Posted 10/28/2014 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone-
I was diagnosed with pericarditis in June of this year and have been undergoing treatment with NSAIDS, Ibuprofen, Cohlchicine and after failed treatments, I had to start taking prednisone (my cardiologist was not happy, another doctor prescribed it). I have now become the typical case of what happens when you start taking prednisone for this condition, every time I try to taper off I get a flare up and fluid comes back. I'm currently on 10mg and although it keeps the flare-ups at bay, I always have shortness of breath, chest pressure and feel like someones choking me. Anyhow, I'll save you all the long story of how I got to where I am now and just get to the point of my problem. I now have constrictive pericarditis and my cardiologist referred to the Mayo Clinic in September for a pericardiectomy. I'm in California and my insurance denied my procedure stating it could be done here. My cardiologist has gone head to head with my insurances medical director and they refuse to budge. We are beyond frustrated. I am a police officer and I have been off work since June because of this condition. Has anyone had their procedure here in California, if so how are you doing and where did you have it done and by whom. Thank you so much for this forum, I've been following threads since I joined and have learned a lot about my condition here.