Chest Pains

I am new to the lupus support group, and I would appreciate any advice anyone can provide for me. For the last eight years I have been experiencing extreme chest pains accompanied with nausea and vomiting. The episode usually lasts 24 hrs. I have been to see a cardiologist, a GI specialist, and have had a full workup on my lungs. Nothing significant was found. I am tired of going to the ER when this occurs because all they can do for me is give me pain meds. I am at my wits end because this prevents me from doing my activities of daily living. If anyone is going through this or knows a solution, please help.

I asked how the heck will I ever know if it's my heart for real VRS Lupus chest pain??

ER DR said this," If its crushing so bad like you can't move and feel like you have a hundred books on your chest and it wont go away and if you it dosen't make a diffrence if you take a deep breath in or out, its heart go to ER! All the other pain is lupus crap it feels like a cramp in your chest right? I know so well its so scary.i have had pain right over my heart. Numb hands tingle figers chest pain. Its so very commen in Lupus. Hang on I know its sooo frustrating! Do this, just have the DR get you a good pain killer to have on hand like Percaset for these times of great pain in your chest and anxity meds also help when this happens too because when it comes it can freak you out and make you start having an anxity attack that makes it worse more then it really feels like a heart attack.The anti anxity meds calm you down a bit make you relaxe. My primary said Lupus brings on anxity and depression (so thats why I cry so much) I so know what you go through.

THe last Er visit I had I felt like butterflys were flying around in my chest with pain it really freaked me out that was a new pain but guess what? It was the same old Lupus wacked out chest pain. GO FIGURE!

I dont even tell the Doctors office now that I have chest pain, I just say I'm in a flare, I need pain meds and should I go on prednisone? If you even mention chest pain they freak and say go straight to ER to cover their butts in case.

You just need to get like I am now and start knowing the same chest pain and signs to start feeling what the "NORM" chest pain is in a Lupus flare.

To save us money ( I own 600 in copays at ER)time and pain at the ER. Im so sick of hook me up to the EKG, "looks fine", "your fine!" and them treating me like I am nuts!" Take this shot or pill for pain." "See you later!" "Follow up with your DR."UGGG! You ever want to chat Email me wildflowerfulz@hotmail.com

Post edited by: Wildflowergirl, at: 08/07/2008 05:45

Essentially, it's an inflammation of the chest cavity which can cause severe pain and make it difficult to breathe. The doc said it's more common than most people know, and that you can get it by leaning too hard for too long on something, or doing it repetitively. As a carpenter, I'm always bending over and leaning on this and that.

Anyway, it was about three months after this incident that I was diagnosed with lupus, schleroderma, and raynauds (as well as GERD). I actually didn't know lupus could cause that kind of pain. Perhaps the doc's diagnosis of me was wrong??

-Jared