HAS ANYONE OUT THERE HAD INFLAMMATION FROM RA OR LUPUS AFFECT THEIR HEART? A MONTH AGO AFTER A BAD FLARE I WAS HAVING CHEST PAINS AND WENT TO MD. HAD A MILD CASE OF PHEURISY AND REFERRED ALSO TO HEART DR. HE DIAGNOSED ME WITH MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE FROM AN ECHOCARDIAGRAM I HAD!!
IT'S HEART VALVE DAMAGE FROM ONE OF SEVERAL THINGS:
UNDIAGNOSED LUPUS, RHEUMATIC FEVER (FROM STREP THROAT...I'VE HAD THAT A THOUSAND TIMES), CONGENITAL DEFECT (DOUBT THAT SERIOUSLY AS I WAS VERY ACTIVE IN ALL SPORTS, A JOGGER, SEVERAL SURGURIES...WOULD'VE BEEN CAUGHT BEFORE NOW) ALSO FROM HEART INFECTION (ENDOCARDITIS).
THE VALVE DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND LET'S BLOOD SEEP BACK INTO HEART. THE HEART HAS TO PUMP HARDER AND HARDER AND CAN BECOME ENLARGED. THERE IS A RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE BECAUSE BLOOD SITS AND POOLS. HE PUT ME ON ZOCAR WHICH AFTER A MONTH, HAD MY MUSCLES ON FIRE...A SIDE EFFECT. HE TOOK ME OFF. ALSO LOW DOSE ASPIRIN THERAPY. A MONTH LATER I WAS IN ER WITH BLEEDING ULCER AND SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN.
COULD I HAVE UNDIAGNOSED LUPUS? READ SEVERAL ARTCLES ON INTERNET ABOUT MRSA (WHICH I CAUGHT ON MTX) INFECTING AND DAMAGING THE HEART. MY LYMPH NODE UNDER MY ARM WAS THE SIDE OF A BASEBALL AND INFECTION WENT DOWN TO MY LEFT BREAST DUCTS NEAR MY HEART. THE MONITOR I WORE THAT WEEKEND BY HEART DR SHOWED ARRITHMIA AS WELL. I RESEARCH MVP ON INTERNET TO GET MORE INFO AND IT SAID IT COULD CAUSE EXTREME FATIGUE.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION. MY FATIGUE IS SO BAD I CAN BARELY FUNCTION. MY MD PRESCRIBED PROVIGIL AND WORKED WELL FOR ME FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS. I DON'T TAKE ON WEEKENDS AND JUST TRY TO REST UP.
THE FATIGUE IS NOT NORMAL AND I DON'T BELIEVE TOTALLY FROM RA. ALL I WANT TO DO IS SLEEP, NO ENERGY TO TALK, NOTHING UNLESS I TAKE THE PROVIGIL. I ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE I AM DYING.
JUST TRYING TO FIGURE THIS ALL OUT. I OVERWORKED THE LAST 3 DAYS ON PROVIGIL AND EVEN THO I TOOK THE DRUG TODAY, I FEEL JUST DEAD....LIKE I HAVE EXTREMELY L O W BLOOD PRESSURE, LIKE MY HEART IS JUST BARELY PUMPING. TOOK MY BP AND IT'S OK; I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE ON THE LOW SIDE. HOME TODAY HURTING ALL OVER AND SOOOOOOOOOOO TIRED.
ANY IDEAS??
I have to have a echocardiogram tomorrow as they said I have a loud murrmur` this is new to me. no heart concerns prior to RA dx earlier this year. So, will see what they say.
Fatigue is bad. told due to RA. Ever feel like if the next room was on fire you couldn't even get up to leave?
sorry I can't add anything further.
DEAR HULA.....MURMER USUALLY MEANS MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE. WOULD YOU KEEP ME POSTED AFTER YOUR APPT? ASK HIM IF IT CAN ADD TO YOUR FATIGUE AND AFFECT YOUR BLOOD FLOW AND CURIOUS AS TO MEDS HE PUTS YOU ON. THANKS MUCH!I sure will let you know. My appt with him is not till 9/8. For the moment, anyway.
I've had rheumatic fever and have a heart murmur going in 50 yrs now. I always thought that was what caused the fatigue but I've had numerous tests that show that the heart is functioning well enough that the fatigue isn't from my heart. I guess it's from the RA. The provigil helps me so much.
It's not really a big thing but I have diverticulitis also and the gastroent. thinks I should have a colon resection. I'm freaking out over it because I've had more surgery than I can stand but in the scheme of things I know it could be a lot worse. I dread recovering from surgery.
Karen I don't know one thing about what's going on with you...but I wanted you to know of my concern.
Moving you to the top of the prayer list. Don't over do it. This sounds scary.
Keep us updated on your situation....You too Hula.
I have a congenital heart murmur that has not caused me problems. Mine is the aortic valve and so far my heart has compensated. I suppose that could change in the future, but the Drs aren't worried and no further action is planned.
Barb
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