Speaking from experience as a cardiac nurse and also personal experience- Keep looking into this. MCTD causes chest pain in a lot of different ways, like inflammation of the ribs and cartlidge, (sorry, cant spell), pericarditis, pleurasy, and muscle pain. It also increases your risk of heart attack. And scalaraderma can cause cardiomyopathy.
As for the palpitations, sometimes those heart monitors dont show anything if your problem doesnt occur while you have it on! At one time, I read those things, back when they were 24 hours and read manually, before computers! LOL! I had a woman that had been passing out for months and had been hospitalized for it and had worn numerous heart monitors. One day my tech was putting one on her and she passed out. Luckily, the tech had turned it on before putting it on her. The woman woke up, I grabbed the monitor and checked it. Her heart had STOPPED for about 45 seconds. I got her admitted pronto and she had a pacemaker put in.
Keep talking to your Dr about this. And good luck.
Mary Ann

I get alot of chest pain .Im used to it now but at first I got panicky but now Im used to it .I really dont know how I'll tell if I ever do have heart problems.

thank you I have a Dr apt in the morning and i will def have some questions

I get heart palpitations quite often. Was hospitalized in december with pleuresy. It stinks and is very very painful. When I had the monitor on, nothing showed up.

I get chest pains...not sure if it is related to my other illnesses? good questions.

now i am having alot of shortness of breath and chest hurting???
I called my Dr and she gave me some steroids to start. I was trying real hard not to take them but had to start the first dose today the pain and sob just kept getting worse. Anyone else have this kind of issue?

Wow, I'm new here, and what a relief to talk with others that have experienced similar stuff as I have. I have suffered for the past 2 years, going undiagnosed until 2 weeks ago, and yes, it started in my chest, and then the swelling in my entire body. Every day was a new experience . . . . what was going to swell, how much swelling and pain, etc. I have MCTD, and as a result, have pericarditis and costochondritis, which is the inflammation of the ribs, cartilege, etc. The pain is excruciating . . . . . and I had to hold my chest just to take a breath. This became more and more frequent and with more and more intensity. My most-recent hospital stay had me receiving an IV of morphine, dilotin and oxycotin . . . . with little relief. Steroids were the only relief to reduce inflammation, and am allergic to anti-inflammatories. They are now trying NSAID and pray they work. I lost my job in June, because of my sickness . . . . and felt really defeated . . . . but I hope this site and support will change all of that.

Welcome! Hope your symptoms are under control soon!
Mary Ann

Well glad you found this. It is really nice to read the replies and no that you arnt crazy... It is very scary going through this, but I am a faithful child of God and have to learn to put my illnes in his hands instead of my own. After last week I left church early because i was having trouble breathing and went home and got on my knees adn juts started praying to God to heal me and give me peace. Guess what he answered my prayer. I need to rely on God instead of my Dr and myself.

Relying on God is a wonderful way to live. But God gives us knowledge and our Doctors the skill to help us. Never forget that the works of God are everywhere! Thanks be to the Lord for all he gives us.

Mary Ann

Mary ann you are absolutely correct. God has placed me in some wonderful Dr's and I feel very blessed. My problem is I just keep it to my self and have to remind myself God isin control.

This disease reminds me daily of how much power I thought I had that I never had! When you are healthy, I think we all tend to think it is within our power to keep that health. Of course, we can wreck our health by our lifestyle, but even a healthy person can get hit by a car or stricken with a horrible disease.
Realizing we are not in control is a humbling experience.
Mary Ann

I have a history of chest pains. I even had a stint back in oct 08. They found a blockage then.
Since then I still having chest pains.
What I learn is when the doctor can't find a reason for like with me my chest pains they tend to think you need something for your actions...sorry can't spell the word I want to put here.
But in truth is they are real to me.
I won't bore you with several years of testing and not finding reasons.
I pray all the time to God asking for him to help me.
I think he has already.
I fired my last cardo because of the last surgery I had at the end of may. Gallbadder the surgent told us he just made it in before it could bursed. I believe God help me out then too.

I don't care any more what is causing me to have chest pains...I give up...and I put myself into Gods hands.

I did go last week and saw a new cardo...he was horrible. All the things he told us (my husband and me) was so crazy....
I just wanted out so I play along made the next apt that was last friday. Monday I cancel....and was polite.

I just needed a cardo so if I need any more surgiers I have one....they wouldn't clear me for the gallbadder surgery without a clearnest from several of my doctors including my heart doctor.

Now I guess even if I don't want one have to find another one at least one that is normal....smile

too many crazy doctors....I'm like some of you I'm tired of doctors.

Yes still having my chest pain...during the labor day weekend I mostly stay in bed because I was having some then. I kept an eye on my self check my blood pressure and my oxygen level.

I am ok.............I have my ntiro....I told my husband don't call 911 unless I pass out.

I think our bodies can't always show the problems...I just keep praying and hoping that it is all in my mind...

Thank you for reading....
I do hope you find releaf in your chest pains....
hugs
ruth

I have chest pains, a lot...for years. At first I would run into the ER cause it feels like I am having a heart attack, everytime i went in they would do blood work and CT scan always showed inflamation, pleurocy. I am so used to it now, except the new thing with it is i get A LOT of pain down my right arm, my fingers go purple. I am always in fear that the one time I don't go in, it will be serious. But even when I do go in, they just pump me full of meds and send me home.

sooooooooooo frustrating!!!!

I have chest pain from pleurisy, and perhaps some pericarditis at times as well. There is also chest pain from costochondritis - inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs. Pleurisy is my least favorite symptom I think - it's so painful and hard to deal with, at least for me. I have an easier time dealing with the joint pain for some reason.

I've also had near-syncope spells before, but they didn't seem to be connected to my pleurisy so I'm not sure what's up with that...
I get palpitations occasionally, and when I change my prednisone dose I get more - at higher doses (like 40mg per day) I get tons of palpitations, it's very unsettling.

I've also had normal EKGs, worn a heart monitor, had cerebral angiography, all were completely normal.


Kathryn