i've been having chest pain for almost 2 months now. started before i started prednisone and thought that might help. but it's not going away. then i thought it was the resp infection, but i took antibiotics and upped the prednisone, still having chest pain. idk what to do. it's so uncomfortable :(
You need to follow up with your doctor. I wouldn't mess around with chest pain.
There are other things it could be but let him decide that.
I know if is frustrating to hurt and not get to the root of it...Praying for you.
Hope you get some answers soon.
Faye
YOU NEED TO GET TO A CARDIOLOGIST OR EVEN EMERGENCY ROOM. TELL THEM YOU HAVE LUPUS AND YOU ARE HAVING CHEST PAIN. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER THIS PAST JULY. SHE WINDED UP HAVING TO HAVE SURGERY. IT’S PERICARDIAL EFFUSION. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THERE IS FLUID BUILDING UP AROUND YOUR HEART IN THE PERICARDAL SACK WHICH OUR HEART SITS IN. THE CHEST PAIN IS CAUSED BY TOO MUCH FLUID. LUCKILY I GOT MY DAUGHTER TO THE ER IN TIME. SHE HAD A 4 HOSPITAL STAY AND THEY DRAINED A LITER OF FLUID FROM HER HEART AND SHE HAD TWO DRAINS FOR TWO DAYS. SHE WILL BE 22 NOVEMBER. GET IT CHECKED OUT ASAP!
It could also be pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lung) or even severe acid reflux. I have a weak lower and upper esophageal sphincter and suffer with chest pain when it isn’t managed as well. Good luck my darling, I hope you get some answers and relief soon.
Kerri
I agree with everyone else it is pertinent that you don’t mess around with chest pain!! There can be a lot of different causes some mild yet some severe so don’t play around with it!! Lupus might be the underlying cause but it could be something serious. Best of luck!! Hope you feel better soon. Let us know what docs come up with.
I have to say that I agree that you should get checked out and please don't wait!!
But I will also tell you that I have suffered with chest pain long before I was diagnosed with Lupus, according to my Rhumy it is common for for women with Lupus to experience chest pain.
I agree you need to be checked out by a Cardiologist. Chest pain is not something you want mess around with. I have Coronary Spasms and take Nitro as needed which is another present from my Lupus.
Have you had your potassium level checked? That's one of the more recent things that has been happening to me and the cardiologist said it was caused by low potassium. I now take loads of potassium pills and drink lots of Gatorade or Powerade. Now that my levels are back to normal I don't have the problem as much.
So, I've been trying to pay attention to when this bothers me and I'm noticing it really only bothers me at night. From about mid to late afternoon into the night and is usually gone by morning. Doesn't seem to be affected by eating or drinking. But I've also noticed I have a lot more muscle and bone pain starting around the same time of day. Could it just be that I'm overdoing it? But I really feel like I'm not doing much these days already. If I slow down any more I think I'll come to a complete halt.
GO TO THE DOCTOR AND GET AN EKG. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY DAUGHTER. IT MOSTLY BOTHERED HER AT NIGHT AND SHE WAS AND STILL IS TAKING 400mgs OF PLAQUINOL AND 4mgs of medrol a day. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??. DO YOU HAVE A RHEUMY OR INTERN DOCTOR?
Is it uncomfortable when you lay down flat?? Or taking a deep breath??
yes. i've been sleeping on the couch sitting up because it has woken me up a few times when I roll on my left side also.
I was going to call the doctor tomorrow. Idk why I keep waiting. I don't want to be the patient that calls for every little thing.
Listen to me!!! I am the daughter who has lupus…u need to go to your doctor or the ER ASAP…before it is too late!! Do not wait until its too late like I did! I was having the exact symptoms as you! I felt like my heart was being squeezed so tight it hurt to move! I thought I was having a heart attack sometimes!! I was just like you not wanting to bother anybody with complaints but they told me if I waited any longer It could have been really bad. Not trying to scare u trying to save you from having to experience what I went thru. Lupus ended up attacking my heart and I had to get a liter of fluid drained from it. U need to speak up!!! It’s what I have learned with this disease!! Best of luck -Nina. PS google pericarditis
Hello dizzylynn,
It sounds to me like you've got a flare going on which is affecting your muscle which Lupus can do besides your chest and with it happening with your bones it sounds like abit of a combination of a flare to me but regarding chest issues you can't ignore them and if it gets persistant then i'd seek help straight away about it.
How you actually feel now with it all?
Hugs Terri xxx
dizzylynn said:
So, I've been trying to pay attention to when this bothers me and I'm noticing it really only bothers me at night. From about mid to late afternoon into the night and is usually gone by morning. Doesn't seem to be affected by eating or drinking. But I've also noticed I have a lot more muscle and bone pain starting around the same time of day. Could it just be that I'm overdoing it? But I really feel like I'm not doing much these days already. If I slow down any more I think I'll come to a complete halt.
Just checking in with you. How are you feeling? Did you get to the doctor?
no, i didn't call the dr today. idk why not. mostly because it wasn't really bothering me today. a little bit this afternoon but it's not hurting now. when it goes away like that i kind of feel like it's really nothing and that i'm over reacting. i know everyone is saying i should call. maybe if it's still bothering me tomorrow i'll head to urgent care as long as it's during the day when the kids are at school. guess i just feel like i really don't have time for this. mama's got stuff to do, ya know? lol.
I keep an on-going note to make sure all symptoms are reported to the Doctor each visit. I have this as well, just sent me for a Stress Test, though I knew it was not the heart.
Here is what I think mine is, but will allow the Rheumatologist to decide.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626 Please stay as informed as you can be about your health. It is my opinion that having a good understanding of your disease will only be a benefit to you, and the end result will be better medical care. Google everything!
Hello dizzylynn,
Lupus can affect our chest and lungs if a flares going on inside our bodies as it plays me up terrible in my lungs and as caused swelling besides the sjogren's helping it along, then like yourself the symptoms have eased...this is what maybe going on with yourself.
Just take things steady and you'll know yourself when you need proper medical attention only members can advise through experience.
Terri :)
dizzylynn said:
no, i didn't call the dr today. idk why not. mostly because it wasn't really bothering me today. a little bit this afternoon but it's not hurting now. when it goes away like that i kind of feel like it's really nothing and that i'm over reacting. i know everyone is saying i should call. maybe if it's still bothering me tomorrow i'll head to urgent care as long as it's during the day when the kids are at school. guess i just feel like i really don't have time for this. mama's got stuff to do, ya know? lol.
http://www.lupusinternational.com/About-Lupus-1-1/Lupus-and-the-Heart-.aspx
Try reading this. The first cardiac symptom is the one that my daughter had.
Smiles