pericarditis

Hi
2 hours after my first pacemaker implant, I developed pericarditis, the pain was hell - but now 2 1/2 weeks later I still feel some pain breathing, any one else have this happen?
I started walking, 2 miles at a time but breathing deep is still uncomfortable. Is this ok, fine - what do you think?
pat

4 Comments

I had it too!!

by Pookie - 2009-07-28 08:07:15

Hi.

Sorry to hear you experienced Pericarditis...I must say that mine was THE second worst pain I have ever experienced. Mine too happened right after initial implant of my pacemaker, but I thought this pain was part and parcel and even thought I was being a whimp concerning the pain, but after 2 days something in my gut told me to call 911 and thank goodness I did as I ended up dead, not once, but twice!!! When I was semi-stablized they did an emergency cardiac tamponade so fast they didn't have time to even freeze the area or give me any pain meds!!! I'll never forget screaming for them to stop...matter of fact I was screaming so loud and so hard that the nurse in the operating room told me to shut up!!! (I kept on screaming) Then I was put into the critical care unit for 10 days, during that time my leads fell twice.

Anyways, back to you....please please please... if you feel that it's not getting better or changes in any way, get your butt to the ER!!!

I just remember that it took at least a few months before I could lay down to sleep and breathe properly, but I also had pleural effusion around my lungs.

Percarditis is not something to take lightly. I had several Xrays periodically to check if it was clearing up as I too was on Prednisone (which was the start of my major stomach issues).

Keep healthy & stay safe.

Pookie

Treatment?

by bobad - 2009-07-28 09:07:01


Have you received any treatment for the pericarditis? If your doc doesn't want to treat it, I would see another doc. It's usually benign, but can flare up and be dangerous on occasion.

3 doses of ibuprophen per day for 3-4 days can relieve it substantially until your doc gives you something. (usually NSAID's and/or prednisone)

Good luck,,,

Breathing Pain

by J.B. - 2009-07-28 10:07:44

Hi Pat,

Based on my experience I know there are several things that can cause severe pain when breathing. In addition to the pericarditis, there is pneumonia, and pleurisy and a bunch I have no experience with. If the pain lasts more than a couple of days, or is severe, see your doctor.

J.B.

Ouch!

by ela-girl - 2009-07-28 12:07:53

Yuck. Pericarditis. I had that and it took awhile for it to go away but it did with a script that my EP prescribed and some advil. My EP was out of town when I started having severe pain while breathing and an associate of his just told me that I was new to having a pm and that the pain was pm related and probably wouldn't go away etc. Whatever! I couldn't breathe without being doubled over (which with pericarditis DOES make breathing easier)! When I went back a few days later when my EP was back, he could even hear the friction rub from the pericarditis!!! Even after it started to go away on the meds, it started to come back after a couple weeks and I had to keep on the meds...then in a few days it was gone.

Pain while breathing is NOT normal. I would keep an eye on it...

If you haven't yet, you can do a search in the upper right hand corner of the site for "pericarditis" and see other postings/replies on it.

Feel better!
ela-girl

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