Guest guest Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Hello everyone! Well I am writing again, looking for some information. Recently I began having some problems with my heart. Friday the 5th of May, I was at work and began having chest pressur, with only a little bit of pain. Within just a few minutes, I hard pain going into my left shoulder, and about halfway down my arm. Being only 29 yrs old, I never thought it was actually my heart. Well as the day progressed, it got progressively worse. By Saturday afternoon I was in the ER. They hooked me up to all the machines, LOL. Well my blood pressure was elevated, and my pulse would go up and down, for no apparent reason. After ruling out a heart attack, and inflammation around the heart they sent me home and told me to follow up with my regular Dr. Tuesday I was in his office right away, and he immediately referred me to a cardiologist. They did an echocardiogram, which came back normal. They also did a halter, that I had to wear for 24 hrs, and it also showed the rapid heartbeats. They did a CT-Scan on my lungs in order to rule out blood clots, since I am on Humira. They do not seem to have an answer for the cause, but keep telling me its not RA related. I am not as convinced. I have been put on 25 mg of Toprol once a day. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Again my syptoms are.... rapid heartbeat, chest pain and pressure, shortness of breath, and even more fatigue. The more active I am, the worse it is. It even wakes me in my sleep! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Thank You very much for the information on Costochondritis. But I have to say, it doesn't fit. I am having rapid heartbeats, which is not part of the Costochondritis, also I can push on my breastbone without any pain. But again I thank You ofr your information, and will bring it up to my Dr.'s, because you never know! Thank You, Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 Well I have not heard of a heart problem yet, but R/A does affect mucsles and the heart is a muscle. Happy Holidays Miike From: candobears <candobears@...>Subject: heart problemsRheumatoid Arthritis Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 9:51 AM Has anyone experienced heart disease with the RA? and if so what kind?I was Diagnosed with mitrovalve prolaps recently.Chest pains increase with rheumatoid flares.Heart doctor says I was born with the condition, but I can't help but wonder if it isn't from the RAbecause of the increase of pains during RA flares.I am currently not on any of the classic drugs, due to chronic ear infection. Have had the dry eye,dry mouth, thyroid, and breathing problems for a couple of years now.Deal daily like everyone here!Just curious about the heart condition thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 I have CAD, Coronary Artery Disease. I was dx'd about 4 months ago. After several months of angina attacks that I thought was heart burn. My blockages are only about 40% though, so no surgery yet. I have never had high cholesterol or high BP problems. Now that I do have heart disease my cholesterol has to be 70 or lower. My gp put me on Lipitor and it dropped to 60 in three weeks. I do have a lot of trouble sleeping, because of the RA pain and I think this has played a part of it. For several years I have only gotten 4-6 hours sleep at night. No one else in my family has RA but my family is riddled with heart disease. Both of my parents had heart disease. I have had two sisters die of heart attacks, one was 66 and one was 61, another sister had bypass surgery this past summer at the age of 64. I am 57 and so far no one else was aware of a problem at this age. My gp recommended that I take 200mg of CoQ10 daily to help with the fatigue from the beta blockers. I couldn't stay on the beta blockers because I am hypersensitive to them, but the CoQ10 has my angina pretty well under control. I even found it online, a four month supply for $28. I also keep nitro pills in my purse, just in case. I have only had to take one, once and it did the trick. Shirley > > Has anyone experienced heart disease with the > RA? and if so what kind? > > I was Diagnosed with mitrovalve prolaps recently. > Chest pains increase with rheumatoid flares. > Heart doctor says I was born with the condition, > but I can't help but wonder if it isn't from the RA > because of the increase of pains during RA flares. > I am currently not on any of the classic drugs, > due to chronic ear infection. Have had the dry eye, > dry mouth, thyroid, and breathing problems for a > couple of years now. > Deal daily like everyone here! > Just curious about the heart condition thing! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 I have mitral regurgitation, but I'm not sure if it is because I had Graves disease at an early age (14) or because of my RA that I've had for 12 years. After two doses of radioactive iodine for the Graves disease, I started having heart palipitations and was placed on Blocadren. It was a really good beta-blocker. After my RA diagnoses, Blocadren was discontinued and I needed a replacment drug, my GP felt that I needed to go to a cardiologist for a checkup since heart disease is prevelant in my family as well as diabetes. My cardiologist is also my Mom's doctor--he's helped her through two heart attacks and open heart surgery. She has osteoarthritis--two knee replacements. She lost a brother to heart disease and both her parents had it, as well as her two other brothers, and one sister. My paternal side of the family has heart disease and hypertension too. The cardiologist keeps a close watch on me--stress test, echo, holster, etc. He put me on Toprol XL (beta blocker) and Diovan HCT (high blood pressure med, an ARB). My major problem is swelling--I don't know when it's due to my cardio problems or when it is my RA. Basically, the rule of thumb is if it's pitted edema--leaves a dent when you press with your thumb it's my heart--and I take Lasix to remove the fluid. If there's no pitted edema, just swelling, it's probably my RA. My RA is always active--which can result in fluid around my heart and in my lungs which increases the heart palipitations and coughing attacks when sleeping at night, so I have to sleep on two pillows. As everyone else said, RA can damage the heart muscle, sac, or valves. It can also damage the lungs. > > Has anyone experienced heart disease with the > RA? and if so what kind? > > I was Diagnosed with mitrovalve prolaps recently. > Chest pains increase with rheumatoid flares. > Heart doctor says I was born with the condition, > but I can't help but wonder if it isn't from the RA > because of the increase of pains during RA flares. > I am currently not on any of the classic drugs, > due to chronic ear infection. Have had the dry eye, > dry mouth, thyroid, and breathing problems for a > couple of years now. > Deal daily like everyone here! > Just curious about the heart condition thing! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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