Pericarditis Support Group

To all sufferers with Pericarditis, I am taking fish oil/omega-3 and it is good for your heart. It seems to wake my legs up in the morning when I just want to rest, but I need to get up and go to work. I take the vitamin C so I can stay healthy and not get sick. Just thought I would mention this to you all. I get these from Cosco and they are very resonable.

Praying for you all,

Juliette

Hi Juliette,

Thanks for your post. It got me thinking. I have been doing some research on ways to lower CRP and sedimentation rate. Fish oil and Vitamin C supplements have both come up. I am also looking into Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10. I know that there is something that is triggering this inflammatory response (pericarditis) that we don't know about, but maybe if we do things to keep inflammation in our bodies low and keep our CRP and sedrate down, we can keep the pericardial inflammation at bay. My treatment has been mostly focused on medications to treat the pericarditis, but the health care works that way for just about any condition out there. I think you could be onto something. Doctors usually don't use supplements. You say that you feel a difference in the chest pain when you take the fish oil? Perhaps it is helping to lower your inflammation. How much do you take? How long have you been taking it? I am currently receiving acupuncture treatments. It's hard to know if it's helping since the prednisone masks my symptoms. Please keep in touch and let me know the outcome of your second opinion.

Hope you're feeling better.

Hazeldee

Hi there.

I am also taking fish oil, vitamin c, coenzyme 10, I don't know that they are helping alot but I continue taking them just in case. Have you guys also looked into anti-inflammatory diets? I know a good organization that uses a anti inflammatory eating plan. I would recommend looking into it. Maximized living. I also see a chiropractor that is a maximized living doctor and I'm hoping he can help. Yep, you heard me, a chiropractor

Hi nmarie,

I missed a lot of the new posts since I was away from home recently. I am just catching up now. I actually looked up information about supplements and foods that are supposed to be anti-inflammatory on my own which is why I take vit C, fish oil, and vit E. I will have to look up Maximized living. As far as the chiropractor... I actually worked for one for a while as an assistant and saw him help many people, some of which could barely walk into our office on their first visit. I totally believe in what they do. BUT, I strongly believe that it was the adjustment I had the day before my last recurrence that actually brought about my recurrence. I had been off of prednisone for a month. I think I was having very slight signs before that adjustment, but believe that the adjustment just tipped the scales. (it was a pretty big, physical adjustment) Adjustments can cause inflammation as they move and shift things around. For me, I have decided against any further chiropractor care or massages, because I just don't want to take the chance. I am curious how your chiropractor is different from most since he is a "maximaized living" doctor. I need to go read some of your other posts to get a better idea of what you have gone though. I am glad you posted here though. It is so nice to "meet" others in the same boat.

Hope you are well,

Hazeldee

Maximized Living chiro's don't adjust you according to pain. they will adjust you until your spine has no sublaxation in it whatsoever. So right now my spine is in a phase 2 of sublaxation and I am going 3 times a week. They believe that the spinal cord cannot be pinched or out of line in any way for the body to function and heal at 100%. If you could talk to one that would be great because the evidence is very convincing. My dr. gave us and some other new clients an hour presentation on it.

They follow five rules for healthy living

- toxin free lifestyle (this one is hard because they recommend avoiding prescriptions which I obviously can't do)

- Healthy diet (they have a detailed plan)

- exercise (another thing I can't do)

- healthy nervous system (this includes chiropractic care)

- healthy relationships and spirituality

So far I have noticed any flare ups from the chiropractor and I am also avoiding massage. I scheduled two recently and then on the day realized how terrified I was to go and canceled last minute. Needless to say I won't be going to that clinic because I am too embarrassed from cancelling last minute two times. Haha.

nmarie

Hi nmarie,

Very interesting. It sounds like they have a good, well-rounded approach to health. I will never get adjusted again though, for the same reason I won't have a massage. I do not want to risk causing any more inflammation in my body than I already have. I just don't think it's a good idea for me. Especially not after having a full-blown recurrence happen the day after my last full-body chiropractic adjustment. If I could go back and not have it done, I would. I wish I could feel comfortable exercising in some form. I have been told that I can do as much as I feel I can do, but I am afraid to risk it. My acupuncturist says that I should not overexert myself, especially in the cold weather. There are so many mixed signals in all of this, because the doctors just don't know much about pericarditis. I will be so glad to get off of the prednisone once and for all. If you can avoid it, that's great. Unfortunately I haven't been able to. I tried to not go back on it when I had the last recurrence, but the other medicines were not working and the pain was unbearable. It has been the only thing that has worked for me when I get bad. Hopefully the methotrexate I am taking will have enough of an effect that it will keep me from having a flare-up once I am off the prednisone.

Unfortunately, my life is pretty stressful. And it may only get worse as I am starting nursing school in January. (decided once and for all after my heart surgery last winter) I am sure it's not helping me right now.

Well I hope you're feeling better.

Hazeldee

"Very interesting. It sounds like they have a good, well-rounded approach to health. I will never get adjusted again though, for the same reason I won't have a massage. I do not want to risk causing any more inflammation in my body than I already have. I just don't think it's a good idea for me. Especially not after having a full-blown recurrence happen the day after my last full-body chiropractic adjustment. "

Oddly enough, my husband had been having his back adjusted for about three weeks before his first occurance of pericarditis. He's short but muscular and carries muscle in his shoulders, so combined with working a desk job it made his back ache during running or rollerblading.

The last cardiologist we talked to noticed his long time twitch and started asking about back issues as well, and then referred us to a physical therapist. He thinks part of the pain may have been referred pain from a separate condition, or perhaps even a currently unknown cause.

Also oddly reminds me of my grandmother who complained for month of chest pain to her doctor. They didn't find anything there, but later some of the major blood vessels behind her organs up against her spine were found to have been constricted and were causing the pain. It didn't show up because the organs were in the way of most of the scans! They all had just accused her of faking the whole time.

Nerves are tricky. Other avenues to explore.

hi there

take two simple steps .it will much help you in pain relieve and overall condition

1-Take Glucose in Powder form(not for diabetes patients).1/2 teaspoon glucose powder and take it without water slowly .Eat glucose powder once or twice or as you like per day

2-when feel chest pain .remove your upper(shirts or what ever you are wearing)

mr khalid