inflammation around the heart

[myhealth55]

I have had chest pain (off and on) for over 35 years (now 55).  When I was 22 years a doctor mentioned I might have inflammation around the heart - he said if I can put my hand to my chest and feel soreness (yes I do feel soreness)  - then it's probably what I had - since then I have been diagnosed with mitral valve and high blood pressure (so I am nervous about having a heart attack) - years go by and I still continue to have dull chest pain radiating to my left arm (usually just before the pain starts I have a dry cough or the feeling that I am coming down with a bad cold/flu or virus)  - I have gone to emergency rooms on SEVERAL occassions feeling that I might be pre-heart attack - they give me medication for high blood pressure - give me an EKG, CT Scan and X-ray my lungs - they tell me all tests are clear - so they don't know what the problem is -- after a few weeks (and taking tylenol) the pain seems to disappear -  my question: Could they be overlooking inflammation (pericarditis)?

[David T.]

Ask your doctor about Dressler's Syndrome.  Just a thought.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Chronic pericarditis is difficult to diagnose based on an ECG, but heart CT or an MRI could be helpful.  If your pain returns you could consider getting those tests done. If they did reveal chronic inflammation around the heart, some additional testing to rule out some of the common conditions that cause it should be done.