Coping With Pericarditis

In Oct 1998 I was diagnosed with pericarditis I was in the U.S. and was immediately sent to ICU with 99.9 percent of my heart engulfed with fluid. They immediately drained the fluid from the heart (1 liter) and was told everything would be fine and I could go home. Since I was living in Belgium (husband’s job) we decided to go to the U.S. for another opinion. We arrived on Monday and saw the specialist with a heart institute, in which it showed the fluid was returning.

By Friday, I was in a fetal position and was rushed again into surgery. Again they drained the heart another liter. But by Monday the fluid had returned at that time the doctors said there was nothing they could do and prepare for the worse since they could not continue draining the heart, there was a viral infection and my body was not fighting back or the medicines could not cure it.

My husband researched and found out about the Pericardial Window and insisted with the doctors to do it. Once that was done, the fluid was released into the cavity but was trapped between the lungs. Within 48 hours I was rushed into surgery in which they drained 2 liters of fluid from my lungs. After 3 months of intensive care, I seemed to be recovered with no more instances. Now it is 9 years later and the pericarditis has returned. I was given an anti inflammaroty drug that took care of the heart fluid in Apr. But it is June 4th and now it seems the fluid has repeated the pattern to the lungs. Today I live in China (husband’s job) and the medical care is lacking so I consulting with the doctors to try and return to the U.S. for further medical care. At this time no one has ever known what has caused the viral infection or why. If anyone has experience with this, please let me know.