I have no answer to that, but I have the same thing. I also have a lot of pain in my back, so I was wondering if it was somehow coming from my back.

Thanks AnnNY,
I should have maybe made a bigger deal about it when I saw my rheumatologist but it's hard when there are so many things bothering you.. You tend to focus in on the things giving you the most grief at the moment. I'll be sure to bring it up at my next appointment. Sorry you have te same issue:-(

Lung issues seem to be common with autoimmune diseases, but I would suggest talking to your doctor to rule out something like heart, lung problems (such as interstitial lung disease or costochondritis), or malfunctioning kidneys. Someone I knew a few years ago had heart-like symptoms, but her problem was a hiatal hernia. So your difficulties could be anything. Your doctor can run tests to help figure out your problem. Here are some websites that might give you helpful information and help you to formulate a list of questions to ask your doctor. Best wishes to you.
http://www.webmd.com/lupus/ss/slideshow-lupus-overview
http://www.lupus.org/answers/entry/lupus-and-pulmonary-system
http://www.lupusny.org/about-lupus/newsletters/august-september-2007/breathe-easy-what-do-when-lupus-affects-your-lungs
http://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-info/lupus-affects-body/lupus-lungs/

Forgot to mention that my lungs can be affected by high humidity, cold, and chemical smells (such as household cleaners, perfumes, etc.)

Interesting timing. I wish I had some answers for you but I am in the same boat - left side lung pain, raw, worse on exertion.

Two days ago i saw my GP about this - he did blood work, ekg, and a chest xray. Yesterday I spent 2 hours waiting in emerg because I was called back for urine and the internist redid all the bloods. Nurse let it slip that I was in acute renal failure when I got there...but my new bloods were all fine.

This is the second time my kidneys set off an alarm...and the retest was fine.

Doc asked if I was doing some sort of strenous workout or weight lifting...............!!!!!!!!! Seriously ?

I told him I was there because my CHEST hurt....................??

The xrays were clear, blood fine, chest sore....he tells me to take it easy and I have an appointment with him in 2 weeks. I decided to take 2 sick days of work.

Don't you ever get tired of no answers ???? Story of my (our) life sometimes.....

So sorry Northern Elf!! I totally agree with this no answers business!

For what it's worth I can offer my experiences:

When I can't breath and have lung pain - it's like my lungs are raw. When taking in a breath they HURT. Usually that's swelling of the lungs (pleurisy) or pneumonia. And it's unmistakable if it's pneumonia because there's other symptoms that go along with it. Both usually require a trip to the Doc/ER.

But, there's a different kind of pain that happens - just like you dessribed - pain in the center or to the left of the chest - gets worse with exersion, etc. And that is from costo-chondritis. It hurts and gets worse the more I move. It's also easy to tell if that's the issue with me just by pressing on my ribs. If they hurt when touched - it's cc, not something more sinister. And usually, I can get by with a trip to my rheumy and NOT the er - eventho it's a bit scary.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costochondritis/article_em.htm

Then, there's the dreaded pain in my heart from endocarditis - that's also unmistakable because it literally hurts when my heart beats. Every heartbeat HURTS. Needless to say - this one requires a trip to the ER.

I agree that it's enormously difficult to unravel all the tangled threads of symptoms a chronically ill person gets.

I went to the walk-in clinic to get checked out because I've been coughing up a lot of blood. The doc seemed baffled...no signs of infection so it wasn't pneumonia as he first thought it was. He just kind of gave up and said that so long as I don't get deathly ill with a fever or something, just see how things go. That's what they usually tell me. I've had this problem before.

My chest hurts when I breathe deeply, so I've been diagnosed with pleurisy several times. Trouble is, I have so many symptoms that I don't think anyone will ever unravel it all...not without a lot of cash I don't have to spend.

I'm not giving advice, but for me it's just carry on as best I can and try not to worry. I seem able to do maintenance work and gardening enough to get by, so maybe it's OK. I suspect based on my reading that I'm getting nosebleeds or sinus trouble that's causing blood to drain into my lungs sometimes. But who knows?

Pardon my French RichieD but holy F$&@! That's just terrible and I'm just going to stop complaining!!

No, no, keep complaining, RA. That's what we're here for.

Hemoptysis aka coughing up blood is a symptom sometimes seen with lupus. So all my troubles could eventually trace back to this "disease of many colors". All I know is that I have most of the ACR criteria for diagnosis, and corticosteroids relieve my symptoms in a very dramatic way when I do take them.

On my last interaction with the medical system at the clinic, the doc said my kidney function looked fine, electrolyte balance was very good, lungs showed only two small fibrosities (scars) on the cat scan. So I'll just continue to muddle along.

If I get really sick with organ problems or something, I'll put the screws to them to give me some corticosteroid. But I'd rather not get into leaning on those without really good reason to do so. So pressing for a diagnosis would be pointless, I suppose...not to mention really expensive.

I eat an outstanding diet of fresh veggies from my garden and whole grains. That's where I put my energy rather than hounding doctors for pills. And it seems to work up to a point. Lowering stress levels has also made a big difference for me. I never give anyone an opportunity to get under my skin anymore.

Here's my experience with lung problems, if it helps...?

I've had sharp pain on the lower lobe of my left lung. It was worse when I breathed in and could not take a quick breath. in this case I also had a fever and was dx'd with pneumonia. Antibiotics got rid of this.

I've had a sharp pain, generally on the left side of my chest. It can be lower down, but usually middle to lower areas. Incredible pain when I breath in quickly. Feels like someone stabs me with a knife. This is costochondritis. (I can tell the difference because I've had both conditions multiple times).

I'm allergic to smoke and dust, so when those are in the air, I get pleurisy, where the lining of my lungs fills with fluid. That causes a sharp pain lower down too. I pay attention to what's going on around me for this one. (harvest time, wildfires nearby, etc).

I've also had, and still sometimes have, shortness of breath and difficulty filling my lungs, but no real pain. just discomfort. The doctors aren't sure on this one yet, but are leaning toward interstitial lung disease, possibly caused by long term methotrexate. I'm off that med now and I've been getting gradually better, but not as quickly as they like.


good luck and hope your docs figure it out.

I had pneumonia when I was young...I remember the pain was in my back, not my chest. The doctor said that was normal for pneumonia. The lungs are a bit lower down than most people think they are.

Back then a few dollars would get a doctor to listen with a stethoscope. Now with all the fancy tests and the outlandish fees, you could buy a car with the money it costs to get a doctor to check your lungs for you.

Sorry, but I'm obviously a little bitter about being cut off by the medical care system. I worked very, very hard my whole life and now I can't afford to go to the doctor. That hurts.

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lining of the pleural cavity that houses the lungs. Taking a deep breath stretches this inflamed tissue and causes pain. But of course inflammation of other structures in the area can also cause a similar pain. I often get pain when I take a deep breath.

I too feel the same lung pain exactly the way you described it. Mostly on the left side and then sometimes also in the middle.
I have told all my doctors about it from day one. I have had several chest x-rays. The doctors just say it is pleuritic pain which is inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest (the pleura) that leads to chest pain (usually sharp) when you take a breath or cough.
I feel it all the time. It is the biggest problem that I have when I want to exercise, much more than the joint pain or fatigue. the lung pain can be very bad.
So I understand what you're going through and I'm sending you a hug from here.
Do go on and mention this to your doctor whenever you go. They may not have the answer now, but if we bring it up often then maybe someday the doctors will have the answer.

You also have to consider angina or heart disease. Us folks with autoimmune disorders are more prone to having that problem.
Mary Ann

Have you been checked for a pulmonary embolism? I have aps secondary to lupus and that was how this whole medical diagnosis process started. Is it worse when you lay down?