Last Sunday I posted about my chest pains that were radiating down my left arm and up into my jaw. Here I am almost a week to the day and it is starting again this time I know the feeling of it coming on and I am less than thrilled. The last 2 weeks were very bust at work and instead of working 4 10 hour shifts I worked a couple 10's and a couple 12's. Last Sunday I started in the morning feeling weak and worn out. I was having more weakness and tingling in my arms and feeling almost like there was severe muscle exhaustion. My arms just didn't want to work. I ran a couple errands with the family and by that night had full blown chest pains and shortness of breath, off to the hospital I went for a cardiac workup which looked good and was released to follow up with my rheumy. Since I had to call out Monday because I was still in the ER I worked longer days to try to make up some hours as I only had so much Paid time to cover the day. I woke up this morning with the same weak feeling in my arms and tightness in my chest. I have been taking it easy on the couch all morning but am concerned that the feeling is coming back. I had an appointment yesterday with my Rheumy and when I got there they informed me that she has been out of the office for 3 weeks and they have tried to contact me to reschedule. (despite the fact that I received a conformation call for my appointment but that is a whole different annoyance) and that the soonest they can get me in is September. I have an appointment with my internist and Benlysta next week but I'm not sure if this is just strange exhaustion symptoms or something new related to my lupus. I am so frustrated with this feeling and with being sick. I am just not sure what to do from here. I don't want to find a new doc I like mine and feel like she has gotten me to a much higher level of functioning that I ever was before but I also cant go like this without answers. I feel like a prisoner. Treatment makes me feel better I do things and end up feeling like a trip to the ER is coming. Sorry for the rant I needed to get it out today and I know everyone here understands and maybe will have an idea or two for me.
Hey Heather! I just read your post and it sounds so much like what I go through...or went through. My rheumy sent me to be tested for carpel tunnel. I have it in both hands and an elbow. I am supposed to wear the braces at night when I sleep. If I don't wear them for a while, my arm bone aches so horribly. It goes all along my arm, shoulder, neck and jaw. After one or two nights of wearing my braces at night, it goes away. Apparently carpel tunnel isn't just felt in the hands and wrists. Just a suggestion. Good luck sweetie!
It sounds like your doing what you can and as you say the doctor you have been seeing sounds competent. We are praying for you.
so sorry, u r going through this, i get the same things happen to me, i just went through a heart work up, i also get that pain, and i get weak and tired. It is just the lupus. i do believe my vascular system gets inflamed. and that is what causes all the trouble. hope this helps, plus just working so much puts on stress and that is a big trigger. so u might want to limit work hrs. also eating foods that fight inflammation helps and lots of relaxing.
Hi Heather :) I too am glad you wrote this post. In January of 2013, I was admitted to the hospital with the same symptoms. They did a stress test (which I failed), and my bloodwork showed elevated triponin levels. These are the levels that indicate damage in the heart. They ran lots of tests but everything else came back looking ok. They put in a internal loop recorder in July 2013, since then I have been in and out of the hospital with the same symptoms. I went and saw my cardiologist last week and they decided that it is "just the lupus"! It is very frustrating (and scary), IT is always better to be safe and get it checked out right away. I pray that you feel better...hugs
Did the dr mention pericarditis? I have had really frightening chest pains and it was pericarditis. Still fighting a chronic case. Also are you in healthcare? The 10-12 hour days sound familiar. I am in healthcare and also work the 10 to 12 hour days (without lunch break). Not the best of jobs for lupus patients. Good luck to you!