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Chest Pain cause? & UC

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Posted 12/20/2016 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,

Preliminary information: 21 years old, moderate UC diagnosed about 4 years ago (originally proctosigmoiditis that spread and worsened.) I tried Humira, but it didn't work for me. I've been in a constant flair since diagnosis, but Lialda keeps the worst of it under control. I just can't completely go into remission and I also deal with a lot of extraintestional symptoms, the worst of which is arthritis that comes and goes about once a week.

Around the same time the arthritis started, I also started getting chest pains. I initially thought it was related to anemia, but the pain continued after iron infusions, so I ruled that out. Anyway, the pain does not come from my heart and although it hurts to breathe in deeply or to move/lie down sometimes, my actual lungs seem fine. I had X-rays done and there's nothing obviously wrong. My doctor didn't really have any explanation when I brought it up. I also wondered if it could be an extension of the arthritis? The pains initially went on for months, but have since nearly vanished. A few times a month, I will suddenly experience another (shorter) bout of pain, especially when I try to sleep at night. Inhaler doesn't do anything...usually just resting for several days helps. I was wondering if anyone else has had this symptom? Or knows whether or not it is serious? I did some googling and found chronic cotochronditis can be a symptom of UC and am wondering if that is possibly what this is? Any thoughts?
Posted 12/20/2016 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
could be arthritis in rib bones or reflected pain from colon.

good luck
Posted 12/20/2016 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Lialda can cause inflamation of the heart, Myocarditis, in rare instances. Was that checked for?
Posted 12/21/2016 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
It could be costochondritis. I had that, along with other joint paint, when I was taking Asacol. It was very painful. Of course it's impossible for me to say that's what you have, but at least I can tell you it's a possibility for whatever that's worth.
Posted 12/22/2016 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I've gotten costochondritis a few times. Unfortunately all that helped me was lots of ibuprofen and spicy food. If you can get your UC under control it may improve.
Posted 12/22/2016 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies! No, I haven't had my heart checked for any problems. My doctor sort of brushed me off when I brought the pain up. It honestly doesn't feel like my heart...if that makes sense? It's less of a throbbing, sudden thing and more of a prolonged pain when I move, breathe, etc. It feels like my ribs? Or joints in my chest that ache, so I haven't taken it seriously bc I just assumed it was an extension of my arthritis. But, I had no idea Lialda could cause that symptom, so I will have it checked out next time I go in for an appointment!

Did asacol cause the joint pain? While I haven't spoken to my doc about the chest pain, I have talked to him about the joint pain and he just said it was a symptom of UC itself. /: I wish this disease was more clear cut, it is difficult to maintain my health when I have no idea what causes which symptom.

Yes, I definetly agree. My doc has said that the only way to treat the extraintestional symptoms is to get the UC under control. Unfortunately, none of the meds I've tried have managed it. My doc did talk about starting on an immunosupressing medication, but I'm also going through a bout of staph infections, so I'm afraid to start a med like that until I'm infection free. (On that note, the antibiotics kill my colon, so that may have made things worse.)

Thanks for your thoughts! I'll bring it al up to my doc soon and hopefully figure it out. smile
Posted 12/22/2016 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
I'd ask about the costochondritis and heart inflammation possibilities and get some further tests to rule them out. A number of us have arthritis (inflammation of joints) as an extra-intestinal complication of ulcerative colitis (inflammation of large intestine). When they're related, our body-wide inflammation increases during flares and gets better as we heal. The CCFA has a good read on it www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/arthritiscomplications.pdf
Posted 12/22/2016 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
It's very complicated to pin down because as iPoop points out, joint pain often comes along with UC. But in my case it was the Asacol as I only had it the precise two month period I was taking it.

When my GI wanted to put me back on meds I told her about my experience with the Asacol so she prescribed me Mezavant and I've been perfectly fine on that.
Posted 12/22/2016 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! The link was very helpful, iPoop.

I wish that someone had told me about all of the extra symptoms when I was initially diagnosed. I had no idea it was possible for the rest of my body to be so affected until I started having other problems! It is definitely not fun to feel like an 80+ year old woman when I only turn 22 next month.

Thanks for all your help! Now I just need to get some things ruled out/tested. cry
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