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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
RECOVERING FROM PERICARDITIS
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
RECOVERING FROM PERICARDITIS
by Elizabeth, Oct 20, 1999 12:00AM
MY MOTHER SUFFERED FROM A HEART ATTACK IN THE SUMMER. SHE HAD ANGIO PERFORMED,DEVELOPED FLUID AROUND THE HEART AND HAD A DRAIN PUT IN FOR 4 DAYS. AFTER A WEEK OUT OF THE HOSPITAL SHE COMPLAINED OF SEVERE CHEST AND BACK PAIN AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PERICARDITIS. SHE WAS WEANED OFF OF PREDNISONE AFTER 9 WEEKS. SHE WAS FEELING GOOD FOR 5 DAYS AND HAS HAD ANOTHER RELAPSE OF THE PERICARDITIS. SHE DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE ANYMORE PREDNISONE. AND IS FEELING VERY DISCOURAGED AND IN PAIN. HOW LONG DOES THIS PERICARDITIS TAKE TO HEAL AFTER A HEART ATTACK? HOW LONG IS TOO LONG? HOW LONG IS IT SAFE TO BE ON PREDNISONE? ARE THERE ANY OTHER THERAPIES AVAILABLE? ARE THERE ANY DOCTOR'S THAT SPECIALIZE IN PERICARDITIS AND WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD JMF, Oct 21, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Elizabeth,
It sounds as if your mother may be developing a more chronic form of percarditis it is important to have her condition followed by her cardiologist to make sure that she is not developing a thickening of her heart wall due to this chronic irritation. This should be reevaluated with an echocardiogram. I would recommend that you speak with Dr. Allan Klein here at CCF for further evaluation if you are interested in a second opinion.
It sounds as if your mother may be developing a more chronic form of percarditis it is important to have her condition followed by her cardiologist to make sure that she is not developing a thickening of her heart wall due to this chronic irritation. This should be reevaluated with an echocardiogram. I would recommend that you speak with Dr. Allan Klein here at CCF for further evaluation if you are interested in a second opinion.
Thank you for sharing this. Aspirin and ibuprofen are often used with physician supervision for this condition.