I used to be very active and athletic but now very fatigued and inactive. Any info would be much appreciated. Dear Karen, Thank you for your question. Myocarditis is a viral infection of the heart muscle. Symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, chest discomfort and palpitations and increased fatigue.
Treatment is usually medical and in severe cases heart transplant.
About a third of patients get worse with some going on to transplant. Another third stay the same and are managed well with medical therapy and the rest get better. It is possible to regain your prior fitness level over time. In young people it is probably the number one cause of cardiomyopathy. In older people it is less common.