Resolved question:
Hello. I'm a 32 year old, otherwise healthy female, with one persisting problem. On September 9th, I was having horrible chest pain. I immediately went to the doctor. He ordered an EKG, echocardiogram, stress test (treadmill), and blood work to check cardiac enzymes. All of these came back normal and they found no fluid in my echo. He diagnosed pericarditis and I took 800mg of ibruprofen every 8 hours for three weeks. It reduced the pain in my chest, but it's still there. My chest hurts if I bend forward or lay on my left side (the right side hurts, but not as badly). When I initially went to the doctor, my pain was a roaring 9. Now I'd say it's a 3 or 4 depending in the day, but it is keeping me from doing some things. The only other symptoms I have are a dry throat which sometimes feels tight, like food may be getting stuck, and a little bit of ache in my throat and jaw. I've called my doctor twice, but he's not overly concerned. I'm normally very healthy and this has me quite worried. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I'm wondering can pericarditis take this long to heal, even when it's idiopathic and no fluid present? If the ibuprofen helped, is it just an infection? Anything else this could be so I can start feeling better? Thank you so much.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Cardiologist
Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
Pericarditis pain can persist for 6 weeks or more. Absence of fluid doesnt mean you cannot have pericarditis. Fluid in pericardial cavity indicates pericardial effusion not pericarditis. Infact after attack of pericardial fluid develops in between the pericardium layers then the pain will reduce because there is no more friction of the layers of the pericardium.
Pericarditis may be due to infection of inflammation secondary to autoimmune reaction to the infection. Infection of the pericardial cavity is a very serious condition and usually the patient is very sick. Pericarditis usually is an inflammation in response to the infection elsewhere like in your case maybe the throat.
Regards
Dr Vivek Mahajan
DM Cardiology