Hi to all on the forum. I wonder if anyone has had a similar experience. I've just spent a couple of days in hospital due to breathing difficulties and edema of feet and ankles. My GP admitted me as she was afraid I had congestive heart failure. I had been treated for an asthma like problem for the previous 2 weeks. What started as a wheeze escalated to terrible breathlessness with chest pain and increasing swelling of lower limbs (pitting edema). I was unable to lie down and had slept sitting up in my bed surrounded by pillows. Had severe stabbing pain between shoulder blades which was worse if I tried to lie flat. Also had tight band around upper chest. Needed ventolin inhaler with some sort of chamber attachment as I couldnt take a deep breath in. Doc had also prescribed water tablets and swelling was reducing. All of these symptoms were completely new for me as I'd never had asthma or any chest problem in my life.(I'm 56)
Was admitted to acute medical ward where I was asked all the usual questions but got the impression that my GP had overreacted. Because I'd had the water tablets for a few days the swelling had reduced a fair bit and the consultant said I didnt have serious edema. He did hear "crackles" in my left lung and said I maybe had a "bit" of pneumonia. He had all my hospital notes but asked me for my medical history anyway and I told him I had mild lupus and fibromyalgia. He said he didnt think I had anything serious but would do some tests. After a chest x-ray, a heart scan and blood tests I was kept in the triage ward for a couple of nights then told I had probably had a virus.
Although I am very relieved that I dont have heart failure I feel like I was sort of dismissed as a bit of a time waster. This whole thing has been very frightening for me(and my poor hubby). My breathing has improved a great deal but the swelling continues though the water tablets do help.
This has been such a long post and I apologise to anyone who has read it for the rant. Is it possible that it could be due to lupus? I've had so many hospital stays over the last few years and most times symptoms unexplained.
My bloodwork is negative for lupus or at least "inconclusive"Finally after many years the rheumatologist dxd mild lupus and put me on Plaquenil a couple of months ago. None of the episodes of inflammation in gallbladder,bile ducts and esophagus are attributed to lupus. Sorry...what a lot of poor me,s. Luv, Mary
Was admitted to acute medical ward where I was asked all the usual questions but got the impression that my GP had overreacted. Because I'd had the water tablets for a few days the swelling had reduced a fair bit and the consultant said I didnt have serious edema. He did hear "crackles" in my left lung and said I maybe had a "bit" of pneumonia. He had all my hospital notes but asked me for my medical history anyway and I told him I had mild lupus and fibromyalgia. He said he didnt think I had anything serious but would do some tests. After a chest x-ray, a heart scan and blood tests I was kept in the triage ward for a couple of nights then told I had probably had a virus.
Although I am very relieved that I dont have heart failure I feel like I was sort of dismissed as a bit of a time waster. This whole thing has been very frightening for me(and my poor hubby). My breathing has improved a great deal but the swelling continues though the water tablets do help.
This has been such a long post and I apologise to anyone who has read it for the rant. Is it possible that it could be due to lupus? I've had so many hospital stays over the last few years and most times symptoms unexplained.
My bloodwork is negative for lupus or at least "inconclusive"Finally after many years the rheumatologist dxd mild lupus and put me on Plaquenil a couple of months ago. None of the episodes of inflammation in gallbladder,bile ducts and esophagus are attributed to lupus. Sorry...what a lot of poor me,s. Luv, Mary
