Ongoing Chest Pain

Posted by kttormoen @kttormoen, Oct 17, 2018

A week ago, I woke up at night from chest pain. It was pretty intense and I thought it was heartburn. I took Tums, which always help, but they didn't help. The next day I went to my doctor. She did an EKG and it was normal. She prescribed Omeprazole for GERD. Even after days of taking it, I do not feel better. My chest pain is constant. It's minor but it moves around. For example, it is in the middle of my chest right now but has been on the left side and then the right side today as well. My cholesterol is normal, I am a 28 year old female, I am not overweight, and there is not history of heart issues in my family.

Sometimes I feel like my heart is fluttering. I've also been very tired and a bit dizzy. I am not sure if part of the cause of my symptoms is anxiety, but anxiety attacks don't typically last for days on end. I have a hard time focusing on anything lately because of my symptoms. I feel shaky too.

Please help me. I am not sure what is going on and I feel like my doctor doesn't think it's a big deal.

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@ashred

Hi, I have been dealing with chest pain for over a month now. Slowly getting refferals. No one seems to be listening to me. I feel its because of my age 32 and Im a female. I have been in the ER 3 times in the last week and a half. Im now short of breath with anything I do. The chest pain is happening to often. I can't do my usual work day anymore without being exhausted. Im losing hope.

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Hard to believe the ER docs don't seem to be taking your symptoms more seriously. You say you're getting referrals...…..are you following up on them? I would imagine you've been told to see a cardiologist and I think you should see one as soon as possible if you're having chest pains and shortness of breath. If your heart checks out OK, I'm betting he/she will refer you to a pulmonologist. Unfortunately we often have to be our own advocates when dealing with the medical world. Please don't put this off. I wish you the very best.

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@rubywitch67

Hard to believe the ER docs don't seem to be taking your symptoms more seriously. You say you're getting referrals...…..are you following up on them? I would imagine you've been told to see a cardiologist and I think you should see one as soon as possible if you're having chest pains and shortness of breath. If your heart checks out OK, I'm betting he/she will refer you to a pulmonologist. Unfortunately we often have to be our own advocates when dealing with the medical world. Please don't put this off. I wish you the very best.

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Yes, Its been going on since Feb 25th 2019. I have seen a neurologist for the dizziness and passing out. He did a full brain CT that came back normal and he said I really think its your Heart he referred me to a cardiologist. I have a echo stress test on Monday I don't know how I am going to do that. I finally meet a cardiologist on June 12th. I have been wearing a heart monitor that was provided by my primary care for 8 days now. They also did a full pulmonary CT of my lungs that came back normal as well. My blood pressure is high but still have not been prescribed medication yet. They have me on 325 mg of aspirin everyday. My primary care doctor was going to talk to her colleagues and see if she can put me on a low dose of a beta blocker. Still have not heard back about that. I had chest pain for 6 hours straight laying down yesterday. Its getting worse especially the shortness of breath. They have me on exercise restriction. Its just frustrating I'm in pain and cant do anything I have a 6 year old and a 60 hour a week job I cant live like this.

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@ashred

Hi, I have been dealing with chest pain for over a month now. Slowly getting refferals. No one seems to be listening to me. I feel its because of my age 32 and Im a female. I have been in the ER 3 times in the last week and a half. Im now short of breath with anything I do. The chest pain is happening to often. I can't do my usual work day anymore without being exhausted. Im losing hope.

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Hello Ashred, I think the heart monitor will reveal something; possibly atrial fibrillation. When I had it as a 46 year old (still young but not as young as you), I was very short of breath, almost fainting and had to constantly take breaths because not enough oxygen was getting to my brain...because I had Afib. But I was very aware of the Afib. My heart was thumping and skipping beats. You don't feel any of this?
The cardiologist said I was the worst case he had ever had. After almost 2 years on the highest dose of beta blockers to keep my heart regular and stop the lightheadedness, dizziness and having to take breaths etc...I cured myself by going to the gym every day but Sunday...for 4 months. Inside a few weeks I weaned myself off the beta blockers completely with the cardiologist's permission. And my heart remained steady and strong.
The cardiologist told me that I could NEVER drink coffee or tea, drink alcohol, eat chocolate or high sugar foods or take any stimulant medication for the rest of my life. I am 70 now and all has been well over the past 24 years...except just last year when I was under a lot of stress, I had 2 days of a couple of blips every hour. I got back on the treadmill and all has been fine ever since. I hope, Ashred that your situation improves and that you have the success I had.

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@ashred

Yes, Its been going on since Feb 25th 2019. I have seen a neurologist for the dizziness and passing out. He did a full brain CT that came back normal and he said I really think its your Heart he referred me to a cardiologist. I have a echo stress test on Monday I don't know how I am going to do that. I finally meet a cardiologist on June 12th. I have been wearing a heart monitor that was provided by my primary care for 8 days now. They also did a full pulmonary CT of my lungs that came back normal as well. My blood pressure is high but still have not been prescribed medication yet. They have me on 325 mg of aspirin everyday. My primary care doctor was going to talk to her colleagues and see if she can put me on a low dose of a beta blocker. Still have not heard back about that. I had chest pain for 6 hours straight laying down yesterday. Its getting worse especially the shortness of breath. They have me on exercise restriction. Its just frustrating I'm in pain and cant do anything I have a 6 year old and a 60 hour a week job I cant live like this.

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You shouldnt hesitate to seek immediate medical attention if the chest pain worsens along with the shortness of breath. Maybe you can get immediate attention by going to emergency.

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@sue225

You shouldnt hesitate to seek immediate medical attention if the chest pain worsens along with the shortness of breath. Maybe you can get immediate attention by going to emergency.

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I have gone 3 times in a week and a half and they aren't doing anything. They almost did a echocardiogram because I was in the 3rd time. But the tech had gone home. So they sent me home again.

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Hi, I have been dealing with chest pain for over a month now. Slowly getting refferals. No one seems to be listening to me. I feel its because of my age 32 and Im a female. I have been in the ER 3 times in the last week and a half. Im now short of breath with anything I do. The chest pain is happening to often. I can't do my usual work day anymore without being exhausted. Im losing hope.

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@ashred

I have gone 3 times in a week and a half and they aren't doing anything. They almost did a echocardiogram because I was in the 3rd time. But the tech had gone home. So they sent me home again.

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Maybe you should phone your dr. tomorrow morning. The not knowing what's wrong combined with all the ongoing pain and discomfort sounds like bigtime stress. And stress plus worrying only makes these problems worse.

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@sue225

Maybe you should phone your dr. tomorrow morning. The not knowing what's wrong combined with all the ongoing pain and discomfort sounds like bigtime stress. And stress plus worrying only makes these problems worse.

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I did and she said I just need to hold out until the 12th.

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@ashred

Hi, I have been dealing with chest pain for over a month now. Slowly getting refferals. No one seems to be listening to me. I feel its because of my age 32 and Im a female. I have been in the ER 3 times in the last week and a half. Im now short of breath with anything I do. The chest pain is happening to often. I can't do my usual work day anymore without being exhausted. Im losing hope.

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If emergency sent you home and your doctor is telling you to hang in there until your Monday test, then try to relax knowing that after Monday you may have an answer to what is going on. (Do you think a very mild low dose tranquilizer might help just to get you through the next few days? You could ask the doctor about that. )

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@ashred

Hi, I have been dealing with chest pain for over a month now. Slowly getting refferals. No one seems to be listening to me. I feel its because of my age 32 and Im a female. I have been in the ER 3 times in the last week and a half. Im now short of breath with anything I do. The chest pain is happening to often. I can't do my usual work day anymore without being exhausted. Im losing hope.

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I know its easier said than done but try to relax try to distract yourself with simple activities that you can do and enjoy. You only have four days to go. (And emergency as unhelpful as they have been is still there should things go south between now and Monday). Anxiety, worry and panicky thoughts combined with pain is a bad cocktail. Hopefully you will soon be out of this mess. Hang in there.

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