Chest pain > a month

@xmush1620x As suscros68 suggest have a Lipid Profile done for cholesterol ,if it's high go see a cardiologist The squeezing in chest says it's something with a muscle .

Oh boy. So sorry you have to deal with this. Chest pain is frustrating especially when Drs say we can't find anything. I've been told that so many times. I have a complicated heart history. I'm glad you continue to search for answers. I hope it goes well.

I recently discovered these support groups and I thought I'd try to get some support for my ongoing condition. I don't want to go crazy with the details, but I want to give anyone who will read this the pertinent information. I'm a 43 y/o male with a strong family history of heart disease on my mothers side. My grandfather had his first heart attack at 40 and died of a massive MI at 53. My mother and all but one of her 4 siblings have had stents at a minimum, and 2 have had CABG, so far none have died early. In January of 2018 I started noticing some occasional dull, achy, throbbing in the left side of my chest. Over the course of the next few months the pain gradually started to increase in frequency and would sometimes radiate to my left arm and left side of my jaw. Also, I was also developing extreme fatigue. One day in late March I was sitting in my office chair and I was having the dull achy pain when suddenly the pain exploded and I was doubled over and couldn't breath and was instantly nauseated and drenched in sweat. This lasted maybe 2 minutes. Of course I was in denial so I waited a couple of weeks to see my PCP. He ordered the standard tests- EKG, Holter monitor, chest xray- and everything came back normal except a low heart rate (usually in the low 50's) which has always been my normal. Also, my HDL has always been genetically low, usually upper 20's to low 30's. My blood pressure had been steadily climbing for the past few years so he started me on lisinopril (my first daily script) and referred me to a Cardiologist. The Cardiologist was not impressed with any of my symptoms but offered to order a stress test or CTA Heart if I wanted peace of mind. I'm a CT Tech by profession, so I had that done and it came back abnormal showing possible plaque in the left main and LAD. Had a cardiac cath a few days later (May 30) and had a stent place in the LAD for an 80% bifurcation stenosis. After a couple weeks the pain was mostly gone and I felt like a new man. My cardiologist did not, however, feel that my symptoms explained the need for a stent because I still had enough flow, but that I was lucky to have had the "widowmaker" stenosis stented. In late July I started having the same dull, achy, throbbing chest pain and one morning while jogging I had a sudden burst of severe chest pain, nausea, and sweating. Later that day (Sept 27) cath and another stent was placed just proximal to the first one in the mid LAD (75% stenosis). This did not stop my chest pains. My cardiologist still insisted that my symptoms were not classical angina and he referred me to a cardiologist at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis, MO. Before that apt I was sent to the ER at Barnes by my PCP because of the chest pain that now causes SOB and dizziness. The cardiologist that I had an apt saw me in the ER and said I needed to have another cath to make sure I didn't have another blockage or stent failure. Thankfully everything looked good on November 2.

Sorry for so much information, but it helps to understand my history. I'm still having the same achy, sometimes dull sometimes sharp, chest pain that causes SOB and dizziness at times. When it's bad the only thing that stops it is sublingual nitro. I'm now on 10 meds including Imdur and Ranexa. I saw my cardiologist last Friday in St. Louis and he's referring me to a colleague that studies people with chronic, hard to diagnose chest pain. I will see this physician tomorrow.

I've done a lot of reading and it seems likely to me that I have some sort of microvascular disorder in addition to the CAD. There are so many different types of things that could be going, the problem is getting to the right diagnosis and combination of meds. I'm reaching out to this community to see if anyone has had similar experiences and how they got treatment. Most days I can deal with everything ok, but it is starting to be debilitating. Thanks in advance to anyone who took the time to read this long post.

Sorry for all of the detail, but that brings me to where I am today.

Hi @grtw,

I’m so glad you reached out with details – welcome to Connect. I’d like to introduce you to a few Connect stalwarts in all things related to the heart – please meet @hopeful3325 @predictable @thankful. I’m also tagging @ch246cf10 @racerjon @vicks @keithl56 to see if they may have some insights to share.

Here’s some more information from Mayo Clinic about chronic chest pain: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chest-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20370838. Since you mentioned microvascular disorder, I though you might also be interested in reading about small vessel disease: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/small-vessel-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352117

@grtw, if you wish, do let me know how your latest appointment goes. You mentioned, “...but it is starting to be debilitating.” - could you share a few details about what you’re experiencing at present?

Thanks to everyone for the responses. We just got back from seeing a new cardiologist in St. Louis. He had reviewed my history and most recent cardiac cath. He listened to all my history and felt very confident in diagnosing me with 1. Coronary slow flow and 2. Prinzmetal angina. He offered to do a PET scan and/or a cardiac cath reactivity test to confirm but he said he would treat me the same whether we did the testing or not. He stopped some meds and is starting me on Cardizem and is doubling the Imdur. We will try this for a few months and will see him again. He gave us his cell phone number and said to call if we have questions or problems. We were very impressed and are praying this combo of drugs will make a difference. Anyone have experience with these diagnoses?

I’m just day to day. Some days I feel like I have energy to spare, and the next I don’t want to get out of bed. At worst, the pain radiates and causes dizziness and SOB. Nitro is the only thing that works Andy based on my recent Dr visits I’ll be using it more. Now that I’ve been diagnosed and have a plan, I’m hoping for progress.

@grtw Before my by pass Cardiologist put me on Cardizam I couldn't take it hope you have good results

For a few months now I have been experiencing chest discomfort on the upper left side. It comes and goes. Nothing too painful but feels slightly like squeezing. I notice if I move in a certain direction that stretches the chest, I can feel the discomfort.

I am a 27 year old female. 220 pounds, 5'5. Was 280 at my heaviest but I've been losing weight for a few years now. It fluctuates (yo-yo dieting). I recently gained back 20 pounds but I am working on it. Have been exercising pretty good too for the past year but its slowed down a bit since September. I was a light smoker for about 10 years, but I quit 2 years ago. Smoked cannabis on and off for years but quit in June. Overall I've eaten pretty healthy for the past 3 years but I've had episodes of binge eating horrible high fat foods, and I used to drink a bottle of wine a day in my early 20s. I do have episodes of binge drinking here and there but have stopped because I noticed it was making the chest discomfort more noticeable. My blood pressure and heart rate are perfect.

Other symptoms/issues/possible factors: I recently sometimes get bad heartburn or acid reflux, but it's usually food related (tomato, garlic, onions). I do have a gallstone, and I do occasionally suffer from anxiety and depression. I eat mostly vegan, so I consume quite a bit of soy. I've also noticed recently random things such as eye twitching that happens sometimes usually when stressed, and for a week or two I had fluttering/pulsing sensation in my right ear. I sometimes notice random throbbing/vibrating on random parts of my body that can last on and off for several minutes.

I know I should see a doctor but to be honest, I'm really scared. I could be overreacting but I do feel like there is something wrong so I wanted to reach out on here and see if anyone has dealt with this or if anyone has any ideas.

Hi @gfysp,

I just saw your message and thought it beneficial to move it to this existing discussion on chest pain so that you can connect with other members who have discussed much of what you are experiencing.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

When it comes down to your health, it’s always better to be safe and ask for help, so please don’t feel that you are overreacting:) @gfysp, have you looked into possible GI (gastrointestinal) issues that may be causing the pain?

Hi anyone, im raffy from the philippines & im suffering from chest pain in almost 3months, in october 2018 i was diagnose in gerd but starting to feel a chest pain. Then i have irregular heartbeat, my medical labtest is also high like i have high cholesterol but not much high & my uric acid is high also. Yesterday i have my nuclear stress test & i got a result today but my cardio is absent in clinic. Im so afraid in the result but im praying for my health.