Pericarditis

[Ken__0]

Posted by Mark on May 27, 1999 at 09:50:34
In late March I was diagnosed with pericarditis.  Every few days for the last several weeks I have been getting attacks of horrible sickness.
I can tell the attacks are about to come on because of a specific type of pain on the left side of my chest.  On one occasion the pain started in the middle of the chest.  When this happened in the middle of my chest I had some heart attack types of systems but I did not go to the hospital because I thought it was just pericarditis even though I felt terrible.  Earlier it was a sticking type of pain followed by a sharper pain, this would be followed by a terrible sickness which is hard to describe.  The attacks lately are preceded by a duller type of pain on my left side.  
Is there anything that I can do when I feel one of these attacks coming on?  Are these normal for pericarditis?
I think the attacks are decreasing in severity, but I am not convinced on this point.

Posted by Mark on May 27, 1999 at 16:26:19
As a followup to my earlier post, I have had all the tests done.  Stress
thallium, echo, blood, cat scan.  Everything is normal.  My EKGs started
coming abnormal as the computer printed it last March.  The EKG now shows
normal as the computer prints it but I am told that the T wave is still
inverted.  
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on May 27, 1999 at 19:53:00
Dear Mark
Assuming that all the tests are correct, coronary artery disease is much less likely. However, this is not a great story for pericarditis either. Symptoms do not usually drag on so long. Have you been evaluated for other causes of chest discomfort, such as acid reflux?
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Posted by Mark on May 27, 1999 at 20:44:02
On the day after I left the hospital, March 26, I ran a mile because I passed the stress thallium test and they told me nothing was wrong with me.  I then felt sick all week but felt better by the weekend.  On April 4th I did some light exercise at a social soccer game, I then got very sick again.  
I did not exercise again until May 6th after getting the OK from the cardialogist.  I then started getting these attacks.  I feel like I am healing now. Could I have aggravated my condition by exercising too quickly?    

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on May 28, 1999 at 16:13:08
Dear Mark
If pericarditis really was the correct initial diagnosis, exercising should have not caused any lasting problems or recurring problems, such as you describe.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.