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)

 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

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in
article <1153981442.541270.166280@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>:

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.

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 halbowitz@gmail.com wrote in
article <1153944862.306486.268400@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>:

Response sent by private email.

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 Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote in
article <1153841410.592896.215110@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>:

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.

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

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
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

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.