The chest pain under the ribs and breastbone that you describe sound exactly like Costochondritis, inflammation of cartilage in the ribcage. Jennifer, you described this perfectly, textbook. Mention the term to a pulmonologist, (I know I spelled that wrong, but lung doctor), for it has very little to do with anything autoimmune related.
The clotting caused by antiphospolipid disorder, from what I understand, would most likely be the root cause for a PE. I also have this disorder, diagnosed about a year ago, but the majority of patients that have APS generally have issues with carrying a child to term, it often is a cause of miscarriages, even into the third trimester. (it is often present in SLE lupus patients). This is something you want to see a rheumatologist for this. Generally the treatment is one baby aspirin per day, although some cases are so severe that the patient must be put on heparin. Obviously, talk to your doctor before you go on an aspirin regimen.
Hope some of this info helps.
The chest pain under the ribs and breastbone that you describe sound exactly like Costochondritis, inflammation of cartilage in the ribcage. Jennifer, you described this perfectly, textbook. Mention the term to a pulmonologist, (I know I spelled that wrong, but lung doctor), for it has very little to do with anything autoimmune related.
The clotting caused by antiphospolipid disorder, from what I understand, would most likely be the root cause for a PE. I also have this disorder, diagnosed about a year ago, but the majority of patients that have APS generally have issues with carrying a child to term, it often is a cause of miscarriages, even into the third trimester. (it is often present in SLE lupus patients). This is something you want to see a rheumatologist for this. Generally the treatment is one baby aspirin per day, although some cases are so severe that the patient must be put on heparin. Obviously, talk to your doctor before you go on an aspirin regimen.
Hope some of this info helps.
I am writing this to you all.
I think you all need to be tested properly for APS. This is Anti-Phospolipid Syndrome.
This is a simple bloodtest for ACL, being anticardiolipin, and LA being lupus anticoagulant, two simple blood tests.
Your symptoms, sound very much like Anti-phospolipid syndrome.
APS, is linked very closely to Lupus also,
APS, causes sticky blood, hence why you acquire the bloodclots.
There is a specialist team in London, who deal with this condition, at the highest level.
They also treat it at the highest level also.
Hope this has helped
Nicola
I have been have very bad chest pain for exactly 6 months now. I have sharp stabbing pain under both my arm pits and on either side of my lower rib cage but I also have a constant ache in my chest. The Dr.'s can't figure it out either. I am only 28 and I have seen 9 Dr.s in the last year. The pain is just getting worse too. It is hard to walk up and down the stairs and it hurts to lay on my sides. Car rides make me cry and some times when anything is on my chest, the pressure from the object feels like it is breaking my rib cage. I have an appointment with the Rheumatologist Oct 28th but I am worried they won't find anything either. I have had a bunch of gastro tests done, which found nothing and I have just had a CT Scan which, also, showed nothing. They have me on pain meds but I am still in so much pain. On top of all this I am so tired and some times I can't sleep at all. I have also been diagnosed with Graves disease but was told that is not why my chest is hurting. My Dr. did test me for Lupus and it was slightly high but she thinks it was due to the Graves disease. Jen, do you think it is possible for the test to be slightly high and STILL have Lupus? Was your test for Lupus very high? I am tired of being sick and hurting...
HELP!
Jennifer
You just described me to a T. I was just released from the hospital for a possible PE. The scan showed something in my left lung but they ruled out a PE. My D-dimer test was really high and my IgM was really high I just got the IgM back today. I have yet to talk to the Dr. about it. I still have the chest pain. It comes and goes sometimes stays for hours. Takes my breath away at times. Had every test known to man and they can't figure out what is causing the pain. I also have Systemic Lupus. If you wanna talk some more send me a private message sometime.
Jen