HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Experience with Chest Pain?

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/16/2007 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Six years ago I had fluid build up around my heart - which is what determined I have Lupus.  Ever since that incident, I have episodes of chest pain.  Most are mild on a daily basis - but lately I feel like there is a balloon inflated in my chest!  I've had countless chest x-rays & echo waves done during the bad episodes, but everything comes back normal.  Does anyone else have similar experiences?  If so, is there anything that helps the pain subside?    Thanks!
Posted 11/16/2007 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenny, Well . . . its ALWAYS necessary to get chest pains checked out . . . so its good you've been tested and retested. One thing I've learned is that even people who have had heart attacks, can't tell the difference between indigestion and heart pain !!! AKKKK!! My b-i-l drinks a glass of water. If its indigestion, the water will cool it very temporarily . . . if it is his heart, the water has zero affect and he heads to the ER. The docs thought I was having heart issues and it ended up to be erosions in the esophagus from GERD which was easily treated with meds and raising my the head of my bed by 4 inches with wooden blocks. I had no feeling of heart burn or reflux. I guess it can happen w/o you knowing it. Make sure you discuss your episodes of chest pain with your doc. I know it gets old . . . but it sounds like this is escalating for you. The doc might even just try you on some Nexium or other reflux meds to see if it helps. Blessings!
Posted 11/16/2007 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Jenny, I agree with Rosie about always getting any chest pain checked out to rule out anything heart related. In addition to possible GERD, there can also be inflammation of the tissue around the ribs and breastbone that can be extremely painful called costochondritis. I get costochondritis once in a while and it is very painful. I really hope your doc can help you figure out what it is so that maybe you can get some relief from it.
Posted 11/16/2007 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
I have had similar issues. about a year and a half ago, I went to the ER with chest pain and was told I had Pleurisy..an inflammation of the lining around your lungs that causes that lining to rub against your ribs when you breathe. This did show in an x-ray, but they had to do a special type to look just for that. The prob is alot of new-school docs don't think there is any such thing and just dismiss it as not being an option.
I got lucky in finding a doc that not only believes in it, but treated it with an increase in steroids for five days. I still have flares of it, feels like someone is poking me in the chest, especially behind or underneath my breasts, and right smack in the middle on my upper chest. And yes, it is something that is very common with Lupus and other autoimmune diseases.
Posted 11/18/2007 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Jenny--
I would definitely get it checked out by a heart doc and get copies of your test results. I had atrophy of the heart and abnormal heart beat and was not told about it, even had a heart attack and spent the night in the hospital, which is when they ran these tests, and they told me in the morning all the tests came back fine. Well they didn't. I found out two years later at my social security hearing. It's best to get copies of your tests and keep your own medical file if you have any kind of serious illness anyway, so that if you have to switch docs or anything, you have everything. also, don't assume all the tests make it to your doc, they usually don't, that's another reason I carry them in with me.

I have a lot of chest pain, some is my heart, some is my bronchial tubes from COPD, some is probably GI, but I had everything checked out recently and the damage to my heart had healed and though my heartbeat is still irregular, everything is ok, and it's important to know that. What went on during those years where I thought my heart was normal and it wasn't is anyone's guess because I was pretty sick and didn't much go to the doctor because they kept telling me there was nothing wrong with me.

Doctors lie, more than their patients and its become pretty common practice. I've only gotten good care when I brought the labs in and confronted my docs with the abnormal results, then I get some actions. of course, there's some good docs out there. I hope yours is one. Take care and I hope you feel better and I would get that checked out and find a reason for it asap.
Posted 11/18/2007 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenny, well like everyone else said see your doctor. I also have COPD. I just had an ECHO done two weeks ago. Now I have to go back the 29 for a chemically induced stress test. Which I had a few years ago and ain't too crazy about. But it doesn't hurt it's just weird. You may ask about having one done.
I hope they figure it out. I know how scarey it can be when you have chest pains.
hugs
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply