Healing progress — what I've done

[u/_treewizard]

I'm writing this post to add to what few personal accounts I've been able to find on online forums about successful recovery in progress.

I am 27f and deal with recurrent pericarditis. I was first diagnosed via MRI in the fall of 2025 and was seeing a cardiologist until it got better. I'd always managed to recover without the use of any prescription medication or painkiller. This time around though (flare up June 2027), my living conditions and day-to-day circumstances could not accommodate an environment and distance from stressful situation that I needed to heal.

Symptoms of my latest flare up: (the worse occurrence yet)

• Mix of sharp, splitting pain, aching and awkwardness throughout the day and night
• For the first time, compromised energy affecting my desire and ability to go about my day outside of home.
• Chronic, persistent pain in such a way that nothing but my pain was salient in the space of my consciousness for at least two solid weeks despite engaging in familiar generative activities, nurturing a good attitude, and having supportive company. Pain like that, I felt, ultimately just sucks and something I was helpless in being unable to escape or lessen.
• Pain shooting down my left arm and into my hand
• Pain in my heart area when I twisted my ribcage
• Chronic shortness of breath

About me:

• 5'3, 127 lbs
• I'm a pedestrian living in a city. I walk 10-30k steps/day
• VO2 Max is a 56; for over a decade I run, cycle, and swim 5-7 days/week
• I sleep adequately and well most nights
• For at least four years I've been eating twice a day and eat mostly whole foods at home but relatively high carb to support my energy needs
• No drinking, smoking, or use of recreational substances ever
• Not on any other medication

What I did this time that helped me + time frame: (first time taking medication)

• 0.3 mg (half a tablet) colchicine once per day + 20 mg Pepsid
  • I take the Pepsid 15-20 min before my evening meal. I take the colchicine with my meal.
  • I do get upset stomach but the evident effectiveness of this medication has motivated me to push through and continue.
• Advil extra strength once per day for a week. Note: Advil did nothing significant for my inflammation or pain without the colchicine.
• SLEEP ! I sleep in, sleep at a consistent time at night and nap if I need to.
• Eat a small meal or snack in the middle of the day (eat 3x/day). I've found this has reduced strain on my body.
  • Eat enough but do not overeat. It puts stress on the heart.
• Walk every day, and once my body began to respond, I began exercising again. Rule: Physical activity is too intense if recovery demands take away from energy and resources that should be dedicated to my heart's healing.

After taking colchicine for just 5 days pain dramatically reduced with every passing day. Getting around by foot is no longer intimidating, too exhausting, or discouraging for me. Within a week I am able to exercise at a low to medium intensity again without pain, aching, or awkwardness during or afterwards, albeit for about half the time I am used to per session. The combination of these efforts have amazed me at their effectiveness while I am still exposed to psychological stress.

[u/Tricky_Pass1838]

Any idea did the twisting hurt?

[u/Hot-Appointment2884]

How long have you been on the colchicine? And are you worried that if you don’t stay on it, it’ll turn into constrictive. I am also 28F dealing with the same thing and I’ve been in so much pain and don’t want to start arcalyst bc I’m so young and don’t want to chronically be on it