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HELP!!! Anyone else had this???

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Posted 5/16/2007 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! Everyone

I keep feeling like I can't take in enough air do any of you have this?? Freaks me out as I have myself in a frenzy thinking its that rare lung infection from the methotrexate despite the fact my chest xray was ok. Am I losing my mind?? I feel more foggy than usual and swear I am dying every day. Do any of you feel this way?? My second dose of Methotrexate is tonight so now Im totally freaking out.

Hugs!

Cathy

Posted 5/16/2007 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I get the same thing. It is allergy season and with all the pollen in the air, it's tough to breath.
Don't freak out......just breathe slowly.

Jen :-)
Posted 5/16/2007 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cathy:

(((hugs))) I'm sorry you're feeling rough. I have terrible times breathing, it could possibly be pleurisy that's making it hard for you to breath. Pericarditis is another thing that can cause shortness of breath. I hope that you'll contact your doctor and let them know you're feeling not right. If the SOB gets worse, please don't wait, go to the ER and have them check you out.

Take care,
Barbara
Posted 5/16/2007 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Cathy, I hope it's not the mtx causing the breathing problems. I agree with Barb though that if this continues or gets worse you should get checked out to make sure everything is okay. It could be something as simple as humidity or possibly panicking and worrying might make it harder to catch your breath, but I'd rather error on the side of safety, especially since you started a new med. Getting checked out might ease you mind too and help you be more comfortable taking the mtx. Just so you know, you are not losing your mind. A lot of these meds we take can be hard on your body and I think it's pretty normal to be nervous when trying a new one, especially after reading the lovely scare sheets that come along with them. Hang in there and I hope things improve for you soon. Take care
Posted 5/16/2007 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
thanks guys i did go to my doc on monday and he done chest xray and didn't see anything to worrisome i do have copd then of course i did read the scare sheet with the methotrexate and have myself convinced its the fatal lung thingy so im sure its aniety as well. he did say i had some pluerisy and chostochondritis (which I have spelt wrong) so he thought it was all lupus related. I go up 2 4- 2.5mg tonight on the methotrexate so say lots of prayers as it seems I panic so easily anymore. Geez! Lupus is a horrid disease period!!
Thanks for all your support!!
Hugs!
Cathy
Posted 5/17/2007 2:50 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Cathy.

I'm sorry you are having the feeling of not getting enough air.  I do know that when I was talking to my doctor about me taking a round of metho. that he said feeling short of breath was one of the side effects.  I am glad your chest x-ray was normal.  This could be a side effect of the methotrexate.  I agree with Barb and hippimom that if this continues or gets worse call the doctor back or head to the ER.

ocean

Posted 5/17/2007 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Nope, you're not losing your mind :-) .  I actually wrote a post a few days back about this.  I am going throught the same thing.  My chest x-ray and PFT came back absolutely normal.  The three different doctors I saw are chalking it up to the humidity.  It is scary though - the sensation of not getting enough air. 

A couple things that help me out are:

1. Limiting caffeine (since it enhances the side-effects of the breathing meds I'm taking)

2. Taking my breathing meds at the EXACT same time every day.

I'll admit, my breathing isn't perfect (even with the meds), but it makes things a lot more bearable.

Good luck! :-)

Posted 5/17/2007 8:35 AM (GMT 0)
Cathy, You did the right thing in reading the "scare sheet" that came with the methotrexate so that you could look for potentially dangerous side effects like shortness of breath. That's a pretty good reminder to the rest of us to always ask the pharmacist about a new prescription and to always read the "scare sheet"

I do hope you start feeling better, and am happy to hear that you're taking care of yourself.

Pat
Posted 5/17/2007 9:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi cathy, I also have COPD and i've been really suffering lately. I don't take the metho though. I won't tell you what it is but for me it's the stinkin humidity! try staying in the AC keep the fans blowin try to keep your house from feeling damp. stay out of the cloudy weather. If you have a nebulizer us it as much as recommended. My doctor told me last week that my breathing problems were from the copd with the humidity making the air hewavier. kind of like trying to breath on top of mount everest.

I hope you get to feeling better
hugs
carol
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