Lise's Posts

Hi all my heart brothers and sisters, i had my mitral valve repair in 2016 with Dr. Gillinov at CC. Following the surgery which was robotic I suffered terribly for the first two years with periodic pericarditis. My heart doc at home finally figured out a combo of medicines that calmed it down, and as long as I stayed on them and didn’t exert myself to much physically during that time it went away after 3 weeks to a month. Fast forward to Covid vaccine which I got at my cardio docs advice and boom there was the pericarditis again. I started the meds immediately and after a couple of weeks it subsided and then after the 2 nd it came right back. Same deal, did the meds and stayed quiet, my doc said no more vaccines for me because since the initial introduction of the vaccine it’s been discovered to trigger pericarditis. Ugh! I am having another incident now, not sure what triggered it, but it stinks! I am grateful that I have not had this problem for a long time, but I would love to speak with someone on this site who does.

Hi everybody! It’s been since 2016 that I had my mitral valve repair done by Dr. Gillinov at CC in Ohio. I had robotic surgery and suffered terribly in recovery unfortunately. It turned into ongoing intermittent flares of pericarditis. I’m still getting them and they are miserable when I get them. I have treated the episodes while present with colchicine and anti inflammatories, I have to stay on the colchicine for 3 months. So, I went as long as 19 months recently without a reoccurrence and I was happy as a clam, I got my vaccine in February and as soon as I had it, Moderma, it triggered an episode, I immediately went on the meds and it lasted a couple of weeks, then the second shot did the same thing. My cardiologist said “that’s what it’s supposed to do, challenge your immune system.” Well here I sit a few months later and I have it again!!! I was doing.very well before the shot, finally, and now I am back to reciting episodes. I read last night from an article written by Cleveland Clinic itself that three of the things that can contribute to pericarditis are breast cancer with radiation treatment over the left breast, Cardio Catherization and heart surgery! I’ve had all three! Please if anyone here struggles with pericarditis send me a message and maybe we can compare notes! Lise

Hello everyone, I had my mitral valve repair almost 5 years ago at CLeveland Clinic in Ohio. I had robotic and have had problems with pericarditis on and off ever since. I have been treated by a cardiologist who is part of CC in Florida ever since. I’ve had it 5 times since the surgery and I’ve had to remain on the medication for 3 months at a time. It is extremely painful and uncomfortable during the times I’ve had it and frankly it stinks. I cannot exercise, sleep, or live my life in a normal way when it takes hold. The longest I went without it was 19 months which was terrific! My cardio doc has run out of suggestions and I’m feeling quite discouraged. I would love to know of a doctor who specializes in pericarditis. Has anyone here had a problem with this after their heart surgery? I need we had it before. I am 66 years, within a healthy weight range, eat well, don’t drink or smoke and doing great except for the pericarditis!