What can cause a sharp pain either in my chest or right below it?

Posted by emily @emilystewart30, Jan 2, 2025

I’m 22. I’ve been constipated for several years, and I’m going but I feel like there’s stool that I can’t get out. Since around summer or fall last year, I’ve been having a feeling of fullness right under my chest. In September 2024, I also felt like I started having chest pain or pain right below my chest that would radiate to my back. It gets better at times and I don’t really notice it, but other times I feel like something’s wrong. Today I was exercising, and not too long afterwards, maybe 30-60 minutes, I started having a sharp pain either in my chest or right below it, and it’s radiated to my back at times. I felt tired today too, and like I want to go into a deep sleep but if I rested I don’t know if I’d go into a deep sleep. What could be causing this feeling, and could it be something serious?

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Profile picture for janetexmsrrose @janetexmsrrose

Go to the emergency room next time you have that pain it could be your heart.

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@janetexmsrrose I could do that. Sometimes its seemed like I feel it more maybe towards my stomach or near my sternum though

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Profile picture for emily @emilystewart30

Since around fall/winter 2024, I’ve had a feeling of pain either in my chest or in the area between my chest and sternum. The pain has come and gone, and sometimes I feel somewhat alright and don’t notice it, but other times I notice it and am worried. Sometimes it’s felt like a sharp pain (don’t know if sharp pain is the right way to describe it) maybe in the center of me, in the area between my sternum and chest. When I feel it, usually it hasn’t lasted long like maybe seconds where it’s sharp, but hours after that I’m kind of on edge and worried about what I experienced and part of me still doesn’t feel right. I’ve also been constipated, and have been going most days, but I always feel like there’s more I’m not getting out. Last week I was going everyday, and I was going large amounts but still felt I needed to go. Sometimes I’ve gone days/week or more where I’m going everyday consistently, and then I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve felt I needed to go more, but like I couldn’t and I couldn’t push more out or it would be too hard for me to push it out. Sometimes I’ve felt pressure or a feeling of fullness maybe in my stomach area right below my chest. Sometimes I’ve felt like I’ve had troubling relaxing because I’m worried if I relax something wouldn’t feel right maybe near my stomach or sternum.
The past few days I haven’t really had pain near my sternum/chest, but I’ve felt kind of on edge and like I didn’t feel right. Today I was sitting down most of the day except for a walk, and maybe a couple-few hours after walking I went to use the bathroom, and around that time I felt like I had a pain near my sternum or chest. Going to the bathroom today didn’t seem to cause that pain though. Earlier today before that happened, I sniffled and something didn’t feel right near that area, but I sniffled after that and didn’t feel the same way. The past few days, when I haven’t felt right in that area or have had pressure, it’s seemed like I’ve felt it almost after changing positions or getting up. Today I felt kind of a pain when I went upstairs after sitting down for a while. Maybe a few weeks ago I had a similar feeling, like after using the bathroom (didn’t have a bowel movement) and standing up, I kind of had a feeling near that same area but it didn't last long.

Sometimes I’m not sure how much is going on physically and if stress/anxiety is affecting this, but it doesn’t seem like it’s all stress. Sometimes I feel somewhat decent and want to think I’m alright, but I feel like most of the time I’m somewhat alert and aware, and am worried about feeling this way again. I’ve felt like for the past year there’s been many times I’ve felt a pain near my sternum/chest, but most of the time I haven’t felt pain but I haven’t felt completely right. Sometimes I want to think I feel alright, but during those times I think I feel alright, part of me feels tense like I’m almost waiting to not feel right physically. It also seems like the times I’ve felt this pain, I haven’t felt it during the night, and I don’t know if that means anything. The past few months, it’s seemed like my bowels have been making more noises than usual during the night, and sometimes if I stay up on my phone I notice the noises.

Does anyone have advice about this? There’s a few things I’ve wondered about if I have, like costochondritis or a hernia (maybe a hiatal hernia). I have a doctors appointment next month, and I’ve thought about if I’m still feeling this way talking about the symptoms I’ve had.

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Both symptoms of impending heart attack. Just get it ruled out

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Profile picture for emily @emilystewart30

Since around fall/winter 2024, I’ve had a feeling of pain either in my chest or in the area between my chest and sternum. The pain has come and gone, and sometimes I feel somewhat alright and don’t notice it, but other times I notice it and am worried. Sometimes it’s felt like a sharp pain (don’t know if sharp pain is the right way to describe it) maybe in the center of me, in the area between my sternum and chest. When I feel it, usually it hasn’t lasted long like maybe seconds where it’s sharp, but hours after that I’m kind of on edge and worried about what I experienced and part of me still doesn’t feel right. I’ve also been constipated, and have been going most days, but I always feel like there’s more I’m not getting out. Last week I was going everyday, and I was going large amounts but still felt I needed to go. Sometimes I’ve gone days/week or more where I’m going everyday consistently, and then I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve felt I needed to go more, but like I couldn’t and I couldn’t push more out or it would be too hard for me to push it out. Sometimes I’ve felt pressure or a feeling of fullness maybe in my stomach area right below my chest. Sometimes I’ve felt like I’ve had troubling relaxing because I’m worried if I relax something wouldn’t feel right maybe near my stomach or sternum.
The past few days I haven’t really had pain near my sternum/chest, but I’ve felt kind of on edge and like I didn’t feel right. Today I was sitting down most of the day except for a walk, and maybe a couple-few hours after walking I went to use the bathroom, and around that time I felt like I had a pain near my sternum or chest. Going to the bathroom today didn’t seem to cause that pain though. Earlier today before that happened, I sniffled and something didn’t feel right near that area, but I sniffled after that and didn’t feel the same way. The past few days, when I haven’t felt right in that area or have had pressure, it’s seemed like I’ve felt it almost after changing positions or getting up. Today I felt kind of a pain when I went upstairs after sitting down for a while. Maybe a few weeks ago I had a similar feeling, like after using the bathroom (didn’t have a bowel movement) and standing up, I kind of had a feeling near that same area but it didn't last long.

Sometimes I’m not sure how much is going on physically and if stress/anxiety is affecting this, but it doesn’t seem like it’s all stress. Sometimes I feel somewhat decent and want to think I’m alright, but I feel like most of the time I’m somewhat alert and aware, and am worried about feeling this way again. I’ve felt like for the past year there’s been many times I’ve felt a pain near my sternum/chest, but most of the time I haven’t felt pain but I haven’t felt completely right. Sometimes I want to think I feel alright, but during those times I think I feel alright, part of me feels tense like I’m almost waiting to not feel right physically. It also seems like the times I’ve felt this pain, I haven’t felt it during the night, and I don’t know if that means anything. The past few months, it’s seemed like my bowels have been making more noises than usual during the night, and sometimes if I stay up on my phone I notice the noises.

Does anyone have advice about this? There’s a few things I’ve wondered about if I have, like costochondritis or a hernia (maybe a hiatal hernia). I have a doctors appointment next month, and I’ve thought about if I’m still feeling this way talking about the symptoms I’ve had.

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Are you getting a colonoscopy ? Maybe it could see why you feel the way you do ….and/or an endoscopy ? Hernia ?sometimes hernias press up against organs, even the lungs…that would show up in imaging, like an MRI or CT or…? Good to know you’ll see a doc soon…you don’t want to keep feeling bad ! Good luck !

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Profile picture for nycmusic @nycmusic

Are you getting a colonoscopy ? Maybe it could see why you feel the way you do ….and/or an endoscopy ? Hernia ?sometimes hernias press up against organs, even the lungs…that would show up in imaging, like an MRI or CT or…? Good to know you’ll see a doc soon…you don’t want to keep feeling bad ! Good luck !

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@nycmusic I didn’t have plans to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy, but I haven’t talked to a doctor about how I’ve been feeling.

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Profile picture for mslee56 @mslee56

Start with your PC and go from there.
It could be anything-you need to address it.
Wouldn't it be a big relief to know what is going on?
Stay away from Dr. Google!!!

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@mslee56 yeah, it’d be a relief for sure to figure out what’s going on. Sometimes I’ve been worried about what’s causing me to feel this way, and if it’s something bad/serious.

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Profile picture for emily @emilystewart30

Since around fall/winter 2024, I’ve had a feeling of pain either in my chest or in the area between my chest and sternum. The pain has come and gone, and sometimes I feel somewhat alright and don’t notice it, but other times I notice it and am worried. Sometimes it’s felt like a sharp pain (don’t know if sharp pain is the right way to describe it) maybe in the center of me, in the area between my sternum and chest. When I feel it, usually it hasn’t lasted long like maybe seconds where it’s sharp, but hours after that I’m kind of on edge and worried about what I experienced and part of me still doesn’t feel right. I’ve also been constipated, and have been going most days, but I always feel like there’s more I’m not getting out. Last week I was going everyday, and I was going large amounts but still felt I needed to go. Sometimes I’ve gone days/week or more where I’m going everyday consistently, and then I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve felt I needed to go more, but like I couldn’t and I couldn’t push more out or it would be too hard for me to push it out. Sometimes I’ve felt pressure or a feeling of fullness maybe in my stomach area right below my chest. Sometimes I’ve felt like I’ve had troubling relaxing because I’m worried if I relax something wouldn’t feel right maybe near my stomach or sternum.
The past few days I haven’t really had pain near my sternum/chest, but I’ve felt kind of on edge and like I didn’t feel right. Today I was sitting down most of the day except for a walk, and maybe a couple-few hours after walking I went to use the bathroom, and around that time I felt like I had a pain near my sternum or chest. Going to the bathroom today didn’t seem to cause that pain though. Earlier today before that happened, I sniffled and something didn’t feel right near that area, but I sniffled after that and didn’t feel the same way. The past few days, when I haven’t felt right in that area or have had pressure, it’s seemed like I’ve felt it almost after changing positions or getting up. Today I felt kind of a pain when I went upstairs after sitting down for a while. Maybe a few weeks ago I had a similar feeling, like after using the bathroom (didn’t have a bowel movement) and standing up, I kind of had a feeling near that same area but it didn't last long.

Sometimes I’m not sure how much is going on physically and if stress/anxiety is affecting this, but it doesn’t seem like it’s all stress. Sometimes I feel somewhat decent and want to think I’m alright, but I feel like most of the time I’m somewhat alert and aware, and am worried about feeling this way again. I’ve felt like for the past year there’s been many times I’ve felt a pain near my sternum/chest, but most of the time I haven’t felt pain but I haven’t felt completely right. Sometimes I want to think I feel alright, but during those times I think I feel alright, part of me feels tense like I’m almost waiting to not feel right physically. It also seems like the times I’ve felt this pain, I haven’t felt it during the night, and I don’t know if that means anything. The past few months, it’s seemed like my bowels have been making more noises than usual during the night, and sometimes if I stay up on my phone I notice the noises.

Does anyone have advice about this? There’s a few things I’ve wondered about if I have, like costochondritis or a hernia (maybe a hiatal hernia). I have a doctors appointment next month, and I’ve thought about if I’m still feeling this way talking about the symptoms I’ve had.

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I’ve had that pain off and on. I blame mine on weather fluctuations. It is scary when you have it but I really think it’s part of the fibro

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Profile picture for pgjnash77 @pgjnash77

I’ve had that pain off and on. I blame mine on weather fluctuations. It is scary when you have it but I really think it’s part of the fibro

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@pgjnash77 what do you mean by fibro? I’m sorry that you’ve had that pain too

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Profile picture for emily @emilystewart30

Since around fall/winter 2024, I’ve had a feeling of pain either in my chest or in the area between my chest and sternum. The pain has come and gone, and sometimes I feel somewhat alright and don’t notice it, but other times I notice it and am worried. Sometimes it’s felt like a sharp pain (don’t know if sharp pain is the right way to describe it) maybe in the center of me, in the area between my sternum and chest. When I feel it, usually it hasn’t lasted long like maybe seconds where it’s sharp, but hours after that I’m kind of on edge and worried about what I experienced and part of me still doesn’t feel right. I’ve also been constipated, and have been going most days, but I always feel like there’s more I’m not getting out. Last week I was going everyday, and I was going large amounts but still felt I needed to go. Sometimes I’ve gone days/week or more where I’m going everyday consistently, and then I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve felt I needed to go more, but like I couldn’t and I couldn’t push more out or it would be too hard for me to push it out. Sometimes I’ve felt pressure or a feeling of fullness maybe in my stomach area right below my chest. Sometimes I’ve felt like I’ve had troubling relaxing because I’m worried if I relax something wouldn’t feel right maybe near my stomach or sternum.
The past few days I haven’t really had pain near my sternum/chest, but I’ve felt kind of on edge and like I didn’t feel right. Today I was sitting down most of the day except for a walk, and maybe a couple-few hours after walking I went to use the bathroom, and around that time I felt like I had a pain near my sternum or chest. Going to the bathroom today didn’t seem to cause that pain though. Earlier today before that happened, I sniffled and something didn’t feel right near that area, but I sniffled after that and didn’t feel the same way. The past few days, when I haven’t felt right in that area or have had pressure, it’s seemed like I’ve felt it almost after changing positions or getting up. Today I felt kind of a pain when I went upstairs after sitting down for a while. Maybe a few weeks ago I had a similar feeling, like after using the bathroom (didn’t have a bowel movement) and standing up, I kind of had a feeling near that same area but it didn't last long.

Sometimes I’m not sure how much is going on physically and if stress/anxiety is affecting this, but it doesn’t seem like it’s all stress. Sometimes I feel somewhat decent and want to think I’m alright, but I feel like most of the time I’m somewhat alert and aware, and am worried about feeling this way again. I’ve felt like for the past year there’s been many times I’ve felt a pain near my sternum/chest, but most of the time I haven’t felt pain but I haven’t felt completely right. Sometimes I want to think I feel alright, but during those times I think I feel alright, part of me feels tense like I’m almost waiting to not feel right physically. It also seems like the times I’ve felt this pain, I haven’t felt it during the night, and I don’t know if that means anything. The past few months, it’s seemed like my bowels have been making more noises than usual during the night, and sometimes if I stay up on my phone I notice the noises.

Does anyone have advice about this? There’s a few things I’ve wondered about if I have, like costochondritis or a hernia (maybe a hiatal hernia). I have a doctors appointment next month, and I’ve thought about if I’m still feeling this way talking about the symptoms I’ve had.

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I had a similar feeling of chest pressure in the same area,I had a CT abdomen with contrast in the ER and it showed a hiatal hernia,I followed up with a surgeon and he said it was too small for surgery,it’s causing reflux acid and I couldn’t eat or lay down sleeping,now symptoms controlled better with Prilosec 40mg,hope this helps you

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Profile picture for truthfinder @truthfinder

I had a similar feeling of chest pressure in the same area,I had a CT abdomen with contrast in the ER and it showed a hiatal hernia,I followed up with a surgeon and he said it was too small for surgery,it’s causing reflux acid and I couldn’t eat or lay down sleeping,now symptoms controlled better with Prilosec 40mg,hope this helps you

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@truthfinder I’m sorry to hear you felt that way. Sometimes I feel better sleeping and like I don’t feel the symptoms as much, but sometimes lately I’ve been having reflux

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Profile picture for emily @emilystewart30

Since around fall/winter 2024, I’ve had a feeling of pain either in my chest or in the area between my chest and sternum. The pain has come and gone, and sometimes I feel somewhat alright and don’t notice it, but other times I notice it and am worried. Sometimes it’s felt like a sharp pain (don’t know if sharp pain is the right way to describe it) maybe in the center of me, in the area between my sternum and chest. When I feel it, usually it hasn’t lasted long like maybe seconds where it’s sharp, but hours after that I’m kind of on edge and worried about what I experienced and part of me still doesn’t feel right. I’ve also been constipated, and have been going most days, but I always feel like there’s more I’m not getting out. Last week I was going everyday, and I was going large amounts but still felt I needed to go. Sometimes I’ve gone days/week or more where I’m going everyday consistently, and then I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve felt I needed to go more, but like I couldn’t and I couldn’t push more out or it would be too hard for me to push it out. Sometimes I’ve felt pressure or a feeling of fullness maybe in my stomach area right below my chest. Sometimes I’ve felt like I’ve had troubling relaxing because I’m worried if I relax something wouldn’t feel right maybe near my stomach or sternum.
The past few days I haven’t really had pain near my sternum/chest, but I’ve felt kind of on edge and like I didn’t feel right. Today I was sitting down most of the day except for a walk, and maybe a couple-few hours after walking I went to use the bathroom, and around that time I felt like I had a pain near my sternum or chest. Going to the bathroom today didn’t seem to cause that pain though. Earlier today before that happened, I sniffled and something didn’t feel right near that area, but I sniffled after that and didn’t feel the same way. The past few days, when I haven’t felt right in that area or have had pressure, it’s seemed like I’ve felt it almost after changing positions or getting up. Today I felt kind of a pain when I went upstairs after sitting down for a while. Maybe a few weeks ago I had a similar feeling, like after using the bathroom (didn’t have a bowel movement) and standing up, I kind of had a feeling near that same area but it didn't last long.

Sometimes I’m not sure how much is going on physically and if stress/anxiety is affecting this, but it doesn’t seem like it’s all stress. Sometimes I feel somewhat decent and want to think I’m alright, but I feel like most of the time I’m somewhat alert and aware, and am worried about feeling this way again. I’ve felt like for the past year there’s been many times I’ve felt a pain near my sternum/chest, but most of the time I haven’t felt pain but I haven’t felt completely right. Sometimes I want to think I feel alright, but during those times I think I feel alright, part of me feels tense like I’m almost waiting to not feel right physically. It also seems like the times I’ve felt this pain, I haven’t felt it during the night, and I don’t know if that means anything. The past few months, it’s seemed like my bowels have been making more noises than usual during the night, and sometimes if I stay up on my phone I notice the noises.

Does anyone have advice about this? There’s a few things I’ve wondered about if I have, like costochondritis or a hernia (maybe a hiatal hernia). I have a doctors appointment next month, and I’ve thought about if I’m still feeling this way talking about the symptoms I’ve had.

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@emilystewart30 - I wanted to let you know I moved your post here so you could return to chatting with members you were talking with before about your symptoms, such as @scottrl @rashida @jeepgrl @penelope52 and others.

I recall you've had some doctor appointments to address your symptoms, which sounds like a good idea. What have they said about them? Did you get a diagnosis? Treatment?

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