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Lupus and heart problems

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Posted 10/21/2008 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone, I've been getting these awful stabbing pains in my chest, some shortness of breath and of course terrible headaches.  At first I thought I must have pulled a muscle lifting the baby, but it didn't go away.  I went to the doctor today and had an EKG.  It was mostly normal, except one line was just a little off, signifying that the upper part of my heart is straining a bit.  I go for an echocardiogram next week.  I've done the reading and so I know that Lupus can affect the heart and lungs, so I was wondering how many of you have heart problems related to Lupus and what kind of treatment was done.  Thanks so much for the imput and God Bless.
Posted 10/21/2008 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, I really hope your echo comes out okay - it must be a little scary. I don't know much about it, but I do know that lupus can affect your heart. Hopefully someone here will be able to give you more info than I can. I was just reading the other day that people with lupus are at a higher risk for heart disease and heart problems. It's interesting because I was just thinking last night that I have a lot of chest pain and if I went to the ER every time I had chest pain, I'd be there at least several times a week. I see my family doc soon and I am going to mention this to him. I have a feeling that mine is more tissue inflammation like chostochondritis (not heart related). I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and sending positive thoughts about your echo next week. Take care.
Posted 10/21/2008 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Hippie. My hope is that the slightly elevated EKG is just some slight abnormality that's always been there and doesn't mean a thing. It's just so hard when I know that I have Lupus and have chest pain, shortness of breath and tingling in my hands and feet.. Up to this point I haven't had any major organ involvement and I pray that this is not the start. It's tough knowing that this disease can strike anywhere in your body at any time. I used to look at my little boys and pray that I can be the strong mom they deserve, now I'm just praying that I'll be around for them to love them and watch them grow. God Bless.
Posted 10/21/2008 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jennifer,

 

I can understand if you're feeling a bit anxious about this. When it comes to the heart, there isn't anything that makes you feel good about it, right!

 

I have a Lupus heart condition called Libman Sachs Endocarditis.  It's inflammation of the mitral valve (4th valve).  The inflammation causes the valve to thicken and not work properly.  The valve allows blood to flow back and forth instead of just forth.  The condition is also called mitral valve prolapse.

 

It's treated with prednisone.  Once the inflammation is taken care of, the prolapse is gone. Some people will develop a heart murmer with this too. I had that also.  The condition was one of the symptoms that brought me my diagnosis.  The treatment helped immediately and I haven't had much issue with it since.  I get an echo every year and for the past 5 or 6 years now, I have little to no prolapse, and the heart murmer is gone.

 

Symptoms of this are intense heart palpitations.  No pain.

 

Good luck with your echo, and let us know what you learn okay!

 

Ginny

Posted 10/21/2008 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, I have had Lupus related heart problems - which triggered my Lupus diagnosis in 2001.  I was experiencing unbearable chest pains & shortness of breath.  Ended up going to the ER & immediately had a Pericardial Effusion - the fluid was drained (from the sac that encases the heart).  Then a tube was inserted for continual drainage - but only for a day.  I've never had this happen again by my Rheumy put me on 200mg of Pletal to help.  Please do not ignore this pain, I probably let it continue too long.  When in doubt, go to the ER. Hang in there!
Posted 10/21/2008 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ginny and Jenny, unfortunately I have the added difficulty of not having any insurance, so unless I want to be paying for it for the rest of my life, I try to avoid the ER. I have a good PCP and I think we're ok until the echo is done. I'm one of those people that is hoghly attuned to any changes in my body and I'm usually right about what it is. I knew I was pregnant a week before it would show on any test, I knew I had a gall bladder problem 5 years before it showed up with an endoscopy and I knew this was Lupus even when my Rheumy was standing there scratching his head. So, I know I've got some kind of circulatory problem going on, now I just have to wait for the docs to figure it out. Does anyone else have this kind of hypersensitivity to changes in their body? Sorry about the ramble, brain fog has been worse then usual the last few weeks. Again thanks to everyone for your imput, it's comforting to know that these cardio problems are simpler to diagnose and treat then I thought. Looking on the bright side, it may help with my dissability appeal. God bless you all.
Posted 10/22/2008 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi hun, I'm sorry you are having these problems. I do have some heart problems. The right side of my heart has a slight stiffening because my lungs are so bad. The doctor said it is because it's hard for my heart to pump blood into my lungs. I take a medication that helps make it easier for my heart to pump. It takes some of the pressure off of it. it's called indurall. It takes the beats per min. down from about 90 to 65.
let us knw how the test come out.
hugs
carol
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