trouble breathing at night.

tkachev

My rheummy nurse has advised I stay off MTX and Humira until I get chest checked for infection so i have an appt next Friday. I might need to move it forward.
I have had difficulty breathing at night.I have had to sit upright,propped up on pillows to clear my nasal and throat passages, which does help but isn't ideal for sleep. My throat keeps sticking together so I have to keep drinking too, with the inevitable struggle to the toilet.
I have been taking my meds and the pain has been under control, which is good news, but I now expect the pain to return in all its glory. Rheummy nurse thinks it is the MTX but I wonder if the warmer weather is making it worse.
.Is any one else struggling in this way?

Elizabeth

woodbon

Hello, This sounds a horrible side effect that needs looking into straight away. I'm glad the rheammy nurse is helping you.

I get heyfever/allergic rinitus and this makes my mouth dry and throat a bit sore in the morning, it also makes me snore loudly so I'm told! :oops:
I hope you soon get sorted out as poor quality sleep is almost as bad as no sleep. Their are things you can buy, but I'd wait to see the doc, as you are on meds. Also some are expensive and don't work for me, anyway! Love Suexx

stickywicket

Elizabeth, I’m not quite with you here. Is it that you have a runny nose, either due to a cold or allergy? Or is it just that your throat keeps closing up?

I solved my allergic rhinitis problem with a very low maintenance dose of a steroid nasal spray.

But I do also experience the sticking throat thing from time to time and colds are now becoming a bit hairy at night. After a particularly nasty experience with a cold last winter, my rheumatologist told me RA can affect the vocal chords. Mine’s ‘under investigation’.

tkachev

I have a dry irritating cough and dry throat but manage to cough up a lot of phlegm which is all in the chest. It seems to get a lot worse on the MTX and Humira meds, hence I have been told to stop them until further investigation.
It does frighten me at night.


Elizabeth

stickywicket

We may or may not be talking about the same thing here, Elizabeth. (Is yours RA?) In my case it feels like I don’t have as much ‘room’ (space?) in my throat as I used to have so when I get a cold and start coughing that’s when the fun begins. If yours is connected with phlegm maybe some antibiotics might stop the phlegm and ease the situation? (I have no idea.)

I’ve never connected mine with methotrexate. Admittedly I didn’t have it before the meth but, equally I didn’t have it for the first 10 years or so of meth despite being on a higher dose than my current one.

I hope you can get it sorted out soon.

tkachev

It feels like the nasal and throat passages are narrower so I struggle o breath if lying down. When sitting up the nasal passages are better.The throat sticks together so I cannot swallow and then panic. A quick drink helps in that situation.
No I think it is a chest infection but Rheummy says it could be a number of things and not to take MTX and Humira until checked as these make the symptoms worse.
Hope its not TB!!!!!! I was all clear 3 years ago for TB as a condition for starting Humira.

Elizabeth

stickywicket

If it's any help, I can think of no reason why mine would be TB.

We seem to be talking about different things but maybe connected?

I've had an X-ray which showed my neck bones are - unsurprisingly - all over the place but not responsible so the next stage is an MRI.

I'd be interested to know how you go on with it and hope it's just a minor blip.

elnafinn

Hi Elizabeth

I am so sorry to read this. You seem to get no respite - this has been going on for months.

I am not keyed up on either the metho or the humira but having a quick google both can cause some of the side effects you are describing ie breathing difficulties. As you say it must be extremely frightening for you.

I do hope this can be resolved soon - you haver been extremely patient.

Love
Elna x

woodbon

Hello Elizabeth, I don't take your type of medication as I have OA, but I do know that whatever the cause of a breathing problem, it is frightening and the very fact that you are not breathing properley puts you on a vicious circle when you can't breath properly, as you have breathed in too much oxygen, I think, but I'm not a medic, just someone who has panic attacks. Your problem may be totally different and any breathing trouble needs looking at by a doctor. You do need help, maybe your GP can offer some information about coping with breathing problems.
Love Sue

mp1952

Hi Elizabeth

Just to say that I intermittently get a dry ticklish cough and dry throat as a side effect of methotrexate (especially when I increased it to 17.5 mg), but I don't have trouble breathing and I don't have any phlegm.

I have heard there is something called 'methotrexate lung' but it is very very rare..

I hope you get sorted soon.

Marion x

tkachev

Thanks Marion. The rheummy nurse said it could be one of "a number of things" and wanted to get it checked. TB crossed my mind but MTX lung is another.I'll just have to wait and see.

Hi Elna, Sorry not been in touch, either caching up on rest or filling out forms when awake at the mo....

E x

tjt6768

Hi hun, hope that you get whatever it is sorted soon so that you can get the meds back on track...

Best wishes with it all mi dear

Tony

tkachev

Hi SW

I have had an ongoing chest infection since Sept and very bad since end Nov so it is time I got to the bottom of it. I'm not going to worry too much as it is a classic side effect of MTX and humira as Elna says. I can still do things, it is the lack of sleep getting me down and the need to sit up, which isn't comfy.

Elizabeth

tkachev

Thank you Sue, I sit there at night trying to cough up stuff which is just sitting on my chest and trying to keep awake so I don't choke. And that is what panics me and it is a vicous circle. I'm not looking forward to bedtime!

E x

chris7

Hi Elizabeth

Oh lovey, so sorry you are still struggling with the bad chest which has been going on for some time. I do hope you can get some relief soon and that you managed to get some rest last night. Do hope things improve soon for you. I will be thinking of you.
take care
love
Chris

stickywicket

Hi Elizabeth,

I hope you had a better night. I know how scarey this sort of thing is and hope you can get it sorted quickly.

barbara12

Hi Elizabeth
I am sorry, I have only just seen your post, I do hope you had a better nights sleep, its awful when you cant breath properly, and like you say sitting up is uncomfortable.
I do hope it clears up very soon.
Take care
Love
Barbara xx

elainebadknee

Hi Elizabeth

I dont know about meth and himra at al cos im lucky enough to not have to take meds like that..I do have my auto immune disease and allergic rhinitis which has made me feel as if throat and nose if more bunged up than usual, i do use my nasal spray and menthol spray too...So i dont know it may be meds is causing this or not...Either way not good...

Elainex

tillytop

Hi Elizabeth

So sorry you now have this to deal with. Really hope you can get it checked out sooner and later and that it can be sorted quickly for you so you can get back on the meds.

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

skezier

Hi Elizabeth,

Oh I hate the breathing thing and mine is not as bad as that. As Tilly said I hope its checked out and dealt with quickly and leaving you a ((((( ))))) and a hope tonight is easier for you. Cris xx

tkachev

Thanks girls. I forgot about menthol spray as that would help my nose.I am certain the chest has a problem as I am constantly coughing.I went out last night and found it really difficult to talk to people as my throat kept locking up. I am struggling a bit and the air is humid at the moment.
I will be seeing GP on Friday but I had originally booked that for my foot pain so I think I will book an earlier one for the chest as GP's only like to talk about one thing at a time.

E x

julie47

Hi Elizabeth

I too on the odd occasion have breathing difficulties at night. Probably not the same as yours but yes it can be a bit scary and you can not find a position in bed that helps...I have to have the windows open and the doors, and normally end up sat up in bed for a while till it passes.

I hope when you visit your gp they can help.

Take care and I will try to remember pocket duty need to write stuff down nowadays...

Juliepf x

tkachev

Julie that is the same for me, sit upright and open windows and doors as this all helps.
I will be alright at GP's. I save pocket duties for the bigger issues that go on on this forum,ops, pre-ops and newbies and some of the dreadful treatment that many members have to deal with. In the big picture I have little to worry about.

E x

tkachev

Thank you Lynn,

I will get to the bottom of this but I do have a hang up about throats/ mouths and hate any problems connected to this area.So hopefully it is the chest.
I am annoyed about having to miss out on the meds more than anything as I have done so well on Humira and the nausea is also sorted since starting n anti-sickness pills.
I hope you are okay Lynn?

Elizabeth

barbara12

Hi Elizabeth
Just popping in to see how you are doing, not much better with your post,I dont if you have tried them, but my granddaughter has asthma and at the min she is using one of those steam inhalers.....and it has made such a difference.
Sending you some hugs and I hope you feel better very soon
Love
Barbara xx

tkachev

asthma is another consideration Barbara. My daughter has asthma and my sons eczema which are both linked. OH would say I don't do enough dusting!
Thanks for your kind words.

E x