How not to freak out about pericarditis/health anxiety?

Hi all,

Two weeks ago I went to the emergency room with heart palpitations, chest tightness and pain, fatigue and in a state of high anxiety. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I was seen immediately and after tests and x-rays making sure that I didn't have a serious heart problem, the ER doctor stated that I likely was suffering from Pericarditis (inflammation of the Pericardium). I was told to make an appointment with my regular GP to get further treatment. After seeing my GP, he thought it was more likely a bad case of Costochondritis and prescribed me some anti-inflammatories and a PPI. To give me some peace of mind he sent me off for an echocardiogram. The echocardiogram did in fact confirm that I do have a mild case of Pericarditis (as my GP put it). My GP told me that I need to keep taking the anti-inflammatories for a few weeks to let it settle, it should be self-limiting and was nothing to worry about.

When I got home I did some reading about Pericarditis. Some of the government health sites I looked at said that in the majority of cases it is acute and takes up to 3 or so weeks to recover from. I stumbled onto some groups on social media of people who have Pericarditis and began to get quite concerned. Everyone had chronic and reoccurring cases of Pericarditis and were struggling to deal with it. People with Pericarditis that had suffered for 20 years and some even who had it so bad they couldn't work and were on disability. It painted a pretty bad outlook and I'm now freaking out about the potential of this impacting my life considerably based on these people's experiences.

Part of me feels like I may be getting a distorted picture of what the outlook for Pericarditis is. People who recover from it quickly and without any complications are unlikely to post about it or frequent forums and groups. I'm aware that I have anxiety around health. When I was young, my Mother died of cancer and her doctor didn't act upon the first signs of her cancer - something that may have cost her life. At least in Australia, GP's are the gateways to the rest of the health system, so there is a lot resting on the GP knowing what they are talking about, knowing how to treat problems effectively and knowing when it's time to refer it on to a specialist.

How do I not freak out about this?

I would absolutely avoid social media groups where non-professionals post about their individual symptoms and post articles often from questionable sources. I would look at reputable health sites (I like Mayo Clinic for example) and get a second opinion if needed. I'm sorry you had that health scare.

I believe what these people are saying about their condition is true. I have a science background, so I know what good sources of information looks like. Most of the Americans in the facebook group see a specialist in pericarditis at the Mayo Clinic.

I guess I'm likely getting a misrepresentation of everyone's experience of having pericarditis because I'm not hearing from the people who do not suffer from it chronically, do not respond to treatment or have it reoccurring.

I think I will be getting a second opinion on my treatment though.

I believe what these people are saying about their condition is true. I have a science background, so I know what good sources of information looks like. Most of the Americans in the facebook group see a specialist in pericarditis at the Mayo Clinic.

 

I guess I'm likely getting a misrepresentation of everyone's experience of having pericarditis because I'm not hearing from the people who do not suffer from it chronically, do not respond to treatment or have it reoccurring.

 

I think I will be getting a second opinion on my treatment though.

It doesn't matter if you have a science background - I also know how to discern sources of information including scientific. That's not the point. You are not a cardiologist and neither are they. And they are not your cardiologist even if they have that training. You will make yourself anxious if you go by anecdotal stories posted on social media by strangers and if you don't limit yourself to trusted websites like Mayo Clinic. I had to do this when I had my high risk pregnancy so I didn't stress myself out. Second opinion sounds great. Best of luck.

It doesn't matter if you have a science background - I also know how to discern sources of information including scientific. That's not the point. You will make yourself anxious if you go by anecdotal stories posted on social media by strangers and if you don't limit yourself to trusted websites like Mayo Clinic. I had to do this when I had my high risk pregnancy so I didn't stress myself out. Second opinion sounds great. Best of luck.

Thanks!

I was referring to articles from questionable sources.

Thanks!

 

I was referring to articles from questionable sources.

OK sounds good -best of luck!

Sorry to hear this. Did you recently have a viral illness? It's a broad term meaning "inflammation of the membrane around the heart". This can vary from what you have to more serious cases. They would have seen more ominous findings on echocardiogram, ekg, chest imaging and lab tests if it were more serious. Just follow up and keep on top of it.

The echocardiogram did in fact confirm that I do have a mild case of Pericarditis. My GP told me that I need to keep taking the anti-inflammatories for a few weeks to let it settle, it should be self-limiting and was nothing to worry about.

Sorry to hear this. Did you recently have a viral illness? It's a broad term meaning "inflammation of the membrane around the heart". This can vary from what you have to more serious cases. They would have seen more ominous findings on echocardiogram, ekg, chest imaging and lab tests if it were more serious. Just follow up and keep on top of it.

I had a bad viral chest infection about a month beforehand.

According to the echocardiogram, I had some fibrous material on the right side of my heart/pericardium which is consistent with pericarditis. My doctor said that it was at a stage that I could recover from without any permanent damage (constrictive pericarditis) and the anti-inflammatories will give my body the opportunity to recover from it. I don't have an effusion, which is fantastic because that's quite serious.

The thing that is concerning me is that it seems standard practice to prescribe an anti-inflammatory, a drug called Colchicine and a PPI. I'm wondering if I should go back to the doctor and ask about the Colchicine (which seems helpful in preventing reoccurrence according to the literature).

My mom had one case 25 years ago and never again. She has been perfectly fine since. I would say most people are perfectly OK after .

Feel better soon!

My mom had one case 25 years ago and never again. She has been perfectly fine since. I would say most people are perfectly OK after .

 

Feel better soon!

That's reassuring! Thanks!

I think we almost always get a distorted, sky is falling view, when we look up our health issues on the internet.

No one posts "Oh, I'm fine, it was nothing". People want to post their nightmare scenarios, and then others comment, and it grows.

I put off a surgery for several years due to this, as I continually read nightmare, horror stories of permanent disfigurement. Long story short, I had the surgery, and it was not only fine, it was great. Seems no one posts about the great outcomes.

I'd stay off the internet about it, other than the typical WebMd, etc. sites, and rely on your cardiologist to guide you.

Agreed, the internet can be a scary place. I would follow your GP's directions and monitor for any recurring symptoms. As you said, most are acute one time situations, to treat it as such until proven other wise.

'Yeah, you got ghosts in your blood, you should do cocaine about it.'

I believe what these people are saying about their condition is true. I have a science background, so I know what good sources of information looks like.

Actually, it's very common for medical students to become hypochondriacs while they are learning about infectious diseases. They have science backgrounds, and access to good information. But what happens is, they are inundated with this information and begin to "see" some of it in themselves.

I think it would help you to lay off the information for a while. Pay attention to how you are actually feeling, physically, in the moment.

And it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion.

This is why the doctors tell us not to research the internet . It is good to be knowledgeable, but it also gives worse case scenario.

Stress can do a lot of damage. Calm down and deal with the problem as it is. Most likely you will be fine. Keep that mind set.

You should not be making yourself crazy , until you really know that there is an issue. Relax.

The best way to stop freaking out about health issues is to avoid social media groups and simply listen to and follow your doctors'/Specialist's instructions. If in doubt, get a second opinion. Listening to strangers on the internet and self-diagnosing every ailment only creates paranoia and unnecessary anxiety. Stressing about "what others are saying about it" will only make things worse.

3 years ago I had two pericarditis attacks. I believe they were caused by stress of my divorce and mainly as I had lost 100lbs very quickly on a diet. The attacks were kicked off when I drank alcohol (I don't drink often)

I haven't had an attack since the stress has resided and I'm back eating normally. Alcohol no longer gives me any issues.

I have a severe condition that is not fatal but non curable. The doctor said the worst thing in the world is to start looking things up online. A lot of stuff is half baked . People only give the worst case scenario’s . Etc etc.

Actually, it's very common for medical students to become hypochondriacs while they are learning about infectious diseases. They have science backgrounds, and access to good information. But what happens is, they are inundated with this information and begin to "see" some of it in themselves.

That's true. I was just addressing that the sources I was reading were reputable sources and not 'holisticpericarditisgoddess.com'.

Thanks everyone!

I think you are all right in saying that the internet is a rabbit hole of worst case scenarios. At the same time, I think it's good to take a bit of responsibility for your own health and inform yourself about the conditions which you have (using good sources as we've all said) - my health clinic actually encourages it. In this case, I've learnt a few helpful things through the community and have some questions to ask the next time I see my GP. It's about balance.

I've unfollowed that group (I've got all the helpful information I needed), will get another opinion on the treatment and stick with it. Hopefully, it'll resolve soon and I can get on with other things.

Thanks everyone!

 

I think you are all right in saying that the internet is a rabbit hole of worst case scenarios. At the same time, I think it's good to take a bit of responsibility for your own health and inform yourself about the conditions which you have (using good sources as we've all said) - my health clinic actually encourages it. In this case, I've learnt a few helpful things through the community and have some questions to ask the next time I see my GP. It's about balance.

 

I've unfollowed that group (I've got all the helpful information I needed), will get another opinion on the treatment and stick with it. Hopefully, it'll resolve soon and I can get on with other things.

"Inform" is broad - so yes, inform, and I'm glad you're going to stop doing it in the way you have been. Good luck!

Can you ask your doctor for good medical resources to read?

To be honest you can run around getting all sorts of opinions and procedures etc out of anxiety. Often it does more harm than good. Post-viral pericarditis is rather common and NSAIDs and Colchicine are the standard of care for mild post viral pericarditis. It's not that reputable sites don't offer info, it's the interpretation of that info because it is broad based and not specific advice on your specific situation or particular case..

My GP told me that I need to keep taking the anti-inflammatories for a few weeks to let it settle, it should be self-limiting and was nothing to worry about.