Myocarditis recurrance

[JaneML93]

Hi all. I had myocarditis in year 2000. I was under the care of a Cardiology Professor (UK) for 5 years with ongoing cardiac problems. Discharged in 2005. Developed arrythmia in 2009 (atrial tachycardia) & since had 2 ablations & a dual chamber pacemaker.

I was feeling great in January this year. Pacemaker went in last September & it took me 4 months to recover & get back to full fitness & full hours at work.

In February I was admitted into hospital with chest pain. CT coronary angiogram showed my arteries are fine. Since developed swollen ankles & legs, breathlessness both on exertion & at rest....& now palpitations as well. Been feeling totally exhausted as well.

Am back under the care of the same Cardiology Prof & he has diagnosed a recurrance of the myocarditis. I didn't realise you could get it more than once but he said you can. Having an echo scan next Monday (30th April).

Has anyone had myocarditis who can share their experience of it please?

Many thanks
Jane

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament and sympathize with you. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium, the middle layer of the heart wall. This can occur with both infectious and noninfectious causes. Infectious could be bacterial, viral or fungal. Non infectious could be due to certain medications or sometimes due to autoimmune disorders like lupus. So, recurrence can occur from the same or different pathology.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[ed34]

I would ensure they do a lot of blood work in case your immune system is the culprit. Sometimes an infection has a protein covering very similar to a particular tissue type in the body, so our antibodies also attack this believing it to be the enemy. Myocardial muscle is unique, so if you have antibodies which are programmed to attack this protein type, then this problem will probably keep coming back. It's just a thought, maybe they've already considered this, but if not, I would ensure they run the right blood tests. It can be treated.

[Chrissie1]

Hi I am sat here after being in Papworth again for 2 weeks with diagnosis myocarditis. I had the same diagnosis in May 2012 now May 2014. I work at a drs surgery and chest pains and heart attack symptoms have both times come on after being highly stressed by patients creating at me in reception upsetting stressing me. Papworth have said both times it's originated from a sore throat I had just before attack.
This time the attack was much worse and ended up on cardiac critical care unit in hospital. I am now scarred that it's happened twice in 2 yrs I am only just turned 50. Still having chest pains when am stressed and anxious. Has anyone got any advice please. Will be really worried next time I get a sore throat. What can I do.

[Chrissie1]

Hi I am sat here after being in Papworth again for 2 weeks with diagnosis myocarditis. I had the same diagnosis in May 2012 now May 2014. I work at a drs surgery and chest pains and heart attack symptoms have both times come on after being highly stressed by patients creating at me in reception upsetting stressing me. Papworth have said both times it's originated from a sore throat I had just before attack.
This time the attack was much worse and ended up on cardiac critical care unit in hospital. I am now scarred that it's happened twice in 2 yrs I am only just turned 50. Still having chest pains when am stressed and anxious. Has anyone got any advice please. Will be really worried next time I get a sore throat. What can I do.