications (minoxidil, penicillin), lupus erythematosus, and kidney failure. The inflammation may cause a thickening and roughening of the membrane and an accumulation of fluid in the sac surrounding the heart.

"Viruses that cause pericarditis can sometimes attack the heart muscle and therefore, in rare cases, patients also develop heart-rhythm abnormalities or heart failure. Chronic pericarditis may cause the pericardium to lose its elasticity, causing a constriction of the heart. If the heart is unable to function normally because of pericardial constriction, surgery to remove part of the pericardium may be required".

Analgesics (pain medications), ranging from aspirin to morphine, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs may be given to ease the pain or reduce the inflammatory reaction of acute pericarditis. No further treatment may be necessary for pericarditis caused by a viral infection, which tends to clear by itself within a few weeks. If an underlying treatable cause for the pericarditis can be identified, further treatment will be directed towards its alleviation.... If your doctor states the condition is lifelong, then it may be a reference to damaged heart muscle caused by inflammation.