Question: I have relapsing pericarditis for the past five to six years. There is some thickening on the anterior pericardium on CT angiogram. I have also had some palpitations with some of my relapses. Feels like my heart races and skips a beat sometimes. I get very tired and sometimes sweaty and nausea. I am on Cholchicine, Plaquenille, Endone and sometimes SR Targin for pain. Over the five years I've been admitted to hospital about four time for the run of tests. I'm also presently on 50 mg Prednisone for the past three days for this present relapse and about to taper over the next month or so. This is probably the fourth round of prednisone treatment in this past twelve months. I'm to see my cardio again in two weeks time. My GP is thinking its time to get a surgical opinion from a cardio thoracic specialist to see if a surgical option is a possibility. Would you think this is appropriate yet? I must admit I'm pretty fed up with living my life like this and I hate the side effects of the prednisone. It does help the pain but not sure it's worth all the other possible pay offs. I am type 2 diet controlled diabetic and it increases my bg while I'm on it which scares me. It also makes me feel very depressed and not myself. What is your advice please. I am an Australian living in Brisbane and wish there was a local support group here.....it seems such a rare condition due to our small population here. Thanks for your answer.

Would it be advisable to get two opinions from two different surgeons?
Do you know of a support group in Australia?