Posted 3/6/2014 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Melodie:
I'm guessing by now that you've see your PCP. What did they have to say? Are you feeling any better?
I suffer with chronic pleurisy, pericarditis, and have pulmonary hypertension. Since you are a young woman I would highly doubt it's the pulmonary hypertension. Pleurisy and pericarditis can happen in a lot of lupus patients.
With pleurisy it's inflammation around your lungs and it causes shortness of breath. With the pericarditis you begin to collect fluid in between the sack that holds your heart and the heart itself. With pericarditis you will feel better when leaning forward and it's easier to breathe that way. With the pleurisy some people are more comfy that way and others are not.
The treatment for both of the conditions (if they aren't severe) is to increase the amount of steroids you're taking. I can't tell you how many times I've been in the hospital for both of these conditions. I've got very bad lungs though. My lupus attacked both my lungs and heart, I've got a ton of scar tissue on my lungs, and I have to use oxygen 24/7 to be able to breathe normally. Plus, I've got a HUGE blood clot in my SVC.
If you didn't see your Doctor today for some reason, and you're still have a lot of shortness of breath, and chest pain, please go to the nearest ER and be checked out. Better safe than sorry okay. By the way with both pleurisy and pericarditis these conditions are very, very painful and normally have chest pain along with it.
If I can answer any other questions please feel free to ask. Hope you're feeling better and hang in there and let us know how you're doing.
Hugs,
Barbara