I woke up today and was slightly short of breath - it continued all day. and I still am - I am able to walk around do chores and so on and son on but it feels like i cant get a deep enough breath all the time. I feel like I need to yawn or conciously take a deeper breath to feel better- I had this happen to me about 3 months ago and I went to tohe ER and they did a CT of my chest , Chest Xray, and ECHO and all was normal. it eventually went away- but now its back and im super scared. I do not have chest pain. hardly any joint pain, no coughing anything up. no coughing , just slight shortness of breath, any advice? anyone have something simular?
Last time that happened to me the pain was severe turned out I had “walking pneumonia” n fluid in the lungs with other inflamed organ:(. Hope u feel better soon. Also the X-ray didn’t that I had pneumonia the body scan showed it though.
I do that too! You’re right…it’s scary!! The 1st time I went to the ER with it but I also had chest pain that time. They couldn’t find anything wrong but had me follow up with a bunch of tests. I’ve had 2 ct scans, an echocardiogram, 2 pulmonary tests ( that were above normal, I have the lung function of someone much bigger than me) & a trans esophageal echocardiogram. Everything normal! I’ve since decided its another weird lupus thing & I just try to take it easy and not over do it. For me it seems if I stress about it, it becomes worse. It’s usually over in a couple of days. Just like anything else, check with your doctor though! I hope you feel better soon!!
Renee
I would go back to the er or at least my doctor. I have done this before and had pneumonia and my mom did it and had a blood clot. I do it when the weather changes also but I have asthma.
Potslupus, I have been through something similar, but more intense. I was literally bumping into walls before I got help. I was put on an antibiotic, as I always have shortness of breath as a respiratory infection is kicking in. My blood pressure goes even higher than usual, but my oxygen level is fine. A nebulizer treatment in the ER opens things up, and I am better much faster. Not sure if my funky EKG is the cause, or is caused by the shortness of breath. The jury is still out. My last ER trip cost over 5 grand, so I intend to not wind up back there!
Could you have a touch of asthma? Any recent exposure to harsh cleaning supplies, heavy pollens, etc can make people not usually used to having asthma close up. If you happen to smoke, talk to your doctor about getting help quitting. You may also want to discuss having the option of a "rescue inhaler" to use if this happens again. When this is an acute, not all the time issue, sometimes they will put me on a prednisone inhaler, to keep the inflammation down in my lungs for about 2 weeks..
I sure hope you are feeling better soon. If this gets worse though, please get help quickly. If you can, get in to see your doctor tomorrow or go to an urgent care facility. None of those possible? Hit the ER. Breathing is not optional.
hugs, Louise
edited to add - no matter what, know that lupus, or another not yet known coexisting condition can cause inflammation in your lungs. Please let your primary and rheumy know this has happened more than once, they may be able to help you determine a cause and easy at home treatment. You don't want the ER to greet you by name. Also, don't risk driving if you are feeling like this. You are too precious to have something happen because of sudden worsening. It happens. Ask the junk yard that has my car from 5 years ago! But, I had let things go too long without getting help, and my oxygen level dipped quickly, and I passed out. My resp. infection was becoming double pneumonia.
I have the same problem. The best way I can describe it is that, trying to pull air into my lungs feels like I'm trying to blow up a balloon that has little pinholes in it. No matter how hard I work at it, it feels like the air just keeps seeping out, again, as fast as I'm putting it in. I've mentioned this to both my GP and my Rheumatologist and they both said it wasn't unusual in autoimmune patients. It has something to do with inflammation surrounding my lungs. They said that, unless I start having dizzy spells or develop a cough, it wasn't anything I should really worry about. You really should talk to your doctor, though, so they can rule out infection or another issue. Every patient is different from the next, and what one doctor says to one person is different from what they may tell another. Good luck. Hope you feel better soon.
im goiong thru that right now.....saw my doctor and he ordered a ct scan a lung function test due to my haggard breathing... I saw a few posts on the various lupus sites that talk about pleurisy and Interstitial lung disease so hopefully they can rule those out.. I too have had reg chest xrays when I talk about having difficulty with simple chores which wipe me out... all have been normal so he decided to do a CT scan this time.
good luck
I am experiencing this now. It is very scary to have this happen. This is the 3rd time I have had this kind of pain and shortness of breathe. I also have had echocardiograms, EKG, and chest x-rays. All of which come out normal. I seem to be getting worse with each episode I have to endure. This time I have been on 2 rounds of antibiotics and steroids. Yesterday, I was exhausted after just getting dressed! Not really sure where to go from here with this. Although, I was relieved to hear others have experienced this also.
I hope you find some relief soon.
Creekbank
CreekBank I had a lupie friend told me its probably inflammation around the lungs if there is no pain and to take motrin or some kind of anti-inflammitory , I have no idea im awaiting my rheumo office to open though im sure shes not gonna be helpful
am so upset-I called and spoke with the secretary of my rheumotologist who said i should just call my PCP - I dont HAVE a primary at this point right now , and i told her i think its probably lupus related which is why I called Her to begin with- she wrote down my number and said she would atleast tell the rheumo- yeah I Dont think im getting anywhere and I dont know what to do :I
I battle with a chronic pluerisi issue, the treatment if it gets real bad is prednisone. I use Advil or motrin 600mg evey 6 hrs and that usually helps a lot. I hope this helps you some xox
Potslupus said:
am so upset-I called and spoke with the secretary of my rheumotologist who said i should just call my PCP - I dont HAVE a primary at this point right now , and i told her i think its probably lupus related which is why I called Her to begin with- she wrote down my number and said she would atleast tell the rheumo- yeah I Dont think im getting anywhere and I dont know what to do :I
UPDATE
I just got back from the ER. Chest Xray came back normal. PUlse ox was a good 100% . I feel a tad wheezy. THey did blood work , WBC was just a tad low H and H low (have anemia) they did blood work up to make sure I didn't have a clot
so all thats good
but i still feel crappy
she gave me clariton and an aerisol thinking i might have allergy issues
I get this also and it turns out that I had developed mild asthma. I had to do a lung function test to find out. They put you in this plastic box like thing and have you breathe through different tubes. My doc started me on a corticosteroid inhaler but it caused dreadful migraines so I had to stop it. Still waiting to try something else. My worst episodes are after I shower. I have to lie down until I get over the light-headedness. You might ask for a lung function test. I hope this helps.
i deal with it and i have had cts ecgs echocardiograms xrays and they come back normal. i had a lung test and it showed pleurisy… so i just have to go real slow other wise im searching for air. i also put pillows or a wedge pillow under my bed to prop it up and it helps alot!
all of this sound so right, I have been having the same sharp pain first in the left shoulder moves to my breast bone then to the right side some times. my doctor thought it was a mussel, that is getting stranded. We did all the blood work nothing, although I do have to say that my blood pressure was 101/65 yesterday. my pcp said he would check with my lupus doctor and get back to me because he wants to order chest xrays. I think it is the pills.
This is the same thing my rheum told me when I called them. I have pain with my episodes. Did go to my PCP and they did all these test and x-rays, all normal. I do hope you soon start to feel better. I am taking some anti-inflammatory meds and I really don't think they are helping.
Keep us posted how you are doing.
Creekbank
Potslupus said:
am so upset-I called and spoke with the secretary of my rheumotologist who said i should just call my PCP - I dont HAVE a primary at this point right now , and i told her i think its probably lupus related which is why I called Her to begin with- she wrote down my number and said she would atleast tell the rheumo- yeah I Dont think im getting anywhere and I dont know what to do :I