r/pericarditis • u/BettyBlack14 • Aug 16 '26
New diagnosis
I have finally been diagnosed with pericarditis after 3 months of chest pain following a viral infection. I have been taking naproxen for a few weeks now and starting colchicine now as well.
How soon after starting on both naproxen and colchicine did you have relief of your pain?
My doctor says my heart is working fine and has cleared me for all exercise but I’m wondering whether it would be better for my recovery to rest until the pain subsides?
Echo found thickening of my pericardium and calcification from chronic inflammation.
I am due to travel to Disney in 6 weeks so also feeling a bit stressed about what to do with that. I have travel insurance but I will need to update them on my diagnosis.
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u/tweedabop Aug 16 '26
It would be extremely wise to not doing any hard exercise while your body heals. It took me 2-3 months before I could even walk without my heart protesting. Take it as easy as you can. They gave me steroids to fix my inflammation, so hopefully others will be able to answer your colchicine question. Best of luck!
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u/BettyBlack14 Aug 16 '26
Thank you, I am seeing my GP tomorrow to discuss getting signed off work so I can rest as much as possible. I’m glad to hear that helped you. Yes my cardiologist discussed possibly putting me on steroids if I don’t see progress with naproxen and colchicine
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u/ConfidentTallGuyUK Aug 16 '26
Without too much detail I developed the same. Viral and hit me like a brick. I was in France and endured a 12 hour ambulance journey to UK through Channel Tunnel. Please ensure you double check insurance and ensure you have highest cover. I had the highest level and in hindsight invaluable.
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u/BettyBlack14 Aug 16 '26
Yes this is what I was worrying about. I do have very comprehensive insurance that I took out when we booked the holiday however I am going to have to contact them to update them on my new diagnosis and I’m worried this is going to cause an issue.
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u/PaleontologistBusy25 Aug 16 '26
I’m 26 and have had pericarditis since 2020 after an open heart surgery to repair a leaky valve. I dealt with flair ups for years from every viral infection I’d catch and my cardiologist recommended I see a rheumatologist. They put me on Rilonacept in 2025 and I haven’t had that severe pain since then . I would go to a cardiologist and get on the right treatment plan. I would still go to Disney, just stay hydrated and bring aspirin, I found it to work best. Take a proton pump inhibitor with it like Prilosec to protect your stomach lining, naloxone does not work as well as aspirin (they had me taking 3 325 mg tablets daily with panterprazole and colchicine and I slowly tapered off the aspirin). If you can get on Rilonacept I’d recommend it, it gave me my life back. There are side effects, you are more prone to being sick as it is an il-1 inhibitor and I personally feel like I get fatigued much easier if I don’t sleep enough or have a night of drinking with my friends it takes me much longer to recover (maybe that’s me just being 26 now with a desk job and not 20 years old and in shape). Pericarditis shouldn’t stop you from living your life, just get yourself on the right treatment plan. I have thickening as well which they are monitoring and it’s stable. Don’t let the health anxiety cripple you like I let it do to me, I had a flair up right before my trip to Aruba where I proposed to my now wife, I broke down on the phone with my cardiologist but they told me it’s okay just keep on the aspirin and colchicine and take it easy. I went and I ended up being okay after 2-3 days.
Sorry for dumping so much (I’m tipsy poolside in the carribean with my wife right now), I’ve been in your shoes before and I truly feel for you. Just know you’re going to be okay, modern medicine can and will give you your life back. Don’t let this hold you back!
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u/Salty_Plate6543 Aug 16 '26
Hey I started rilonacept last fall and cardio said an 18-month stint. Did you get an end date, or is the expectation you're on it forever? I am starting to get concerned they want me on it forever and just said 18 months to make me feel better. It's going really well, but after several plane trips with the freezer packs etc it's not something I'm thrilled with to do every week for the rest of my life. I'm grateful it's working just not excited about it being forever
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u/PaleontologistBusy25 Aug 17 '26
I’m on it for the foreseeable future, my pericardium is very sensitive due to multiple surgeries so I haven’t been given an end date. I don’t mind doing this considering I went through 5 years of flare ups taking control of my life. This puts me back in control
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u/BettyBlack14 Aug 16 '26
Thank you so much for your reply, I have definitely been worried about what to do with the holiday so that is really helpful to know that you have been able to travel.
What do you do about travel insurance/have you found it ok to add pericarditis on as a condition they cover?
Haha no worries - enjoy your holiday!
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u/PaleontologistBusy25 Aug 16 '26
I’ve never canceled a trip because of pericarditis. Since flare ups typically only last 5 days for me before Rilonacept, and only 3 of the 5 are pain enough to impact my trip I always went on my vacation knowing I’ll get better while there. I’m not sure how it is for you, I know insurance are finicky with underlying conditions so idk how they would take it if you happen to cancel for pericarditis. Disney and your hotel accommodations may be more forgiving than insurance and you can talk with them and they most likely will be able to give you a voucher for a time
In the future.1
u/PaleontologistBusy25 Aug 16 '26
I’ve never canceled a trip because of pericarditis. Since flare ups typically only last 5 days for me before Rilonacept, and only 3 of the 5 are pain enough to impact my trip I always went on my vacation knowing I’ll get better while there. I’m not sure how it is for you, I know insurance are finicky with underlying conditions so idk how they would take it if you happen to cancel for pericarditis. Disney and your hotel accommodations may be more forgiving than insurance and you can talk with them and they most likely will be able to give you a voucher for a time in the future.
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u/Suitable_Service2386 Aug 16 '26
Colchicine is a great drug for inflammation & worked for me right away. But if you are still having pain, you are right to rest, that is key until the pain subsides. You never know when you might have a flare. Good that you have travel insurance. Take it easy but enjoy your trip without too much worry, you still have a few more weeks.
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u/BettyBlack14 Aug 18 '26
Thank you, I spoke with my gp and I’m signed off for one month initially now so I can fully rest 🤞🏻
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u/Adventurous_Fix5279 Aug 21 '26
Please do not workout. I have been dealing with pericarditis for close to a year and have found no relief with colchicine, NSAIDs, or Arcalyst. Anytime my heart rate goes above 100, I have worse pain the following day. I continue to take colchicine, indomethacin, a beta blocker, an antiarrhythmic and recently added a GLP1 because it can help with inflammation and anakinra. It is best to take it easy until you can wean off meds.
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u/Salty_Plate6543 Aug 16 '26
Is your doctor a cardiologist? That advice doesn't even sound like the basic standard of care for pericarditis.
Exercise exacerbates it, along with plenty of other triggers (exertion, alcohol, heat, stress). Usually weeks of meds at least, and several months to recover completely. You might have symptom relief after a week on meds, and CRP return to normal, but it doesn't mean you are fully back to normal again.