Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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RAmom1423 01/25/2015

Ok, now I don't think I need the ER, that being said do any of you have heart or chest issues with this RA? Today my heart rate suddenly increased to about 110-120 for about an hour. My ankles and fingertips were tingling but no pain. After about an hour I got a warm feeling spread through the inside of my chest. I have been even more fatigued than normal. Took 4 hours for my heart rate to go down to the 80s. Now I just feel a heaviness and mild sharp pain when I breathe in deeply and quickly. I'm sure with a good nights sleep it will be better. Is this common with RA? It effects everything that's why I'm not too ready to jump in the car and go to ER!!! I feel like it's all the dumb 6 meds that I'm taking.

Thanks!

trishcorsi 01/26/2015

Women's heart attacks are different then mens. It could very well be side effects from some of the meds or high blood pressure and I know that comes from RA. If it were me or you were my daughter I would say: better safe than sorry. I know it's scary but if you have 3 little ones, they need you. How about calling an urgent care if you don't want to go in? Please take good care of yourself, don't short yourself or your family. Trish

depotblue 01/26/2015

we are a great support group here, stupendous, but your doctor's office, or your doctor on your house phone after you call the service, or the emergency room, as Sally stated, is a better service to you, than we are.

they will rule in/rule out.

sure, I could say this is what my chostochondritis felt like, but this would be a huge disservice to you.

I could say this might be an anxiety attack, even if you never had an anxiety attack before, but this would be a huge disservice to you.

you need to have a medical doctor seated in front of you and go over these symptoms.

i am sure you are on the phone this morning getting a sick call appointment if you did not go to the ER last night.

Depot

sammyo1 01/26/2015

Just can't risk it. Better to be safe.
Yes I've had chest pain & do at the present but I know what it is & was.
Went into ER with left sided chest pain & the doctors said its wise to do so.
Be safe.
Sammy

Cheerfully 01/26/2015

I agree with everyone. Better to be safe and have a doctor answer your concerns.

I hope you are feeling better and cared for today.

bcatz 01/26/2015

I agree with everyone here too, but once you get cardio ruled out, you'll know this to be part of the "new you". I have a very special super power - I can freak myself out medically speaking. I can get my pulse and bp up via a panic attack. It takes hours of calming myself down. Laying on left side and thinking through the fact that what I have is chronic - long lasting, not a fast death sentence so I'm not dying today eventually calms me down.

Years leading up to a diagnosis conditions us to be freaky. Then we doubt our diagnosis or symptoms because it's not text book. It's hard not to be a bit worrisome on our best days!

Best of luck!

trishcorsi 01/26/2015

Geez I do find myself totally agreeing with bcatz! This little gem of a disease is a pain in the hind end and it really doesn't get a whole lot better; you just come to terms with it as best you can. Trish

goawayRA 01/27/2015

YES! very important to get checked out with chest pain and fast heart rate. I went to the ER from work one day with similar symptoms and was admitted for 2 days for pericarditis, but they will need to rule out a blood clot with those symptoms too.

Hang in there, good luck!!

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