Chest pains - not related to high Potassium

[smeackles]

Has anyone experience of have chest pain, higher up left and shoulder and upper arm aching, and feeling heavy?

Was with daughter in A&E last night following having several previous bloods showing potassium at 7, but on next bloods being normal, so considered by medics to be false readings, as she felt fine.

Last week potassium read at 6.8 so they took bloods this week but due to being delayed getting to lab they hemolyzed and were unviable. So they were due to try again today, a week after the high reading.

But yesterday started to feel chest pains, shortness of breath (but inhaler did nothing) and shoulder aching and was sent straight to A&E. We anticipated her potassium was high still and possibly causing hyperkalemia. But ECG was good and bloods came back all clear with potassium at 4.7.

Still feeling the achy shoulder today but chest pain has eased. Anyone else experienced this or can attribute these symptoms to Lupus or meds fighting Lupus? (On Hydroxchloroquine, Azathioprine, Prednisone, Sertraline, Omeprazole, Calcium and other suppliments).

Fact that its not gone away is a concern - she has left message with Rheumatology to update on whats happened, awaiting their view.

[RosieA]

I am glad that you took your daughter to A&E. It is so important not to dismiss these symptoms. One of the organs that Lupus can affect is the heart. As you may remember I have pericarditis. This presents as upper left hand chest pain - sharp, which radiates through to the back left shoulder blade. It hasn't radiated down the arm. I had an ECG, a two week heart tape - all were normal. It was only diagnosed through an echocardiogram. It is worth pressing your concerns on these symptoms as mine was undiagnosed for over 6 months.

One of the give away symptoms for me, was increased pain when sitting back (even on a bunch of cushions), relief when leaning forward and an inability to sleep on my left side without feeling that my heart was going to explode. Pain worse on excertion, relieved with positional change and rest.

The things we learn about when faced with this disease!! Hope this helps a little, if nothing else it is something to either confirm or dismiss! x

[smeackles in reply to RosieA]

Thank you RosieA - really helpful to hear.

Bless her, she had to drive for 50 mins from work to Bath RUH on own last night - I drove from our home an hour and a half away (she doesn't live at home now and works all over).

The fact that the ECG and bloods were all fine seemed to put them at ease - the pain eased as she was resting and sat for hours. But today it is stable and she has gone back to work, which is close to Bristol RI if needed. She's not wanting this to stop her working as only recently started in profession she worked at uni for and took 2 years to get the first chance. Trying to find the balance between that and listen to your body.

I will note your symptoms and experience and see if any mirror so we can move forward and enquire about an echocardiogram if looking like on the same path. Knowledge is so important and either way confirm or rule out its helpful.

Seem to learn something new most days with this!!

Hope you are doing well at the moment. XX

[Riselikeaphoenix_123]

Hiya, yes I get that regularly. Although since being taken off Sertraline and put on Methotrexate injections, it is much better in my left upper arm and less chest pains. I realised that Sertraline was making my blood pressure become hypertensive 203/115! So that's something to check. It is difficult to notice which medication affects you if they are added at the same time as others and with all the side effects but as I came off it my blood pressure lowered and when they re introduced it, it shot up. I hope that helps. 🙏 Cx 💜

[smeackles in reply to Riselikeaphoenix_123]

Thank you for your reply, yes all experiences is so helpful to hear. She has been on Sertraline for a while after the high prednisone she was on, was sending her anxiety and depression through the roof. That helped instantly with that. She is being tapered off the prednisone currently and down to single figures. Still early days so not sure (without medical reasons) they stop sertraline but something to consider.

Will see what her blood pressure has been like too.

Thank you for sharing your experience - hope you are doing well at the moment x

[Riselikeaphoenix_123 in reply to smeackles]

Thank you 😊 Cx

[frigidnorth]

Is this drug induced lupas? I've had it only since starting Omeprazole and have read that it will clear up one to three months after stopping omeprazole. I've had several bad reactions to Omeprazole and I'm about 34 days off of it now and my chest pains and heart palpitations are also going away.