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Chest pain on Sprycel

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Do others have regular chest pain on Sprycel?  I've never really been able to entirely shake it, and sometimes it gets quite a bit worse.  Like now which is why I'm asking.  The doctors don't seem particularly worried so I'm wondering if it is considered a normal and acceptable side effect.  I'm only on 20mg now.  I think this flare came when I tried to wean off the low dose aspirin I've been on since my TIA while on Tasigna.  I never had chest pains before the TKIs, and had a full cardiac workup after the TIA, so just before going on Sprycel in August 2019.  No problems found then.  Having never had chest pain before I find it very disconcerting.  

I have an echo scheduled at the cardiologist to look for PAH and pericarditis, but the schedule has been slipped twice and now is all the way out in early June from originally being mid March, thanks to the pandemic.  I may call and ask if it is possible to move that up.

Stay safe everyone.  

Maria

Hi Maria,

Is the pain worse when you are lying down? that’s typical of pleural effusion. 
 

David. 

Yes the pain is worse laying down.  I called on this a couple weeks ago and they did not think pleural effusion as my lungs have sounded clear when I've been for my appointments.  Although currently this is worse than usual, it is not the worst it has been.  This also ebbs and flows, would pleural effusions do that?  Much worse in Dec, then calmed down but never completely gone.

The pain is not terrible, just uncomfortable and when it ramps up I'm short of breath and can't do very much.  

Maria

The lungs will sound clear.  What they listen for is a diminution or dulling (muffling) of the sound, caused by the fluid in the lining of the lungs (not in the lungs, as you know.)  AND, what I have found from experience, they will not hear even this unless they go outside the usual protocol and listen VERY FAR DOWN, at the very bottom of your ribcage where it meets your waist.  Then they will hear it.  There is literature suggesting that x-rays (and listening) should be done prone, as pleural effusions can be missed.  The weird thing about pleural effusions is that some people can have an extremely small amount of fluid - might not be seen on x-ray or heard - and yet have shortness of breath or a sensation (like chest pain), and others can go for many months completely unaware they have a third of the way up their lungs in the picture.

I have similar concerns with my upper back? Where the lungs are..
i am taking 70mmg Sprycel,  i have some pain similar of acid reflux, especially when i lay down, is pleural effusion considered dangerous? I can run 2-3 miles daily with no short of breath, but the pain is there.. 

i wonder if your chest pain And my back pain are related to the drug side effect, i will have to see my doctor, but with the Covid19 i will wait, unless is an emergency.

thank you for sharing.