New to forum...don't know what's been happening to me.
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I've had RA for almost 7yrs and mostly its been managed well.Was initially on Methotrexate tablets then injections but wasn't good on them so for the past 5 or 6 years have been on Plaquenil which I haven't really had any problems with. At the start of this year I decided to try and do something about the weight I had put on and to generally get myself fitter. I went for a 30min walk most days,was eating more healthily and slowly managed to lose a stone and a half. I felt the best I'd felt in years.Then approx 2 mths ago I started getting the odd dizzy spell. I've always had a lot of headaches which I put down to the various meds I'm on...for high BP, cholesterol, etc..but this felt more like a pressure in my head which seems to be coming and going on a daily basis. Then I started to get these "episodes" palpitations,tightness in my chest, left side shoulder/chest pain, very breathless and at my worst really struggled to breath and felt as if I was going to pass out. It became really scary and like some other people on here I was taken to hospital a few times, had ECG's, chest xray, blood tests and nothing has shown up.I've been put on a beta blocker which seems to prevent the really bad palpitations but i still have the rest of the symptoms. I'm awaiting results of the 48hr monitor I had last week but I really don't think the problem is my heart but something to do with having RA.I get extremely tired and apart from this tightness in my chest which rather than painful is very uncomfortable I often have the sensation of something stuck in my throat.I have no problem swallowing just this sort of lodged feeling. Today I saw the RA nurse who has taken blood to check for inflammation and all sorts of other things and I can't remember the name of what she said it could "possibly" be.....but I'm starting to feel hopeful I'll get it sorted.The past couple of months have been dreadful, some days I've just not been able to function at all.I just want to get back to how I was...walking and feeling good.Would be glad to hear of anyone that experienced similar, how long it took to get sorted or what treatment they needed.
0 likes, 3 replies
CA-Lynn Debra1954
Posted
I have sero-negative RA [and other autoimmune diseases] and have been on MTX and Humira for several years. [I was diagnosed over 20 years ago and the MTX worked well until a few years back.] Over the years I had gained weight and was on a diuretic and Benicar for hypertension. When Humira was added I felt good for the first time in almost 20 years, and started walking......and losing about 50 pounds. When my weight came off, my blood pressure came down.......but I was still taking pills for hypertension. Suddenly I was getting light-headed and felt faint on my walks....and almost fainted a few times. In my case taking me off the hypertensive meds did the trick.
Everyone is different and sadly things never seem to get sorted right away. But it sounds like you're zeroing in on the problem. I think as these things go on and on, we tend to get anxious......compounding the symptoms.
Debra1954 CA-Lynn
Posted
Thank you for your reply. I had to wait four weeks to get the result of the 48hr monitor which showed a couple of episodes of atrial tachycardia with significant symptoms and the recommendation for me to see the cardiologist. Not sure how long I will have to wait for that appt. But you're right about anxiety making things worse so with that in mind I do try my best to stay calm when I get these episodes. So it seems that it is a separate thing to the RA. Just hope I can get it treated simply with medication and back to where I was. I was diagnosed sero-positive and understood that to be the type of RA that can develop more aggressively. I'm not due to see my consultant until Sept as being just on Plaquenil I don't have to have regular checks as with Mtx and others. Still can't help but have the niggling feeling what's been happening to me is connected to the RA so will talk to him about it then....and in the meantime hope the cardio can sort me out...and soon!
CA-Lynn Debra1954
Posted