Update on chest pain
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi everyone,
Still got chest pain, so much so that I have been awake with it since 3 a.m. this morning. Nearly four months now, and still no better. As you will remember my Rheumy Doctor sent me for various tests back in January, and all have been normal. My echocardiogram which was due to take place in April was postponed due to the virus, but I now have a new date for mid-June. However as my cardiologist said he thought there was no problem with my heart, but he just wanted to check to be sure, I am expecting that to be O K as well. I have always wondered if my problem is medication linked, and I stopped taking Alendronic acid a short while ago, however that has made no difference, so probably not that. I am currently on 3mg of pred, and have no pain just stiffness in knees and hips , so I thought I would go up to 10mg to see if this had any effect on the chest pain, but it didn't so I don't think it is linked to Polymyalgia. Back down on 3mg again now. Early last year I had a problem with Adcal, which was giving me sickness and diarrhoea almost on a daily basis, so I was changed to Calceos, and now I am wondering if Calceos is the problem. I have stopped taking it today to see if that has any affect on the chest pain at all. I believe I do need to take something of this nature and wondered if there is anything other than Adcal and Calceos I could try!. Any suggestions please? Thanks.
0 likes, 5 replies
sierrapamela rosemary83494
Posted
I was and still am to some degree dealing with chest pain. I found that I need to breath in the best I can and start to open my ribs up more. It was one of the first symptoms I had with PMR. (that started last September) I have to always remember to breath and I think at night I must be breathing very shallowly and this will make more chest pain in the morning when I get up. When compounded with the fast heart rate due to the prednesone it can be pretty scary. I am trying to embrace my body and not give into the fear. The fear always makes the chest pain worse. Meditation does help.
patricia43291 sierrapamela
Posted
Serrapamela,
Have you ever tried, "deep-chest" breathing? This is what a saxophone student would do to build muscles, to help take long breaths. It's different than normal breathing, and it involves the diaphragm.
patricia43291 rosemary83494
Posted
Hi Rosemary,
I assume you have osteoporosis, I do too. I also have PMR, and currently down to 3.5/4mg of pred. I took AA for a few months, but stopped, after reading about the horrid side effects. I knew I needed extra calcium, so did a bit of research, and decided to go with an algae based source. It's been two years now, and I can't wait to get another dexa scan done to see if it has made a difference. But I will wait until the coast is cleared, before I go near the hospital.
EileenH rosemary83494
Posted
It isn't difficult to increase your dietary calcium if you think about it:
2oz of Parmesan cheese will give you over 400 mg of calcium - nearly the same as in one of the calcium tablets! Other hard cheeses also contain a lot per volume, soft cheeses you could eat 100g easily to get 500mg calcium.
https://bebiotrendies.com/rankings/dairies/most-calcium
lists a load of different cheeses and their calcium content - I really am not sure how they think most people will eat 100g/4oz of Parmesan so look at the calcium per 100g figures rather than the portions in that list.
This
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/15-calcium-rich-foods
lists other calcium-rich foods.
You should be aiming for over 1000g per day - if you like yoghurt and cheese, no problem!!!!
rosemary83494
Posted
Thanks for everyone's input. My last bone scan in January was pretty good, so I think I will stay off the Calceos for now, and try dietary changes to include more calcium. I already have whole milk on cereal, and in drinks plus I drink a glass of milk most days. Also have yoghurt daily, but not necessarily the correct type. I rarely eat cheese, so that is something else I could improve on, so I will give it a go. Regards Rosemary.