Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group
Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.
Hey everyone. Its been awhile since I've checked in. Just trying to get thru life one day at a time. Like everyone else I guess. :) I was diagnosed with DM in August of 2011.
I have been having issues lately with what I can only describe as "chest pressure". A lot of time, it feels as if there are bricks laying on my chest. Not all the time but often enough, I get winded very easily. I was showering the other day and kept having to stop from both the pain of raising my arms up to wash my hair and my heart pounding and feeling out of breath.
A couple of weeks ago, I was at work and just couldnt catch my breath. My pulse was elevated. They had me lay down for awhile but nothing made it go away until the next day. My family doctor is blaming it on "stress" but I have been on Xanax and that does nothing for how I am feeling.
We know my CK numbers are on the rise. I was down to 45 when on MTX and Prednisone. We tried taking me off the meds and my rheumy is checking my CK's every 6 weeks and they have steadily increased everytime. She doesnt want to do anything about it beause "they are still in the normal range". This is the same doctor who put me on MTX and Prednisone when my CK's were increasing back in the fall but were still "normal". I dont understand the inconsistency in the treatment. Then I have my dermatologist telling me that CK's dont just "go up" for no reason. I am so confused. I feel anxiety almost constantly but it doesnt feel like "traditional" anxiety to me in that nothing relieves it.
I am also scheduled for a colonooscopy (which I am dreading) next week and am nervous that if I have an undiagnosed heart issue the prep for the colonoscopy could be a bad idea.
Sorry for the long note. I'm so tired of never just being able to "be". There is always something we are chasing.
I have been having issues lately with what I can only describe as "chest pressure". A lot of time, it feels as if there are bricks laying on my chest. Not all the time but often enough, I get winded very easily. I was showering the other day and kept having to stop from both the pain of raising my arms up to wash my hair and my heart pounding and feeling out of breath.
A couple of weeks ago, I was at work and just couldnt catch my breath. My pulse was elevated. They had me lay down for awhile but nothing made it go away until the next day. My family doctor is blaming it on "stress" but I have been on Xanax and that does nothing for how I am feeling.
We know my CK numbers are on the rise. I was down to 45 when on MTX and Prednisone. We tried taking me off the meds and my rheumy is checking my CK's every 6 weeks and they have steadily increased everytime. She doesnt want to do anything about it beause "they are still in the normal range". This is the same doctor who put me on MTX and Prednisone when my CK's were increasing back in the fall but were still "normal". I dont understand the inconsistency in the treatment. Then I have my dermatologist telling me that CK's dont just "go up" for no reason. I am so confused. I feel anxiety almost constantly but it doesnt feel like "traditional" anxiety to me in that nothing relieves it.
I am also scheduled for a colonooscopy (which I am dreading) next week and am nervous that if I have an undiagnosed heart issue the prep for the colonoscopy could be a bad idea.
Sorry for the long note. I'm so tired of never just being able to "be". There is always something we are chasing.
Hugs
Maruska
The same situation you describe " pulse elevation and chest pressure" happend to me 3 year ago.
Raising up the Prednisone solved the problem.
I don't thing your problem is "stress".
michael PM
I now get a mild nausea that stays around so I eat small lite low sodium meals through out the day. I also have surprise chest pounding with my head getting tight. I walk around the room to exercise it off. I now have more trouble sleeping because I wake up several times. I get very sleepy at times during the day where no amount of coffee will fix the problem.
A chest x-ray is cheap and will give you a lot of information. Any chest heaviness and shortness of breath needs to be examined ASAP. I would put off the colonoscopy until after a chest x-ray. A chest ultrasound of the heart would give you an assurance of exactly what is going on with the heaviness.
I hope you get the answers that you need. I will put in a prayer for you. Please keep us posted.