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Medical Forum / General / Cardiology / July 2006chronic parcarditis.. Whats the future hold?
Hello all... in a nutshell ive been diagnosed with chronic parcarditis.. I forget the technical term my doc gave but basically my own immune system is attacking my pericardium. Ive just got some basic questions.. ok, maybe not that basic but still questions ;) They have me on Prednisone starting at 60mg a day. I tried to ween myself off of them but when i got down to about 10mg my chest felt brusied so they put me back up to 60. Im on 40mg a day now as well as a dose of colchicine. They are trying to ween me off again. I dont think its going to work though as i still feel as though my chest is bruised so im figuring when i get down to 20mg or so of Prednisone the paricarditis will return.. then what? And thats where my questions come in. With someone with my afflication.. does there sometimes come a day when the immune system just stops attacking? Even for a little while? Is there other meds other the Prednisone that i can ask my doctor about? This stuff is horrible. I think my doctor has been pretty thourough looking for the cause, as well as other doctors, with no luck. Has anyone had what i had and actually found the cause? Anyhow.. any answers to those questions and ANY info you can give me regarding this in general would be much appreciated. I have read other posts and have learned alot but you never know what people havnet posted and thats why im asking these questions today. Thanks for your time. > Hello all... > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > I have read other posts and have learned alot but you never know what > people havnet posted and thats why im asking these questions today. Would suggest you seek a referral to a rheumatologist. This subspeciality focuses on autoimmune problems. > Thanks for your time. You are welcome. All thanks and praises belong to the LORD, Whom I love with all my being. Prayerfully in Christ's amazing love, Andrew B. Chung Cardiologist, Atlanta, Georgia, USA http://HeartMDPhD.com/HolySpirit Pericarditis is often a symtom of various auto-immune conditions such as lupus, vasculitis or Churg-Strauss syndrome. Has your doctor ruled out such conditions? They tend to be chronic conditions, I'm sorry to say, although some people do get put into remission without the need for ongoing prednisone treatment. Robert Yea, they sent me to a rheumatologist. Hes the one that said that there was no cause for it other then my own immune system attacking me. He also checked me out for Lupas and that came back negative. The thought of being on prednisone indeffinetly is just as bad as the pericarditis. > Pericarditis is often a symtom of various auto-immune conditions such as > lupus, vasculitis or Churg-Strauss syndrome. Has your doctor ruled out such [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Robert > Yea, they sent me to a rheumatologist. > Hes the one that said that there was no cause for it other then my own [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The thought of being on prednisone indeffinetly is just as bad as the > pericarditis. Would suggest you ask your rheumatologist about trying Limbrel for your condition. Limbrel is FDA-approved for use as an anti-inflammatory for osteoarthritis so using it for what you have would be off-label. Prayerfully in Christ's amazing love, Andrew B. Chung Cardiologist, Atlanta, Georgia, USA http://HeartMDPhD.com/HolySpirit Message for the wolves in sheepskin: http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/4f43855be1cfa795? or http://tinyurl.com/gextq It seems to me I heard somewhere that Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in article <1153841410.592896.215110@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>: >> Yea, they sent me to a rheumatologist. >> Hes the one that said that there was no cause for it other then my own >> immune system attacking me. >> He also checked me out for Lupas and that came back negative. >> The thought of being on prednisone indeffinetly is just as bad as the >> pericarditis. >Would suggest you ask your rheumatologist about trying Limbrel for your >condition. Limbrel is FDA-approved for use as an anti-inflammatory for >osteoarthritis so using it for what you have would be off-label. Inflammation is not suggestive of osteoarthritis but of the over 100 varieties of inflammatory arthritic diseases. Osteoarthritis is a wear and tear erosion of the joints, not primarily inflammation of the soft tissues. Lupus, for which Mr. Halbowitz was tested by his doctor, is one of the auto-immune inflammatory arthritis-like conditions. Accurate diagnosis is essential, but often difficult for the inflammatory arthritic diseases. There are a number of recently developed drugs that can slow or stop the progression of the disease, but results vary widely with the individual and the medication. IIUC prednisone is often used as a first step to relieve acute inflammation, and its use will be moderated or stopped as other treatments take over.  SignatureDon Kirkman >"There are a number of recently >developed drugs that can slow or stop the progression of the disease, >but results vary widely with the individual and the medication" Mr Kirkman, can you tell me these medications? Seems to me my primary doctor is out of ideas to what the problem is. My cardiologist hasnt really gave much input other then to send me to the rheumatologist and to up my prednisone dosage. And the rheumatologist , as you know, told me he thinks its idiopathic . So, its looks like for the time being im not going to get an accurate diagnosis, unless the idiopathic diagnosis is accurate. Either way it looks like its up to me for the time being to try and help myself. The first thing i want to do is get off this prednisone. So if you have any meds i can suggest to my cardiologist that would be helpful. It seems to me I heard somewhere that halbowitz@gmail.com wrote in article <1153944862.306486.268400@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: >>"There are a number of recently >>developed drugs that can slow or stop the progression of the disease, >>but results vary widely with the individual and the medication" >Mr Kirkman, can you tell me these medications? >Seems to me my primary doctor is out of ideas to what the problem is. >My cardiologist hasnt really gave much input other then to send me to >the rheumatologist and to up my prednisone dosage. >And the rheumatologist , as you know, told me he thinks its idiopathic Response sent by private email. SignatureDon Kirkman > It seems to me I heard somewhere that halbowitz@gmail.com wrote in > article <1153944862.306486.268400@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Response sent by private email. Does not surprise me. Still praying for you, dear neighbor Don. Prayerfully in Christ's amazing love, Andrew B. Chung Cardiologist, Atlanta, Georgia, USA http://HeartMDPhD.com/HolySpirit Message for wolves wearing sheepskin: http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/4f43855be1cfa795? or http://tinyurl.com/gextq (witness the frantic foot-stomping antics of the anti-christ) It seems to me I heard somewhere that Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in article <1153981442.541270.166280@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: >> It seems to me I heard somewhere that halbowitz@gmail.com wrote in >> article <1153944862.306486.268400@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: >> >>"There are a number of recently >> >>developed drugs that can slow or stop the progression of the disease, >> >>but results vary widely with the individual and the medication" >> >Mr Kirkman, can you tell me these medications? >> >Seems to me my primary doctor is out of ideas to what the problem is. >> >My cardiologist hasnt really gave much input other then to send me to >> >the rheumatologist and to up my prednisone dosage. >> >And the rheumatologist , as you know, told me he thinks its idiopathic >> Response sent by private email. >Does not surprise me. No intent to surprise you; it's just that you're unfamiliar with the concept of keeping things on topic. Arthritis information is off-topic for sci.med.cardiology. SignatureDon Kirkman > It seems to me I heard somewhere that Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in > article <1153981442.541270.166280@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > concept of keeping things on topic. Arthritis information is off-topic > for sci.med.cardiology. Arthritis remains a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Truth is simple. Still praying for you, dear neighbor Don. Prayerfully in Christ's amazing love, Andrew B. Chung Cardiologist, Atlanta, Georgia, USA http://HeartMDPhD.com/HolySpirit Message for the wolves in sheepskin: http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/4f43855be1cfa795? or http://tinyurl.com/s3bud (awaiting the frantic foot-stomping antics of the anti-christ) > It seems to me I heard somewhere that Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in > article <1153981442.541270.166280@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > concept of keeping things on topic. Arthritis information is off-topic > for sci.med.cardiology. The line or designations seem to be dissolving. Blood sugar and cardio issues come to mind. We hear inflammation mentioned often in SMC and I'm sure arthritis folks speak of it too. So the question is what is off topic? In matters concerning health I do not know. Is middle east conflict off topic? I wonder if our burden of mental health issues and how it effects our hearts matters. But the connections cause musing. Not a bad thing. Bill SignatureS Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit. > > It seems to me I heard somewhere that Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in > > article <1153981442.541270.166280@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Not a bad thing. Agree. May GOD bless you in the mighty way that only HE can, dear Bill whom I love, in Jesus' most precious and holy name. Amen ! Prayerfully in Christ's amazing love, Andrew B. Chung Cardiologist, Atlanta, Georgia, USA http://HeartMDPhD.com/HolySpirit Message for the wolves in sheepskin: http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/4f43855be1cfa795? or http://tinyurl.com/ru884 (awaiting the frantic foot-stomping antics of the anti-christ) Message for my brethren: http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/7bff7f0b57577900? or http://tinyurl.com/lozd9 (expecting the anti-christ to have a coronary here) It seems to me I heard somewhere that William Wagner wrote in article <not-to-here-williamwag-2AB5BB.14475927072006@sn-indi.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>: >> It seems to me I heard somewhere that Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in >> article <1153981442.541270.166280@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: >> >> It seems to me I heard somewhere that halbowitz@gmail.com wrote in >> >> article <1153944862.306486.268400@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>: >> >> >>"There are a number of recently >> >> >>developed drugs that can slow or stop the progression of the disease, >> >> >>but results vary widely with the individual and the medication" >> >> >Mr Kirkman, can you tell me these medications? >> >> >Seems to me my primary doctor is out of ideas to what the problem is. >> >> >My cardiologist hasnt really gave much input other then to send me to >> >> >the rheumatologist and to up my prednisone dosage. >> >> >And the rheumatologist , as you know, told me he thinks its idiopathic >> >> Response sent by private email. >> >Does not surprise me. >> No intent to surprise you; it's just that you're unfamiliar with the >> concept of keeping things on topic. Arthritis information is off-topic >> for sci.med.cardiology. > The line or designations seem to be dissolving. Blood sugar and >cardio issues come to mind. We hear inflammation mentioned often in >SMC and I'm sure arthritis folks speak of it too. > So the question is what is off topic? In matters concerning health I >do not know. Is middle east conflict off topic? I wonder if our >burden of mental health issues and how it effects our hearts matters. As a general case yes, the overlap is becoming more apparent. The OP, however, was asking specifically about diagnosis and treatment for his possible rheumatoid arthritis, not about his heart issues for which he is already seeing a cardiologist. I pointed him to support groups, described some typical approaches to treatment, and encouraged him to continue trying to get a clear diagnosis as quickly as possible. IMO none of that was relevant here. Yes, the middle east is irrelevant here, as are the religions that originated there. SignatureDon Kirkman |
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