Months of Chest Pain - Please help

Posted by capt209 @capt209, Nov 19, 2017

Hello all,

My name is Brandon and I'm a 34 year old male. I'm excited to get signed up on here and hopeful this may help my anxiety which is through the roof! I have been through ongoing chest pain for the past 4 months. The pain started off as a pinch on the left side of chest. It evolved into a pinch and pressure onto the right side of chest. It would be nearly daily, but didn't really get worse after meals or doing a lot of exercising. The pain then started radiating to my shoulders and sometimes into my arms but rarely. Now, it radiates into my jaw occasionally. I get a wierd fluttering in my chest occasionally when I lay down, but when i sit up and get doing stuff I don't realize it much. Now the chest pain mainly feels like pressure in my chest snd i get occsssional sharp pains on the lower portion of my ribs and sometimes on each side of my sternum. What could this be?

Here's what all I've had done....
CT scan of heart and heart echo - found i have a slightly dialated aerota at the base that they will monitor yearly. I also have a bicuspid aerota valve with moderate regurgitation. Cardiologist does not think my heart is causing the pains. I have no blockages at all and they aren't concerned at all of a heart attack.

I was scoped and found i have a moderate to large hiatal hernia and esophagitas. They also did a manometry test and found I was having esophogas spasms. I am set to have a bravo test this week to see if acid reflux might be the cause. I bet that will show that is the case because I've had acid reflux since my late teens / early 20s.

During my CT scan, they saw a slightly enlarged lymphnode...which i think was on the right side of my chest. They said they would recheck that in 6 months. I had a cold or infection during that test and had some congestion and they say that may of been the reason for that.

I have been on a proton pump inhibitor, zantac and tums as needed but i haven't really noticed much of an improvement on them, if at all.

I have back problems and a neck injury as well. They also think that may be the cause of the chest pain. I had an MRI which did not show any nerve compression but I am constantly battling neck and back pain, sometimes severe.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks all,
Brandon

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@alp

Hello Forum,

For the past six months, I've been feeling fatigue/pain in the upper part of my chest -- mostly centralized, but it radiates up my neck when it gets really bad. It constantly hurts to inhale and exhale. My lymph node in my chest (by my L clavicle) also starts throbbing when the pain gets bad.

The activity that makes it hurt the most is talking. Cardio exercise (jogging, biking, swimming) also causes pain, which is a feeling of fatigue or being worn out, combined with soreness. Note that the pain doesn't happen DURING the exercise, but mostly afterward.

I had bronchitis seven months ago (or so I thought... maybe it wasn't?) and then a cough that lasted into the following month. The cough disappeared, but since then the pain comes and goes by the day. I should also mention that right around the time the "bronchitis" started, I had a very active weekend -- hiking, a potluck with a lot of "belly laughs" (which I feel is somehow linked)...

I've been treated for asthma (inhalers), pneumonia (antibiotics) and costochondritis (anti-inflammatories), but none of them have worked. The naproxen has helped to diminish the pain, but not get rid of it.

I also have hypermobility in my joints (I'm very flexible) and have had a lot of soft tissue injuries over the years that took a long time to go away (e.g., plantar fasciitis), which is why my doctors thought it might be costochondritis.

Please tell me if you've ever experienced something like this! I really need help since the doctors don't know what to do with me any more.

Thank you!!

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I have no idea at all if this is going to apply to you but here goes. I have a ton of breathing issues, tightness in my chest, feeling a lack of air, constant bronchitis and infections, and losing difficulty talking. The more I talked the more I lost my voice. I was misdiagnosed with asthma for well over a year, and no one could figure out what I had, as I just got sicker and sicker...I finally went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester this past winter and got properly diagnosed. I had laryngopharyngeal reflux-silent reflux, which means acid travels up your esophagus and makes it difficult to breathe, sore throat, hoarseness, mucus in throat, etc. I had personally a feeling of pressure in my chest. I don't know if this is you at all, but I can tell you, multiple specialists missed this and almost 2 years of being untreated left me really ill, and caused a host of other issues. I hope you figure things out and feel better soon.

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@lvon

So look up Funtional Despepsia. This is what I was diognost with at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I had every test imaginable. They believe everyone with the symptoms bur cannot find a cure. I even checked in Europe and they all say the same thing. It is a condition, but unexplainable. I start a light dose of anti depression meds. I feel bad for you I know how you feel. Just keep searching on your own, unfortunately the medical proffesion is so busy, look for answers and have a medical profession check it out. I asked about Functional Dyspepsia when I first joined this site, and most professionals never heard of it. Takeare stay strong.

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After you advised I have started taking FD-gard again from last night and also, I am taking taking desipramine(10 mg) for anti depression. Let's hope for the best. Thanks again @lvon

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Brandon, also check Costochondritis for chest pain! Happened after I had surgery. Also have reflux and hiatal hernia! Keep us informed! Moo1

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Hello Everyone... I’m new here trying to find answers because I feel like I’m losing my mind everyday with aniexty!! I can’t even. Function at this point I’m constantly worrying what’s wrong with me about 2 weeks ago I’d say I started to feel this weird feeling in my left chest area I can’t really explain the feeling it’s not like it’s a sharp pain it’s More like a pinch it It doesn’t happen All Day long but it’s more then a few times a day & when it’s not happening all I think about is when it will happen next.. from the moment I wake up it’s all I think about til I go to bed. I have not went to the doctor yet because I’m extremely afraid of what they will tell me I did make an appt for this upcoming wed but I’m sooo nervous about it but I know it’s what I have to do or I might just end up in a mental hospital lol I have 3 girls I’m 39 and honestly don’t want them to see me like this anymore. I’m just a nervous wreck and want to feel normal again!!! 😊

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@lisa1030

Hello Everyone... I’m new here trying to find answers because I feel like I’m losing my mind everyday with aniexty!! I can’t even. Function at this point I’m constantly worrying what’s wrong with me about 2 weeks ago I’d say I started to feel this weird feeling in my left chest area I can’t really explain the feeling it’s not like it’s a sharp pain it’s More like a pinch it It doesn’t happen All Day long but it’s more then a few times a day & when it’s not happening all I think about is when it will happen next.. from the moment I wake up it’s all I think about til I go to bed. I have not went to the doctor yet because I’m extremely afraid of what they will tell me I did make an appt for this upcoming wed but I’m sooo nervous about it but I know it’s what I have to do or I might just end up in a mental hospital lol I have 3 girls I’m 39 and honestly don’t want them to see me like this anymore. I’m just a nervous wreck and want to feel normal again!!! 😊

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Hi Lisa. Was the doctor able to tell you anything?

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@salamina

Hello jdad2018. I have exactly the same issues. Chest pain or better discmfort either below the left nipple or mid chest heaviness or some discomfort on upper left back. It comes every day from 9am untill night sleep. Mornig is ok. That feeling make me dizzy and afraid for fainting. Afraid to drive, go out, travel, etc and the way of leaving became horrible. I have done all cardiac (multiple EKGs, blood tests many times, stress test with nuclear, holter, CT angiogram, echo) and came back normal. Also I had all gastro (endoscopy, fluroscpy, colonoscpy) and are also normal. Further a couple of CTs on chest including almost all organs came back good. However, the feeling of discomfort has been dereriorated ( I have it more than a year). Also I notice that while at gym (almost daily running 3km) I feel no problem. But after few hours start again. I have some relief by placing capsicum pluster under left armpit close to chest, please update me for your case.

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Hi salamina. I hope you are feeling better. I still have the palpitations all the time. And it still is transitioning into my back. It feels like I will have 3-4 regular beats, then a pause, and then a stronger than normal beat. It makes sleep impossible. I get close to a full night about every four days because the fatigue overpowers the anxiety and I pass out. Please let me know if you find anything out.

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@jdad0602

Hi Lisa. Was the doctor able to tell you anything?

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Hey... well I went to doctor last Wednesday I was a total nervous wreck they gave me ekg said that was fine I told her my symptoms & she kept telling me to relax and telling me it’s most likely acid reflux so she gave a prescription for omeprazole 20 mg and told me to take that for TIL I see her again on July 8 & if I’m still having the pain then she will refer me to GI... BUT Thats all she did! I started them the next day which was Thursday i was still feeling it as of yesterday.. I now have cut out my coffee that I have been drinking everyday for the past 20 years and drinking just water and trying to just eat healthy something I never did ! But I’m still walking around like a nervous wreck because until this feeling goes away I can’t stop thinking about it! Everyone thinks I’m just nuts but I know after reading all these stories on here I know I’m not alone makes me feel a lil better ... Thanks for asking 😊

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@lisa1030

Hey... well I went to doctor last Wednesday I was a total nervous wreck they gave me ekg said that was fine I told her my symptoms & she kept telling me to relax and telling me it’s most likely acid reflux so she gave a prescription for omeprazole 20 mg and told me to take that for TIL I see her again on July 8 & if I’m still having the pain then she will refer me to GI... BUT Thats all she did! I started them the next day which was Thursday i was still feeling it as of yesterday.. I now have cut out my coffee that I have been drinking everyday for the past 20 years and drinking just water and trying to just eat healthy something I never did ! But I’m still walking around like a nervous wreck because until this feeling goes away I can’t stop thinking about it! Everyone thinks I’m just nuts but I know after reading all these stories on here I know I’m not alone makes me feel a lil better ... Thanks for asking 😊

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That is verbatim what they said to me. It astounds me that they are willing to wait weeks while we sit here and worry every minute. The best thing I can say is that you're not alone. Knowing that other people have the same symptoms and are still ok also makes it better. Keep updating how things are going, and I will as well. Good luck.

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@lisa1030

Hey... well I went to doctor last Wednesday I was a total nervous wreck they gave me ekg said that was fine I told her my symptoms & she kept telling me to relax and telling me it’s most likely acid reflux so she gave a prescription for omeprazole 20 mg and told me to take that for TIL I see her again on July 8 & if I’m still having the pain then she will refer me to GI... BUT Thats all she did! I started them the next day which was Thursday i was still feeling it as of yesterday.. I now have cut out my coffee that I have been drinking everyday for the past 20 years and drinking just water and trying to just eat healthy something I never did ! But I’m still walking around like a nervous wreck because until this feeling goes away I can’t stop thinking about it! Everyone thinks I’m just nuts but I know after reading all these stories on here I know I’m not alone makes me feel a lil better ... Thanks for asking 😊

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I promise, it is reflux and you may need a stronger med. I spent a week at a heart hospital for severe chest vice like pain and jaw pain. Angiogram was great! If you are dizzy, clammy, out of breath, call an ambulance. It took a year before I didn’t flip out every time I had pain. But, I would say.....it’s just GERD and off I went. But I am having digestive issues that are freaking me out and I’m waiting so long to be seen.....tests.....yuck

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I definitely will @jdad0602 THANK YOU😊 I really hope so @downtowntiger 😞 It just makes me nervous that it’s been almost a month and it’s still happening everyday I just wanna be back to normal again & stop living like a nervous wreck !! ... Thank you both for responding I Appreciate it!! Let’s hope we ALL feel better soon 😊

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