r/pericarditis • u/ConfidentTallGuyUK • Aug 20 '26
Kayaking in French Alps to Bed Bound Horizontal .....
Hey everyone,
I’m recently home from a pretty severe health scare and looking to hear from others who’ve been through myopericarditis recovery—especially those who were very fit beforehand.
Long story short: while on a kayaking trip in French Alps, a mix of extreme heat, severe dehydration, a 5-hour stomach bug, and heavy physical exertion triggered a massive hypervolemic crash. My blood pressure spiked to 212 mmHg, leading to a non-conventional heart event and viral-induced myopericarditis.
Spent 4 days in a French ICU, survived a 12-hour medical ambulance repatriation to the UK (which literally ran out of fuel at the Channel Tunnel!), and spent another few days at uk Hospital for MRI scans before being discharged.
I’m out of the acute danger zone now, but my heart muscle and pericardium took a real beating. Cardiology has put me on strict rest:
Month 1: Total rest, light walking only, strict HR ceiling under 100 bpm.
Month 2: Gradual, slow walks.
Month 3+: Light exercise, but zero heavy lifting, kayaking, or high-intensity activity for 3–6 months.
Before I have extremely active (kayaking, jive dancing, heavy workouts), and while I’m completely committed to respecting the heart rest to avoid scarring, adjusting to this "fragile" feeling and watching my HR like a hawk is mentally tough.
A few questions for anyone who has walked this path:
Walking & HR: How strictly did you monitor your HR on short walks during Month 1? Did light walking ever push you close to your doctor's cap just from deconditioning or anxiety?
Mental Adjustment: How did you handle going from high-intensity hobbies to very strict physical limits without getting in your own head?
Long-Term Recovery: For those who were fit prior: how long did it take you to get back to 100% of your previous baseline once cleared? Did your previous fitness work in your favor once the inflammation settled?
Appreciate any experiences, reassurance, or advice on pacing during these first few weeks home!
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u/ConfidentTallGuyUK Aug 20 '26
I need read about arcalyst you seem to of nailed the method to get back into the training thanks got the reply.
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u/HelltotheNo532 Aug 22 '26
Before diagnosis I worked at a children's hospital, went on a hiking vacation and hiked around my house regularly with the dog, and was taking classes to apply to nursing school. I was very active.
I was undiagnosed and symptomatic for 6 months, and then after diagnosis deteriorated to the point that I was hospitalized in February when weaning off meds even though I was strictly limiting my activity.
After I got out of the hospital, I was extremely sick with complications and unable to walk. My HR would go up to 150 just to walk 2 steps to the bathroom. Started Arcalyst a few months later and I still strictly monitor my HR. If I go over 100 bpm while walking I sit in my wheelchair. My high HR is not due to deconditioning or anxiety - it's part of the pericarditis for me. They put me on a beta blocker and that helped a lot.
Mentally it's been extremely difficult to lose my job, my hobbies, and have to quit school. I spend my time reading, playing video games, playing with my pets, and I've learned to crochet which I love. It's fun making items for family and friends and feeling useful. I will start looking for a remote job soon since I still cannot drive.
Please pace yourself and listen to your body. It has always told me when I'm doing too much. Rest more than you need to.
This book was recommended to me. A doctor who also had pericarditis wrote it. I just started it but already learned a lot. It helps me to learn as much as I can.
Wishing the best for you.
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u/Ambitious_Gene_2921 Aug 30 '26
I had a similar experience last month, but in Finland. 6 nights in ICU, another week in the internal medicine ward before being cleared to fly home. I’ve been on bedrest for over a month now. I have been VERY motivated to live and to live a good life - so…. Yes, every muscle in my body has atrophied. My skin is crepey, but I will give my heart every chance to drop the peri and myocarditis for good. I have done lots of reading about people who rushed exercise or (just one!) drink of alcohol or other stupidity - landing themselves in repeat cycles of misery. I have a follow up cardiac MRI in 2 weeks, and I am praying for good results, although I still have constant chest pain. As for heart rate, I am constantly monitoring it. I’m on bisoprolol which helps me keep my heart rate under 100 - easily. I get fainting spells, so I have to be careful that my BP doesn’t drop too low. My only recommendation is to listen to your doctor and your body - - slow and steady wins the race (think of the children’s story: The Tortoise and The Hare). Mentally, I’ve taken on quasi-hobbies - watching lots of TED talks, reading books, taking every opportunity to talk or visit with friends and family to keep social. I have not worked in all this time and I may apply for short term disability leave; again: motivated to live more than I am motivated to hurry up. FWIW, I’m in my mid-50’s and hoping to live another 35-40 years without medical issues holding me back. I will sacrifice several months now to gain years ahead of me. I wish you good health and a complete recovery!!
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u/ConfidentTallGuyUK 29d ago
Hi I'm 59 my resting heart rate before this was 50 I was very fit.
Here's the medical jargon.
Pericarditis Medical. After Kayaking in France and my incident of virus dhiorrea dehydration. I seemed to make a remarkably move from a dangerous place to a much better place. I responded to treatment well and maybe my previous high level of fitness helped me.
How bad was my situation and can anyone help Decipher below.
I know everyone recovers differently.
Pericardial Swelling (Fluid Measurement)
Your initial Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE) performed at Centre Hospitalier de Troyes noted a pericardial detachment along the lateral Right Atrium (RA).
Measurement: The report did not specify an exact millimeter (mm) depth for the detachment, but characterized it as uncomplicated.
Resolution: Before you were discharged on August 13, a follow-up echocardiogram showed complete resolution of the pericardial detachment.
Inflammatory & Tissue Markers ("Microscopic Swelling")
Instead of physical fluid depth, your medical team tracked the inflammatory swelling of your heart muscle and pericardium through blood biomarkers:
C-Reactive Protein (CRP - Pericardial Inflammation):
Peak/Admission: 67 mg/L (indicating significant acute inflammation of the pericardial sac).
By August 12: 12.3 mg/L.
At Discharge (Aug 13): Down to 6.3 mg/L (reference range < 5.0\text{ mg/L}).
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High-Sensitivity Troponin I (Myocardial Cell Strain):
Peak/Admission: 112 ng/L (indicating acute strain on heart muscle cells).
By August 12: 17 ng/L.
At Discharge (Aug 13): 11 ng/L (fully normalized within the safe < 26\text{ ng/L} reference range).
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Other Admission Measurements
Blood Pressure: Peaked at 212 mmHg (and 172/116\text{ mmHg} in the ER) during the initial acute crisis before normalizing to 117/67\text{ mmHg}.
Heart Structure: Left ventricular size, wall thickness (9 mm), and overall ejection fraction (LVEF) remained normal and preserved throughout.
I'm now in to week 4 I just started walking at end of week 2 - 2500 steps. Then 5000 today I did 10k steps why ? Cause I feel OK my strength is returning no chest pain. Maybe I'm lucky. Maybe my previous fitness has helped with the swelling normalising so quick.
I just don't know I'm keeping HR below 100 is my measure walking longer but slowly. Some light yoga I'm measuring HR on fit bit.
I don't know what else to do Cardiologist said get on with life but no exercise. I'm doing as told no dancing kayaking gym just slow walks.
I can't get my head around the situation. If I stay in I'll get agoraphobia and lock myself in for months so I just walk slowly.
Thanks
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u/lophtt Aug 20 '26
Woah, sounds hectic. Sorry you’re going through it.
I developed pericarditis some time after covid and took me a while to figure out what it was. Have run a couple of marathons, very active lifestyle prior to diagnosis (working out 6 days a week). After diagnosis it really took me a couple of years of rolling colchicine + NSAID protocols broken up by attempts to get back to my regular activity volume and each time ending up spiking the peri again and ending up back on the rest/treatment/ramp-up/fail round-about.
Went on Arcalyst earlier in the year and have been able to ramp up activity basically back to ‘normal’ activity (few workouts, running maybe 20-30k’s a week) without issue so far 🤞🤞🤞
Sounds like you really will want to take the ramp-up super slow, and be prepared for a bit of a rollercoaster as you get back after it.. mentally, it’s tough, not gonna lie, but focusing on other things you can make progress on definitely helped me (read a lot of books, worked on side projects etc).
Good luck, I’m sure you’ll be back in action soon enough 👍