Just needing to get some feedback on this new symptom I have developed. I am currently in a flare and feeling very down. I am experiencing a shortness in breath and discomfort in my chest. I’m calling it discomfort because it is a tightness I feel not a pain. I cannot breath through my nose due to swelling on the inside, so I am mouth breathing which is leaving me with dry mouth and sores in the corners of my lips. So, what is going on with me and has anyone else experienced this? Other things going on: weightloss, fatigue, dry cough, joint and muscle aches. Any input would be great. I’m new to this forum stuff, but thought I could find genuine support from people suffering from lupus as well. Thank you!
Hello Lark,
I suffer with my lungs with Lupus and having SLE does'nt help one bit....do you feel any swelling on your back by your lungs because if so this is the lupus very active around your lung area....if not watch yourself for pluerisy because with symptoms like this you either need to see your GP or emergencey service ASAP.
Read this link as it maybe pleurisy as i've had it several times and you can't afford to mess about where that's concerned.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pleurisy/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
((Hugs & kisses)) Terri xxx
Thank you Terri 
No swelling thus far ( thank goodness). I will definitely check out the link you sent me. I am on the cancellation list waiting to get in to see my rheumatologist, but you are right I really need to get this checked out soon. How did they treat your pleurisy when you developed that?
I appreciate your thoughts and being able to converse and compare with someone who has been through things that I am experiencing now.
Tez_20 said:
Hello Lark,
I suffer with my lungs with Lupus and having SLE does’nt help one bit…do you feel any swelling on your back by your lungs because if so this is the lupus very active around your lung area…if not watch yourself for pluerisy because with symptoms like this you either need to see your GP or emergencey service ASAP.
Read this link as it maybe pleurisy as i’ve had it several times and you can’t afford to mess about where that’s concerned.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pleurisy/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
((Hugs & kisses)) Terri xxx
me too...my chest is so tight at the top it feels like the cap of an acorn
My tightness is in the upper part of my chest too. I almost feel as if I’m trying to breathe
through a wet cloth. It used to be effortless to breathe… the everyday things are so easy to take for granted.
janice said:
me too…my chest is so tight at the top it feels like the cap of an acorn
Hi Lark,
The swelling in your back by your lungs is'nt to do with pluerisy that's when the Lupus is highly working in your system and it can affect your lungs and cause a swelling as soon as i felt mine my GP soon saw me but i've just had bloods come back where my Lupus is high in readings again anyway besides th sjogrens.
I'm not trying to tell you what to do but don't wait around for your rheumo because if it is pleurisy it can cause clotting on the lungs besides severe pain in the upper top area and i had a friend where it got that bad through ignorance and not listening to me...his lungs filled up of fluid around them and he collasped and the amount of weight he lost was terrible and was in hospital for a fare bit on a drip.
When i got it the ambulance took me in and straight away i was sent to the x-ray department to check for clots lucky i came back ok, then they put me on pain killers and strong antibiotic's to remove it from my system to help besides a special form of gas (mask) to help me breath better but if clots form they do remove them but they can form again.
I'm not trying to frighten you but with Lupus it can cause many issues....you'd be better off ringing your GP in the morning and making an appointment.
All my thoughts are with you. Love Terri xxx
Lark said:
Thank you Terri :-) No swelling thus far ( thank goodness). I will definitely check out the link you sent me. I am on the cancellation list waiting to get in to see my rheumatologist, but you are right I really need to get this checked out soon. How did they treat your pleurisy when you developed that?
I appreciate your thoughts and being able to converse and compare with someone who has been through things that I am experiencing now.
Tez_20 said:Hello Lark,
I suffer with my lungs with Lupus and having SLE does'nt help one bit....do you feel any swelling on your back by your lungs because if so this is the lupus very active around your lung area....if not watch yourself for pluerisy because with symptoms like this you either need to see your GP or emergencey service ASAP.
Read this link as it maybe pleurisy as i've had it several times and you can't afford to mess about where that's concerned.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pleurisy/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
((Hugs & kisses)) Terri xxx
Janice,
I'm so sorry to hear your feeling unwell also and i hope to god it's nothingto what put you in hospital last time.
janice said:
me too...my chest is so tight at the top it feels like the cap of an acorn
Hi lark I had a similar problem before and yes I will say you need to go asap to see your dr or to the urgent care…i will not wait I rather be safe than sorry…wish you the best…hope you get better…love Dunnia…
I have been having chest pains too. Sometimes it tightness, and other times it’s like needles. The other day it felt like my whole chest down to my stomache was on fire! It wasn’t the same as heart burn or acid flex. I hope that your doing ok! I’ve been in pain for a few days. Hoping the best for you!
Hi Tiffany,
Like i said to you....your going through the start of a flare if you are lupus related and you get all these symptoms, i'm just hoping your took seriously and bloods and diagnosis can be made because it's enough to drive you totally mad suffering pain and not knowing what's wrong.
((Hugs to you)) Terri xxx
Tiffany89 said:
I have been having chest pains too. Sometimes it tightness, and other times it's like needles. The other day it felt like my whole chest down to my stomache was on fire! It wasn't the same as heart burn or acid flex. I hope that your doing ok! I've been in pain for a few days. Hoping the best for you!
Sweety, as stated above pleurisy is really messed up to have. I had it for a month before it turned into fluid in my lungs. 19 oz had to br drained from my left lung. Do not mess around with this any longer. I have alot of trubble with my lungs since then. As a mater of fact I had to go to the ER Saturday because I had alot of chest pain and my feet and legs swell up real bad. PLZ go to the ER or get a apt with you GP in the next couple of days.
Hello sunshinespraypaint,
Like we've stated it's got some serious issues with it and sorry to hear you had fluid on the lungs...i do know the 2nd time i had it, it came joint with pneumonia and that took some pulling back and i did lose some weight. xxx
sunshinespraypaint said:
Sweety, as stated above pleurisy is really messed up to have. I had it for a month before it turned into fluid in my lungs. 19 oz had to br drained from my left lung. Do not mess around with this any longer. I have alot of trubble with my lungs since then. As a mater of fact I had to go to the ER Saturday because I had alot of chest pain and my feet and legs swell up real bad. PLZ go to the ER or get a apt with you GP in the next couple of days.
So I was finally seen today by an urgent care dr because I could not get in to either my GP or rheumy. They did an EKG and it was normal and also did the D-dimer test to check for clots which turned out to b negative. The dr said he was unsure of what could b the cause of my symptoms, called in a steroid patch for my chest and told me to get in with my primary care physician. I’m so frustrated.
Tez_20 said:
Hello sunshinespraypaint,
Like we’ve stated it’s got some serious issues with it and sorry to hear you had fluid on the lungs…i do know the 2nd time i had it, it came joint with pneumonia and that took some pulling back and i did lose some weight. xxx
sunshinespraypaint said:Sweety, as stated above pleurisy is really messed up to have. I had it for a month before it turned into fluid in my lungs. 19 oz had to br drained from my left lung. Do not mess around with this any longer. I have alot of trubble with my lungs since then. As a mater of fact I had to go to the ER Saturday because I had alot of chest pain and my feet and legs swell up real bad. PLZ go to the ER or get a apt with you GP in the next couple of days.
I have lung issues with lupus and can tell sometime when I'm about to go through flare due to the tightness in my chest. I've had pleurisy and lupus pneumonitis. I get bronchitis sometimes from the lupus so although the d-dimer and X-rays were normal you could still have some lung inflammation that will make your chest tight and have some difficulty breathing. I use a nebulizer when I am having these issues. Next time you go to the Dr. or GP or ER sk for a breathing treatment and see if it helps.
Hello Lark,
Glad to hear you do see someone and if all those checks was done then that's a good thing....Lupus itself can cause such pain to the lungs at times on it's on like i've mentioned as it does it with mine, so that may be the underlining reason.
Did you mention about pleurisy to the care dr?
Loads of love Terri xxx