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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pleurisy????

free2beme6060
free2beme6060
I have been on MTX for 3 weeks now and Predisone on and off for about 10 weeks. I went yesterday to my PP for a TB test results and I told him I had shortness of breath. He listened to my lungs and said they sounded crinkly so he did a chest xray. Chest xray looked OK so he said I had pleurisy from the RA. I had stopped my Ibprophen since the other meds were helping with the pain. But he said start taking them again to get rid of the pleurisy. So my question is has anybody else had this? Also
I have gained 10 lbs in the last 3 weeks and my face is so puffed up
I look like one of those blow fishes!!!! Yikes is it the Predisone?
I go to my rhuemy Tuesday to get started on Humaria. I want off of this Predisone it is doing bad things but I have had a lot less pain!!
Thanks for listening.
smith101
smith101
I had pleurisy but we blamed it on the med and not the RA (even though let's face it, it could be the RA as RA tends to affect any lining including those of your lungs so....). Since I didn't have pleurisy before starting the one DMARD and I never got it again after getting off of it we are fairly certain there is a correlation there.

I wouldn't be too surprised as well if the pleurisy doesn't get worse when you get off the prednisone either. I had one doctor prescribe that specifically to get arid of my pleurisy, which it did, but once off of it, it came back with a vengeance. So be careful to wean off slowly to avoid a harsh rebound effect even though you are probably correct in your assumption that the blow fish syndrome (I called it stay puff marshmallow man) is from the prednisone as well.

Always seems like we are robbing Peter to pay Paul doesn't it? Good luck and welcome to the gang!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Prednisone is known for that and one of the many reasons I don't take it all the time, I will take it when flared up though. I always called it a moon face, my dad also had RA and he would get that moon face from taking so much prednisone, when he would quit it would go back to normal>>>>the ups and downs with RA>>>>>drives you nuts!
free2beme6060
free2beme6060
Thank you Smith and Kathy!! This is all new to me so I am sure I will have many more questions. Everyone have a peaceful and pain free Sunday!
GoMe
GoMe
Interesting... I recently had a bout of Chostochondritis and Pleurisy, and Prednisone helped me out of it... I don't take it all the time, but the chest pain from the Chostochondritis (sp?) was terrible, and I couldn't catch my breath, so my Rheumatologist prescribed a short course. Again, just shows me this disease, and treatments, affect everyone differently.
Kimberley97
Kimberley97
I have had pleurisy 2 times dr felt it was due to the RA I'm on daily prednisone and yes it's very bad for causing swelling of face and body!! Sorry your feeling bad hope you get well quickly