Pericarditis & Possible Autoimmune Disease / Lupus?

[Pebble21uk]

Hello, Just looking for a bit of advice / insight please!

Three weeks ago I found myself in hospital for 8 days with a lung infection which appears to have been the trigger for Pericarditis. I'm still getting over it now... recovery is slow!
I have allergy & exercise induced asthma and so get frequent lung infections (although they have never led to pericarditis before!) I was treated with IV antibiotics, steroids, colchicine (which I have to take for 3 months) and they did some blood tests to check for autoimmune conditions.
My CPR is frequently raised but this time it shot through the roof at 297! Indicative of an infection. By the time I left hospital 2 weeks ago it was down to 17. I had bloods again this week and it's now at 19.
They tested for Lupus at the hospital but the the blood clotted so they were unable to get a result. My doctor has now done an ANA test and I should get the results next week.
I had come off steroids last week, but the pericardial pain came back... so while we wait for results the doctor has put me back on 15ml pf Prednisolone daily.

So... obviously there is part of me which hopes it was just a one off infection which lead to pericarditis. I knew nothing about Lupus or other autoimmune diseases before they were mentioned to me as a possibility. I've just read through some info since being discharged and some old threads on here and alarm bells are ringing.

While ill I have been having hot red flares to my face - usually one cheek or the other but sometimes both together... I was getting these every couple of days and they would last for a few hours.

I was also diagnosed with CFS when I was in my early 30s! At the time it was so severe I had to give up work and be looked after by my parents for 2 years. As well as the fatigue I had hair loss, light sensitivity and a myriad of symptoms. I did have tests at the time for MS and Addison's - was sent to see an Endocrinologist but never a Rheumatologist... and all tests were negative. I don't remember Lupus being mentioned at all (I'm now in my early 50s!!)

So in the intervening 20 years, while I like to think I have overcome a lot of my CFS... I have always been left with fatigue (have only ever been able to work part time since). I also have joint issues which started in childhood (Osgood Schlater) in my knees, hypermobility and hip pain. I also easily catch any virus or infection going.

I know I will only have to wait a few days for the ANA test, but do you think it would be prudent to see a Rheumatologist even if the test is negative?

Thanks in advance - it might take me a while to respond... at the moment I'm so exhausted I'm in bed much of the time.

Sorry... also meant to add that I have to take constant medication for oral thrush and have done for about 10 years! I use a spacer, gargle, clean my teeth after using my steroid inhaler but within no more than 3 days will have thrush again if I don't use it!

Bump... anyone? Asked MN to move to General Health as the Autoimmune board so quiet!

See if you can get prescribed colchicine for the pericarditis. I had it a few years ago and my cardiologist prescribed it, i took it for 4 months and it really helped. It is generally anti inflammatory and so might help with your other issues. It was originally a treatment for gout!

@SeaToSki Yes, I'm on Colchicine - two tablets a day for 3 months. It's been about 4 weeks now and I still get chest / shoulder / back and neck pains intermittently, but not anywhere as severe as before diagnosis. Can you tell me how long you still felt pain for? There's very little I can find about what to expect in terms of recovery. Thank you!

I found my pain subsided about 2 months after starting the colchicine. But I did develop arrthymia and that caused chest pain that was separate. I have now started another drug for the arrthymias and am now pain free (and have weaned off the colchicine). I would go back to the cardiologist and ask for a review and a week long holter monitor

@SeaToSki Thank you... that's really interesting as everything I've read says Colchicine should be working after a week and pain subsiding after about 3-4 weeks, so I was beginning to think that things were taking a long time - but perhaps not after all.
I have a follow up echo in about a month and am due to see the cardiologist after that so will ask more questions then. In the meantime I need to find out if it was just 'one of those things' or caused by an autoimmune condition. Thanks for the reply!

Just remembered that they upped my colchicine after a month when it hadnt responded much, depending on your weight and the dose you are on, maybe there is room for a slight increase..