HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Remi & Respiratory Issues

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/20/2007 12:44 PM (GMT 0)

Has anyone experience respiratory issues while on Remicade? I know it is a side effect. During my first infusion I experienced a little bit of chest tightness. I just had my third this Tuesday and my chest is uncomfortably tight.  It feels like I have bronchitis; however I only cough when I breathe deep. I have always had issues with allergies and sinuses, this is different though. Has anyone gone through this? What helped?

Posted 9/20/2007 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure if this will help, but when I went for my infusion chest tightness was reviewed as one of the symtpoms to look out for during the actual infusion. The nurse said that they would give  me Bendryl if I had any tightness. She described it similar to an allergic reaction to the mouse enzyme. I let your doctor know.

Posted 9/20/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. I called the infusion nurse this morning so i am waiting hear back from her.
Posted 9/20/2007 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
i've had four infusions over the past 4 months and don't remember having any such issues. of course, i usually just sleep thru the whole thing.

sorry i couldnt help
james
Posted 9/20/2007 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
well i called the infusion nurse and she sugested i see my family doctor. It sounds as if i might have developed a respritory infection. i am going to see my doc next week.
Posted 9/20/2007 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
tamtam- I would maybe call your GI doctor to let him/her know what's going on also. Not to scare you, but I wound up with strep. pneumonia after a remicade infusion, & it all started exactly the same way. That bronchitis-like tightness in your chest. I was in the hospital for 5 days, really really sick. My family doctor had no clue, because he doesn't know that much about Remicade. It's not something to fool around with. Good luck!

Posted 9/20/2007 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Not to sound too much like an alarmist, but if you're having pain when you breathe in, don't wait until next week to get an appointment.  I ignored similar pain after my second remicade infusion, because they mentioned it as a potential side effect, and it was a pulmonary embolism.  If your doctor cannot see you, have it checked at the emergency room.  Its probably not that serious, but let them tell you that. 
Posted 9/20/2007 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
okay happy dad, did you have heart problems before? Was teh embolism caused by the Remicade?
Eva, Did you have any other symptoms other than the chest tightness? I ran a slight fever (no more than 99.8 after the IV on tuesday) however i have run a fever after the last 2 as well. It never breaks 100 and it goes away the next day.
I am going to move my appointment up. Thank you
Posted 9/20/2007 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
TamTam, no previous heart problems, its actually a circulatory problem. It was unrelated to Remicade, except that I did not pay close enough attention to the symptom because the Remicade warnings said one might experience similar symptoms as side effects of an infusion.
Posted 9/20/2007 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
tamtam- at first it was just the chest tightness & a slight fever. I was cehcking my temp like 2x day, nothing big. I did have a lot of fatigue, but they told me to expect that after an infusion. Plus I was tapering ped, so thought it could be from the taper. Anyway, I called my GI doctor who initially agreed that it was from the fast pred taper.  After 2 more days, still feeling chesty/tight, but not too bad, I woke up with yellow eyes & skin- totally jaundiced! Called my GI again, they sent me right to the ER. Who admitted me with the strep. pneumonia, drug-induced hepatitis, blood infection, flaring, etc.... It was a mess! I tell you, I was scared to death of remicade after that. But I did have other infusions with no problems. Definitely talk with you GI doctor too- they know what to look for re. Remicade warning signs.

Posted 9/20/2007 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
okay so i am officially worried. I can probably get into the doc tomorrow. I called the GI today. i am expecting back blood work today. I left a message about what is going on. she is booked out over a month so unless there is a serious issue it is just easier to call her. I do not have a sore throat or any white stuff on my tonsils. i know that does not completely rule out strep but i am not really worried about hat. I am worried about an uper respiratory infection or bronchitis. I should hear back from the GI late today. I am hoping none of this is that serious. i am really bad about blowing this kind of stuff off thinking i am just a little under the weather.

Eva, did your back hurt or your joints ach or swell?
Posted 9/22/2007 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
my joints hurt anyways, but I think it's due to the prednisone. I'm glad you called your GI- let me know what happens. I only check the boards during work or at the library, but I hope everything is good!

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply