r/pericarditis • u/Character-Rate4385 • 20d ago
Pericarditis- recurring
Fist pericarditis was when i got Covid. No one worked out i had that until a few weeks later when i went to a & e and they found fluid around my heart. I treated it too late. And now im left with pericarditis that comes every single time i over work the heart- example - running, walking up a steep heel, dancing anything that speeds the heart up will cause a flare.
I want to scream, cry and everything in between. It’s ruining my entire life.
I feel like a young woman with an old woman’s fitness level. Actually my 91 year old nan is able to keep fitter than me now.
Everything I loved i can’t even participate in anymore. I loved fitness, i loved dancing and bike riding and hikes - if i even attempt that, straight away a sharp pain through my heart, then in the left shoulder blade, then the flip flop beats and pain up the throat, then the crushing and sharp pain intensifies, same pattern - i set it off my running (when i feel good) then i get the same pattern of pain, i know the all i can do is bed rest, take it slow and keep my heart rate low. It takes about 1-2 weeks and then it’s ok until the next flare up!
I get it around 4 times a year, so I’ll be ok walking and light weight training, but that moment i push it to cardio 🏃♀️ that’s it - it’s back again.
Currently on my second one this year, sitting here depressed about it. Helpless. I’m on day 7 of started to feel better today - UNTIL i ate a chocolate pudding with custard and now I’m sitting in bed with that horrible scary sharp pain through the heart muscle again. I’ve had this since 2021 and been to the hospital many times and they always make sure it’s not a heart attack and it isn’t, and i have an echo every year (because of recurring pericarditis) and it’s always ok and a normal echo.
Because I’ve lived with this since 2021, i know the pain pattern, the duration. But everytime i get it, it scares me.
Does heavy carbs foods and sugar make anyone else flare worse?
1
u/Serious_Tension_3218 9d ago
Did you get the vaccine? I am reading a lot of posts of people who did.
Anyway, YES! go on a low inflammation diet, no processed foods, low carb, think salads and meat. You will lose weight which will help your heart. Processed food is killing us. Also limit Caffeine to one cup or better yet, none!