Myopericarditis

[RichT84]

Hello first time poster here.

I wondered if there was anyone on the forum who has suffered from either Myopericarditis or Pericarditis on the forum who may be able to give some advice on returning to fitness. To cut a long story short I tried to power through a chest infection in June that resulted in me collapsing with all the symptoms of a heart attack. Six days in hospital and a cardiac MRI later I was diagnosed with Myopericardtis an inflammation of the Myocardium and Pericardium of the heart as well as Pneumonia to top it off! It appears that the infection spread from my lungs to my heart knocking my heart function down to 46%. Three sessions on Zwift in the days before I was symptomatic probably didn't help!

Three months of sitting on my backside later and my fitness is completely shot to pieces. I've gone from being a reasonably fit 40 yr old who was powering up Sa Calobra in May to barely being able to push 110w for an hour on Zwift. Unfortunately there is very little information out there on how to return to fitness with this diagnosis. I know the default answer would be to speak to my Cardiologist but unfortunately mine is somewhat lacking in this department and trying to navigate the NHS is a challenge. His initial advice on diagnosis was to not walk more than a mile. I had to do my own research and cut out caffeine/alcohol and anything else that would cause inflammation of the heart as well whilst it recovered. During my recent consultation I asked if I could go back to exercise and he said yes. I had to drag out of him that I should avoid any high intensity until I have the results of a further scan. Needless to say I lack a bit of confidence in his guidance.

I'd appreciate some advice from anyone who has had or knows someone who suffered similar and what their journey back looked like. Were you able to get back to full fitness? Did you cut out the top end stuff and focus on lower intensity or did you decide that pushing yourself again wasn't worth the risk and invest in an eBike?

I know it's been said on here before but take it from me and never mess around with a chest infection it simply isn't worth it. While I have actually felt pretty well through the last three months it has not been a fun position to be in and it can set you fitness/cycling back significantly!

 

[Bristolian]

Welcome to the forum

I'm sorry to hear about your illness (and can't help, I'm afraid) but wish you a full and speedy recovery

 

[vickster]

There’s a thread here about pericarditis from @twentysix by twentyfive
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/pericarditis.276848/

 

[Drago]

Greetings and welcome.

Considering the potential ramifications if things go wrong for your ticker I would suggest the only advice you should be following is that given by a suitably qualified clinician.

 

[Emanresu]

Greetings and welcome.

Considering the potential ramifications if things go wrong for your ticker I would suggest the only advice you should be following is that given by a suitably qualified clinician.

Wot he said.

In saying that I had a GP referral to a physio group of those recovering from cardiac problems. It was held in the local gym. Over the 6 months course people went from grey, ashen and thin to a more normal look. Check if there is such a group locally either through your GP or the local hospital (try PALS).

I was the only non-cardio there (damaged ligaments). There was a lot of help, support and supervision so ideal that you don't overdo it.

 

[RichT84]

Thanks for the above. Vickster I'll take a look at that thread.

Drago - appreciate what you are saying and I certainly won't be looking at going against any medical advice, low Zone 1 & 2 for me long into the future. However there appears to have been quite a big increase in Myocarditis/Pericarditis recently but there is not a lot of info about the recovery from it online. I'm interested to hear from people who have been there and got the t-shirt or know someone that has to see how their recovery looked and what they are back to now just to know that there is some light at the end of the tunnel 👍

Emanresu - Good idea, I'll have a look and see what's in the local area.

 

[tyred]

Hello and welcome. I can't help you with advice but wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[fossyant]

A colleague at work has similar after a bout of covid a few months ago. He's been told no physical exercise for a few months - he's a cyclist too. Wishing you all the best for a recovery.

 

[Espresso vecchio]

First, a declaration of interest... I am a retired GP with more than enough experience of the deficiencies of (far too many) doctors, let alone the NHS's dysfunctional system. Apart from that I have had over 30 years of being a cardiology patient (2 separate chronic arrythmias) who has had a superb cardiologist for all that time, with a second one added in the last year on the recommendation of the first so I could undergo ablation. The second cardiologist is also superb in every way - an easy charm, a listener, and with an understated manner hiding his huge technical skill. He cured my first arrythmia with an ablation in January, and is deciding how best to approach the second and much less troublesome arrythmia.

In summary - if you feel you are getting nowhere with your cardiologist and vague advice, there is only one solution. As all doctors say in answer to the commmon question from patients "How do I identify a good abcxyz-ologist?", the answer is 'Find a better one'. It may mean spending money privately if you can, but it is usually money very well spent indeed, and often as a one-off expense. You will feel that you have been listened to and given considered advice tailored to you, your questions, concerns and needs. There are plenty of good cardiologists around, and plenty who are extremely well-versed in problems relating to sport and exercise.

Best wishes

 

[Freeweel]

As all doctors say in answer to the commmon question from patients "How do I identify a good abcxyz-ologist?", the answer is 'Find a better one'. It may mean spending money privately if you can, but it is usually money very well spent indeed, and often as a one-off expense. You will feel that you have been listened to and given considered advice tailored to you, your questions, concerns and needs. There are plenty of good cardiologists around, and plenty who are extremely well-versed in problems relating to sport and exercise.

Best wishes

Just wanted to second this. Having had heart issues myself, I found the NHS disconcertingly keen to write me off as a has been who should be taking moderately brisk walks and not much more. So I paid for a private cardiologist to provide rather more tailored advice. A decade or so on, I'm now back to regular weight training and just completed lejog. (I should be clear: the recovery didn't take that long!) Getting someone to talk things through with was transformational, and cost less than I'd spend on car maintenance in a normal year.

Best of luck with the recovery, and the physical adventures that you'll undertake afterwards.

 

[alicat]

First, a declaration of interest... I am a retired GP with more than enough experience of the deficiencies of (far too many) doctors, let alone the NHS's dysfunctional system. Apart from that I have had over 30 years of being a cardiology patient (2 separate chronic arrythmias) who has had a superb cardiologist for all that time, with a second one added in the last year on the recommendation of the first so I could undergo ablation. The second cardiologist is also superb in every way - an easy charm, a listener, and with an understated manner hiding his huge technical skill. He cured my first arrythmia with an ablation in January, and is deciding how best to approach the second and much less troublesome arrythmia.

In summary - if you feel you are getting nowhere with your cardiologist and vague advice, there is only one solution. As all doctors say in answer to the commmon question from patients "How do I identify a good abcxyz-ologist?", the answer is 'Find a better one'. It may mean spending money privately if you can, but it is usually money very well spent indeed, and often as a one-off expense. You will feel that you have been listened to and given considered advice tailored to you, your questions, concerns and needs. There are plenty of good cardiologists around, and plenty who are extremely well-versed in problems relating to sport and exercise.

Best wishes

That sounds like excellent advice and sadly the OP hasn't been back since you posted. This seems to be a recent trend in which everyone learns something except the OP.

 

[Espresso vecchio]

That sounds like excellent advice and sadly the OP hasn't been back since you posted. This seems to be a recent trend in which everyone learns something except the OP.

We know what you mean, but that's a little harsh in this case, alicat! It's only 10 hours or so since I posted, and most of us have been in bed and asleep for much of that time...

 

[alicat]

We know what you mean, but that's a little harsh in this case, alicat! It's only 10 hours or so since I posted, and most of us have been in bed and asleep for most of that time...

It may be harsh, I agree. I do know that if I had asked for advice on something important to me I would have checked back to see if there had been a response.

 

[UphillSlowly]

Hello first time poster here.

I wondered if there was anyone on the forum who has suffered from either Myopericarditis or Pericarditis on the forum who may be able to give some advice on returning to fitness. To cut a long story short I tried to power through a chest infection in June that resulted in me collapsing with all the symptoms of a heart attack. Six days in hospital and a cardiac MRI later I was diagnosed with Myopericardtis an inflammation of the Myocardium and Pericardium of the heart as well as Pneumonia to top it off! It appears that the infection spread from my lungs to my heart knocking my heart function down to 46%. Three sessions on Zwift in the days before I was symptomatic probably didn't help!

Three months of sitting on my backside later and my fitness is completely shot to pieces. I've gone from being a reasonably fit 40 yr old who was powering up Sa Calobra in May to barely being able to push 110w for an hour on Zwift. Unfortunately there is very little information out there on how to return to fitness with this diagnosis. I know the default answer would be to speak to my Cardiologist but unfortunately mine is somewhat lacking in this department and trying to navigate the NHS is a challenge. His initial advice on diagnosis was to not walk more than a mile. I had to do my own research and cut out caffeine/alcohol and anything else that would cause inflammation of the heart as well whilst it recovered. During my recent consultation I asked if I could go back to exercise and he said yes. I had to drag out of him that I should avoid any high intensity until I have the results of a further scan. Needless to say I lack a bit of confidence in his guidance.

I'd appreciate some advice from anyone who has had or knows someone who suffered similar and what their journey back looked like. Were you able to get back to full fitness? Did you cut out the top end stuff and focus on lower intensity or did you decide that pushing yourself again wasn't worth the risk and invest in an eBike?

I know it's been said on here before but take it from me and never mess around with a chest infection it simply isn't worth it. While I have actually felt pretty well through the last three months it has not been a fun position to be in and it can set you fitness/cycling back significantly!

DOI another doctor. My patients who have heart attacks are referred to cardiac rehabilitation, which is help with graded exercise. Onlybhad a few patients with myocarditis, but don't think they get same option. This might be something to ask to be referred to?

By way of analogy an orthopaedic surgeon can fix a dodgy hip but the physio will be better to give the advice about about rehab and retuning to exercise/activity. May be the same for many cardiologists, they are good at the diagnosis and fixing, but rehab may not be their area of expertise, which is why you feel like you have had generic advice.

Hope you recover well

 

[Espresso vecchio]

DOI another doctor. My patients who have heart attacks are referred to cardiac rehabilitation, which is help with graded exercise. Onlybhad a few patients with myocarditis, but don't think they get same option. This might be something to ask to be referred to?

By way of analogy an orthopaedic surgeon can fix a dodgy hip but the physio will be better to give the advice about about rehab and retuning to exercise/activity. May be the same for many cardiologists, they are good at the diagnosis and fixing, but rehab may not be their area of expertise, which is why you feel like you have had generic advice.

I completely second UphillSlowly's advice.

2nd DOI by me: Mrs EV is a physio