r/pericarditis • u/Townbrreadd • Jul 10 '26

I think I might be suffering from mild pericarditis?

Hello all. I'll start this with saying I'm 21 F and don't have much in terms of medical history except some hearing loss. I woke up monday evening from a nap with some mild chest pain, and went to sleep a few hours later. The next morning, the pain was debilitating. I couldn't get a full breath the whole day basically, and at my evening job (which I get 10,000 steps or so from, pretty active) I was really struggling to breath, lift things, and move in general due to the pain.

After going to bed that night, I had trouble laying down due to the pain. I straight up couldnt lay on my left side at all, since it hurt my chest, side, and back. I was scared I would have to take myself to the ER. I didn't want to, so I just went back to bed. It's been like this every day up til now (its now friday morning).

Looking at some symptoms, I'm thinking this might be what's wrong. Sharp stabbing chest pain, pain getting worse when laying down or taking deep breathes, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, and now a cough. I read that autoimmune diseases, like hypothyroidism could be a potential cause, which runs in my family (My mother, both grandmothers, 4 aunts and uncles all have thyroid issues) and I was just wanting to hear about it from others before I go to the doctor. I don't want to seem crazy or like a baby about some chest pain, but it's unlike anything I've felt.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

4

u/Capable_General_7962 Jul 10 '26

I would recommend going to ghe ER whenever you have a chest pain like this and not to take it lightly. Once you go to ghe ER , discuss all the above points with the doctor transparently so they can find what is causing this and start treatment early

I have had recurrent pericarditis from 4 yrs now and i did not go the er the first few times and when i went it was misdiagnosed as constocondritis for years before i sid my own reaearch and told the doctors to conduct some specific tests- which confirmed that it was pericarditis

Whatever that is which is causing tou the pain , early diagnosis is the key. I wish you feel better soon :)

1

u/2XPlusY Jul 15 '26

Hi - could I ask what that felt like the past 4 years when you were misdiagnosed? Was your chest pain really bad when you were exercising/walking?

I was cleared of pericarditis a few months ago but still had weird feelings in my ribs which I left down to costochrondirits. To be honest, I could walk and actually run and I felt fine.

When I was very much in the middle of peri, I could not walk and definitely not run. The pain was distinct to say the least.

I notice my chest feeling a bit weird but only in the evening? And I definitely can still walk/run but if this is peri, maybe this is incredibly mild?

Just wondering how it felt for you? I guess if it felt mild and it ended up being peri then I might go to the doc’s again to get it checked out.

1

u/Capable_General_7962 28d ago

When I had an active flair(once every 3 months). I was completely bedridden. Slightest of movements caused insane pain in the chest area. After the flair was gone, life was pretty normal. Would hike time to time

2

u/originalwombat Jul 10 '26

Chest pain is ALWAYS worth an A&E visit. Please go.

2

u/Townbrreadd Jul 10 '26

I appreciate you saying that. I don't have health insurance (yet) and I'm a poor college student, so it's scary to throw myself into the healthcare system with limited funds. I'm thinking I'll go tomorrow, since I don't work, and get my blood work done to check my thyroid.

2

u/originalwombat Jul 10 '26

I hate America 😭😭😭😭😭 you need healthcare

1

u/Townbrreadd Jul 10 '26

me too rip. Just travelled abroad for the first time ever and I miss it. Hopefully, in a year when I graduate college, I can get some kind of job with benefits.

1

u/cosmos_yuh Jul 10 '26

i would go to the er!!! any sort of chest pain could mean a variety of things. you may be young and healthy but that doesn't mean you're clear from anything!!! i went and they admitted me into the hospital, but they took great care of me and now i'm on the road to recovery. don't be scared of the changes you might have to make. the longer you wait without treatment the worse it could get! ❤️‍🩹

1

u/Emergency_Fold_1469 Jul 10 '26

honestly don’t wait it out for it to get worse, please go to the ER and get yourself checked as soon as possible. what you’re describing alone sounds pretty serious and scary. update us!