I have had fibro for 10 years and RA for 24 years. I have been doing very well up until a month ago. I started having chest and back pain, shortness of breath, major fatigue, and I felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest. I have been admitted to the hospital twice, and have had a CT scan, EKG, Heart cath, and heart ultrasound done. Not to mention terrifying my rheumatologist. Both times I was in the hospital, I was put on IV nitro - - boy did I feel better!!! I have also been put on prednisone - 60 mg per day for 6 days, skip a day, then 5, etc. I felt really good on all that prednisone too. My local yocal dr. put me on the prednisone for a "bronchial problem." The only thing is when I skipped a day, I felt worse than ever before. My heart and lungs all came back ok, so guess what that leaves? Either fibro or my RA. Has anyone else had this happen to them? My rheumatologist says that if prednisone works it's an RA thing, if it doesn't then it's a Fibro thing. My rheumatologist put me on 5 mg of prednisone a day. He says if it doesn't help, then it's time to look at stronger meds. Right now I'm on plaquenil, sulfasalzine, mobic, effexor, lunesta, thyroid med. I've never been on methotrexate or embrel, etc. Please offer insight if this has happened to you. Also, if you've had this what meds were you on? My email is loriecmpbll@yahoo.com.
Sincerely, ordy