I am worried, Pericarditis

[Imaz]

So I decided to go to ER as I have been having this mild pain around the chest/heart area when I move.

ER said going by the ECG, they say i have pericarditis. I am worried.

The dismissed me with no medication or follow up's.  They say if it gets worse to come back.

[Imaz]

Thinking of taking sudafed + pe for me sinus, is this a non antiflamitory drug?

[Imaz]

Hi,

Its the middle of winter here in Perth, W.Australia and weather has been cool.  I know this Winter has been pretty bad for me, not in the sense of the cold or flu, but standing the cold!.  I have been wearing extremely heaps of layered clothing in the evening and even to sleep.  my chest(middle) bones? have been somewhat sore/due to coldness.  I dont know why it feels like this this year...  I dont see everyone else feeling so cold as I do...

[Imaz]

Yes, following the ECG, they can hear the friction using the Steth.

They just said if it you feel more pain, shortness of breath, pain in the arm, neck etc, spreading then come in.

I got slight pain in my left side of the neck for a day now, but not sure if its from sleeping wrong?

The cramping in the heart area has not changed.  I dont think.

I have had a couple shortness of breathe, which picked up on its own after maybe 10secs?  Noticed it when I was going to bed.

Again, I am not taking any medications what soever.

[is_something_wrong]

Immediately go to the ER if you:

- Get an abnormal heart rhythm (loads of premature beats or other abnormalities).
- Get severe chest pain
- Get sustained tachycardia (heart rate above 100 for a long time without any explaination).
- Get short of breath
- Get symptoms of "shock" - dizziness, weak and fast heart rate, cold hands, feeling unwell.

Viral pericarditis is usually not dangerous. However, in my country, people with pericarditis is kept at a hospital for some days.

If you even think "I should possibly see a doctor" then DO IT!

[itdood]

With mild pericarditis I think one of the things they listen for with a steth is something called a "friction rub".    Need a steth to detect it.  It's literally heard as a squeak or a rub because of the loss of lubrication in the pericardium from the pericarditis.  

Did they detect a friction rub or is your diagnoses based on the EKG and pain?

It's rather surprising that the ER didn't define what getting "worse" is given they told you to come back if that happens....:-)

With a Viral classification it's a wait-and-see game.  There's nothing that can be done for a virus.  It has to run its course, like a cold.    It will either get better or worse.   Most if not all eventually get better on their own.   If it gets worse, you'll probably experience more pain.  Your heart rhythm may also change if pressure starts to build up in the heart.  

If you're to the point of being paranoid about it (which I can certainly understand), another option would be to insist on an echocardiogram.  That will detect how much fluid and pressure there is.  Then you could return at regular intervals to see if those change to gain early detection if it's getting worse or better.

[Imaz]

Hi brooke,

Is there anything I should look out for incase it gets worse? Other symptoms?

I'm still worried

Thanks

[Imaz]

I had just came back from my GP. GP had received the same ER report this morning apparently.  He checked my heart using the stetiscope, ears, throat, BP and says I am fine.  Just need to take it easy for a couple days.  I asked if there is anyway to confirm the diagnosis or see someone regarding the heart to see if it is a bacterial or viral. GP said its most like viral that's why the ER did not give you any medication as the report says the blood tests were fine, WCC white cell count was 800 in normal range? So no bacteria.

Any suggestions?

[Brooke_38]

Pericarditis is usually a complication of viral infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus.

Infections with bacteria can lead to bacterial pericarditis...and some fungal infections can also produce pericarditis.

Often the cause of pericarditis remains unknown. In this case, the condition is called idiopathic pericarditis.

Along with ECG changes, the Dr, when listening to the heart with a stethoscope, should have heard a sound called a pericardial rub. This is due to the fluid that builds around the heart. It's a muffled, distant sound.

The cause of pericarditis should be identified, if possible. If they didn't run any type of blood cultures or CBC, I think it is in your best interest to schedule a follow-up appt. with your primary care physician.

Medications that are usually prescribed to treat Pericardidtis are:

Analgesics for pain
Antibiotics if it is bacterial pericarditis
Antifungal medications if it is a fungal pericarditis
Aspirin or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen for inflammation of the pericardium
Corticosteroids such as prednisone (in some patients)
Colchicine
.
Pericarditis can range from mild cases that get better on their own to life-threatening cases. Based on your ER visit and discharge, I am assuming that they felt your case to be mild.

The outcome is good if the disorder is treated promptly. Most people recover in 2 weeks to 3 months. However, pericarditis may come back. Hope your recovery is uneventful! :)

[Jerry_NJ]

Given the ER reaction, it sounds like you should try to take it easy and hope it goes away.

The only other alternative I can come up with is make an appointment with your doctor... maybe cardiologist, but I'm not sure it is specifically a cardiologist matter.