I have had several Pulmonary tests done, stress test on my heart, several x-ray's and CT scans and no one knows why my chest is heavy, hurts to exert myself in exercise, inhaling fully causes my right side to have a weird feeling all the way to my back from my chest. My whole chest is tight and sometimes very uncomfortable. Had anyone else with SLE experienced this? I just don't know if there is a different road I need to take or if I need to not worry because it's another Lupus symptom.... Help!
Did anyone mention inflammation in the ligaments of the bones in your chest?
Check out Costochondritis
- Chest pain associated with costochondritis can be preceded or aggravated by exercise, minor trauma, or an upper respiratory infection.
- The pain usually will be sharp and located on your front chest wall. It may radiate to the back or abdomen to cause back pain or belly pain.
- The most common sites of pain are the fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs. This pain increases as you move your trunk or take deep breaths and, therefore, may cause breathing problems. Conversely, it decreases as your movement stops or with quiet breathing.
I agree with Roxy, def check out Costochondritis. I was in the hosptial for 24 hrs back in April due to chest pain, palpitations and increased heart rate. The did a CT scan, Xray and echocardiogram with stress test and everything came back normal. They said that it was probably inflammation of the ligaments, cartilage and muscle in the chest due to the lupus. I had Costochondritis several years ago and I am struggle with it now again with the new Lupus diagnosis. It feels like a heaviness and sometimes a squeezing pain. Hope you get some answers and some relief. Blessings!
I have hadthis problem in the past when I had a flarem I went to the pulmonologist because I could not get my breath I felt like I couldn’t get air. my chest hurt. Apparently lupus can do this to you also
WOW! No offense but it is nice to know I am not alone!!!! Does it ever go away? What can I do to ease the pain? Mine is more at the top of my chest above my breasts and right between them. I literally cannot walk or talk or lightly jog without it getting worse. What do you do or how do they diagnose if it is Costochondritis, or is this just something I have to live with? It feels like someone is sitting on my chest and when I deep breath it is worse and the pain radiates to the back at my shoulder blade.
I was going to ask the same question. I have had a pain under neath my breasts and it feels like a band is squeezing my ribs. If I bend and turn a certain way it goes into spasms that literally takes my breath away. I have had MRI’s, CAT scans, etc etc. Everything comes back fine. After a year, I have finally accepted that this just another lupus symptom. I haven’t found anything that helps. Sorry I don’t have an answer. Just know that you are not alone. Have a gentle day.
For me it comes and goes. I only had one real bad flair. I had to hold my chest when I took a deep breath. Now I get periodic short lived mild flare.
If indeed you do have Costochondritis, it is scary that no doctor was able to figure it out. Do the symptoms match what you are feeling?
Were you checked out by a cardiologist?
I have the heavy, tight chest and the feeling like I can't get a full breath of air, but my ribs do not hurt. Activity makes it worse and when I go to bed it gets bad. I have had tons of tests. It's looking like it is related to sinus ventricular tachycardia (chronic fast heart beat), but even on medication for SVT, I still have trouble breathing. Drives me crazy.
Linda,
I have the same weird symptoms, but I also have copd, and interstial lung disease, but the spasms can get really bad sometimes and its like I can't even breath, I get them under my breasts and also in the middle of my back they'd like to bring me to my knee's sometimes, nothing makes it better, don't know what causes it, the doctors thought it could be related to the copd, but they don't know, so I guess it's just another crazy lupus symptom like serositis.
Linda Bull said:
I was going to ask the same question. I have had a pain under neath my breasts and it feels like a band is squeezing my ribs. If I bend and turn a certain way it goes into spasms that literally takes my breath away. I have had MRI's, CAT scans, etc etc. Everything comes back fine. After a year, I have finally accepted that this just another lupus symptom. I haven't found anything that helps. Sorry I don't have an answer. Just know that you are not alone. Have a gentle day.
I have the same thing and it seems that no dr can really do anything and there isn’t a med to give when there is nothing wrong w lungs, heart, or chest. It’s frustrating n I just deal with it
Hi Girlygrl! I've had similar pains for a little over a year. Every time I inhale deeply, i get pains either in my upper chest, stomach, sides, or back. The location changes day to day as does the level of pain. Things like laughing, yawning and burping can be very painful. My doctors havent really been able to help much. I think it means the lupus is active, might be pleurisy pains, and you just need to find the right combo to get your lupus under control. Easier said than done. Good luck!
After I saw the cardiologist, I wouldn't leave without something cause he said all my tests were normal. He felt around and thought it could be inflammation but offered no other answers. Everything described is exactly how I feel.
Roxy said:
Did anyone mention inflammation in the ligaments of the bones in your chest?
Check out Costochondritis
- Chest pain associated with costochondritis can be preceded or aggravated by exercise, minor trauma, or an upper respiratory infection.
- The pain usually will be sharp and located on your front chest wall. It may radiate to the back or abdomen to cause back pain or belly pain.
- The most common sites of pain are the fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs. This pain increases as you move your trunk or take deep breaths and, therefore, may cause breathing problems. Conversely, it decreases as your movement stops or with quiet breathing.
Pulmonologist.
USAGURL said:
Pulmonologist.
I had the same symptoms for over four years and had so many test and all they came up with was inflammation and norco for pain
Yes I've had years of this too but comes and goes. Back in 1996 my DR then said it was Pleurisey(not sure of spelling) and can't seem to remember if he just boosted my Pred? I know that my exrays showed fluid on my lungs. I know this is not a answer but yes it was part of my Lupus.
Well, the timing of this is great. I just spent Sunday in the ER with this. They did all the tests you are talking about. Sent me home and said it's "just" chest wall pain. But you think you're having a heart attack. I wasn't sure if it was paracarditis(which I've had before) or not, that's why I had my husband spend the day with me there. He wasn't impressed. The nurse blew my vain, and when a different nurse took out the needle in the other spot, didn't hold the area long enough, and had blood running down my arm. It wasn't a good day. Wed. I saw my Int. Med. Dr. he put me on a short dose of Pred. and see him back in 2 wks. But I'm having severe nausea, and dizziness. Can't seem to shake it. I have my next Benlysta treatment in a few days. And hoping I'll feel better after that. Strangely, I'm not a crier but can't seem to stop the past few days. This is the worst I've felt in years. I decided to go to the store with my husband today, thinking maybe if I got out, I would feel better, but I about keeled over. Guess it wasn't a good idea. Came home, 'made myself' have something to eat, and laid down for awhile...feel just as bad. Hope everybody has a better tomorrow.
I have had this too and all of my tests were negative. The only thing that made me feel better was an asthma inhaler. I didn't really feel like I had asthma either. It has gone away for now. Another mystery of lupus!
Pericarditis is often treated with colchicine, an anti malarial drug. The most current treatment for pericarditis is NOT prednisone, but colchicine and possibly NSTADS. First I was tapered off of the NSAIDS, If you go to the Cleveland Clinic , Mayo or Johns Hopkins sites, you will see information about this. I was treated at the pericarditis clinic at Cleveland and Dr. Kline said that prednisone is not normally the first line treatment anymore as often people who have the prednisone stopped, the pericarditis returns. They are finding less problems with colchicine and of course you don't have all of the prednisone side effects. I just wanted to share this info
It is good that your markers are now normal