u/OldEntertainer1858

I have had on and off pericarditis since December. It started with me going to the er because of horrible chest pain. I have genuinely been miserable for months. At first I did take 600 mg ibuprofen 3 times a day for a week and tapered off and it resolved it, but then it came back. That was just through my PCP. I started them again February along with colchicine. Then I went to a cardiologist. He was very dismissive to my pain because my symptoms weren’t “typical” ones of pericarditis. He literally told me to just put ice on it because he thought it was costochondritis and instructed me to just stop taking the medications. Next I got an MRI which the radiologist said showed inflammation and diagnosed it as subacute pericarditis. However, once again the cardiologist did not agree and thought it was something rheumatological. So then I get blood work and go to a rheumatologist. Hashimotos antibodies were positive but my thyroid is normal. She confirms the inflammation is not rheumatological related and is in fact cardiac related. Over spring break I started to feel better. I was on break from school and not moving around much. Got back from break and started to do dance class again and had some pain but it somewhat decreased overtime. Then in April I drank a lot one night, and boom, I felt like I was back to square one of the pain level I had in the ER. Now currently I am back on the ibuprofen and colchicine but am still in a flare-up. I’m just hopeless at this point. I am physically and mentally in such a bad spot. I even have started anxiety medication because of the toll this has all had on me mentally. I can barely walk for 15 minutes without having pain. I literally vacuumed yesterday and it wiped me out for the rest of the day. I start my summer job soon and it involves a decent amount of lifting/moving things. I know it sounds dramatic but I want my old life back before all of this. I haven’t been able to enjoy a lot of things without being in pain. Thanks for reading and if anyone has any advice or suggestions of what to do please comment. Is it worth asking about other medications like corticosteroids? I don’t think the ibuprofen is doing anything at this point.