Does anyone else experience tightness in chest like they can not breathe as well as the sharp pains?
It feels clostrophobic like someone is suffocating me...
Please say this is a common symptom of this too???
Yes, dont worry i have that feeling too, like someone is pushing down on your chest all the time. Have also started to get back ache - which I'm convinced is because of lack of excersise...
The most scary bit is heart palpitations and waking in the night pounding & heartbeat all over the place, but I dont know if its just the worry causing this?? I keep convincing myself theirs something wrong with my heart even though the doctors have said theres not... does anyone else have this??
Yes, I was so convinced that there was something wrong with my heart that GP did 24hr ECG, which came back normal! I think when the inflammation is over heart muscle it must affect it.
I told GP about tightness and I saw a asthma nurse who did some tests. After using inhaler I was able to blow better so I now have asthma inhalers, although nurse said it probably isn't asthma, just inflammation affecting lung capacity. I feel my breathing is shallow when chest hurts which I guess body does sub-consciously to minimise movement in chest so it can get better?
My breathing, cough & tightness is better with inhalers but still feel like crap.
I've found Volterol gel really helps pains.
Oh and one thing that did annoy me though was that the GP wanted to prescribe me anti depressants and he thought this was all getting me down! Of course its all a bit much sometimes especially when it doesn't ease off for months but I am NOT depressed! They hand out anti depressants far too easily.