I've had pericarditis for 14 years (29m)
Hey guys, currently having a flare up and found this sub.
Just gonna drop my life story.
15 years old: Heart attack during gym class in 9th grade. Discovered congenital rca defect. Gets heart surgery. Surgery successful but gets SVT and severe pericarditis side effects.
16 years old: Pericarditis every month. More surgery to drain liquid. Doctors accuse my mom of making up my symptoms. CPS is called, im placed in foster care. Have another flare up and almost die in foster care. Mom sent to jail for refusing to do a court ordered mental health eval.
17 years old: Suicidal and obese from prednisone/debilitating perciarditis. Random old guy inspires me to do the paleo diet to reduce inflammation.
18 years old: been paleo for 1 year, lost weight, able to control pericarditis with just ibuprofen. I swear off cardiologist and doctors cause they cant do anything and prednisone is awful.
19-22 years old: Meet a girl, get married, live happily ever after. Still get flare ups 2-4x a year but its self managed with ibuprofen and rest.
29 years old: Havent seen a doctor in like 12 years. Whenever i flare up, I get scared that my chronic pericarditis will lead to restrictive one day. I dont take my life for granted.
I really want to know what everyone else's story is. How did you get pericarditis?
This has always felt like my burden to carry and knowing there's a whole ass sub for this is insane
Thanks!!