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How To Treat Thickened Pericardium Without Having Narcotic Pain Medicine?
I have a seronegative autoimmune disease that affects my joints, pericardium for 4 years, and kidneys for three years. I also have had Addison s disease for one year, and hypothyroid for one year. My pericardium is thickened and always painful. My doctors won t even discuss a pericardiectomy. I have been on narcotic pain medicine for 4 years, and I hate it. And I would rather die in surgery than to have another bout with Takotsubo syndrome, or have another cardioversion or heart cath with no time for a local anesthesia. All are horrifying. AS are my prospects, if this sac keeps rubbing my heart. (I am currently 1 month into the latest bout of pericarditis; the last bout lasted 2 full years.) My name is Jule, I am 48, and in rapidly failing health. What realistic options do I have?
Wed, 18 May 2016
Jule,
You describe a difficult problem. Chronic pericardial disease treatment is not so cut an dried as treating a sore throat. This may often create the sense that your providers are uncertain as to what to do. In truth, treatment has to be individualized, finding the right combination for every individual. My experience has been that a combination of medications including colchicine and non-steroidal drugs (like ibuprofen) is most effective though consideration of you other medicines is crucial.
Surgery is a consideration but quite a drastic one. For many people with chronic pericardial pain, removal of the pericardium is very helpful. You may wish to have someone at a center performing such procedures frequently meet with you, review your information and discuss the risks and alternatives in person.
You describe a difficult problem. Chronic pericardial disease treatment is not so cut an dried as treating a sore throat. This may often create the sense that your providers are uncertain as to what to do. In truth, treatment has to be individualized, finding the right combination for every individual. My experience has been that a combination of medications including colchicine and non-steroidal drugs (like ibuprofen) is most effective though consideration of you other medicines is crucial.
Surgery is a consideration but quite a drastic one. For many people with chronic pericardial pain, removal of the pericardium is very helpful. You may wish to have someone at a center performing such procedures frequently meet with you, review your information and discuss the risks and alternatives in person.
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