After many hours in the hospital today we completed several blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), x-rays, echocardiogram (sonogram) and a physical examination. The cardiologist said that my heart looks pretty good and there currently are no fluids built up around it, but it sounds likely that I may have, or recently had, pericarditis or myocarditis. He suspects also that the crash may have done something like bruised the abdominal wall. Apparently pericarditis or myocarditis is hard to diagnose and it's easier just to treat for that and see how I respond. So I have some steroids (methylpredisolone 4mg dospak) and anti-inflammatory (naproxen) to take for a while. I am scheduled to go back to the cardiologist in about 11 days for a stress test and re-evaluation. In the mean time "no physical activity".
Posted by dancoy at March 5, 2004 04:31 PM