Wow, after seeing this thread and reading about pericarditis, I think it sounds a lot like what I had recently. It was terrible pain, but not in my chest—in my back on the left side around the shoulder blade area, sometimes in the neck, and in and under the left arm (especially when lying down). It was unbearable, like something was going to explode. I finally saw my rheum. who did blood work and a chest x-ray, but I haven't heard the results. I go back early May and will find out.
Thankfully, about a week or two after my appointment, it started easing up and finally disappeared. Overall, it lasted between 2-3 months. Does this sound like pericarditis? Can it last that long and then clear up on its own? (I did take a short taper of predisone, which seemed to help temporarily, but it got worse again after the pred. before it got better).
Whatever it was, I hope it never comes back!!