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Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
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Cyst in chest cavity - not sure if right place to ask!
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Cleveland Clinic -
Cleveland - OH
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MedHelp Member's Question

Cyst in chest cavity - not sure if right place to ask!

by Abbysmom, May 12, 2004 12:00AM
After having chest pain for a little over a month, I had a CT scan done.  They found a cyst in my chest.  My internist compared it to a scan done two years ago and said he thought the cyst had doubled in size.  I saw a thoracic surgeon who said he thought if anything it had gotten smaller.  Now I'm confused!  The surgeon didn't think the cyst could be causing my pain and doesn't think we should do anything right now, just watch it.  The cyst is located between my windpipe and heart.  



Can this cause chest pain?  Should I seek a second opinion (or third)?  Right now I'm so confused I don't know what to think.  I've had EKGs, chest x-rays, lung function tests, etc. and no cause for the pain.  Possibly costochondritis according to my internist.



Any suggestions?  Thank you!
Doctor's Answer

by Cleveland Clinic, May 12, 2004 12:00AM
thanks for the post.



Im not sure what type of cyst you have or the size...ie pulmonary, thoracic, thoracid duct, chest wall.  Any cyst could theroretically cause some type of symptom either through direct effect or compression of surrounding strutures.  Certainly the larger the more likely. That said, most the most likely cause will not be related to the cyst.  



I would see a pulmonologist as a second sub-specialist opinion and if he/she agrees continue to work with your internist to figure it out.



good luck
Member Comments (6)

by Dr. Erik, May 12, 2004 12:00AM
To: Abbysmom
Your cyst is in a very fragile area of the thoracic cavity. Avoid the procedure as long as you can. Follow the advice of the forum doc and see a Pulmonologist for their opinion. If your csyt turns out to be the cause of your symptoms, you may want to elect for surgery. At that time seek a Thoracic surgeon with lots of experience in these procedures, preferably at a teaching hospital. Good luck.

by Makaveli, May 12, 2004 12:00AM
I know this really isn't the place to ask my questions, but I know some of you here love to exercise your knowledge so here I go...  

    I have been dealing with severe anxiety since January. I have gotten it all but under control to the point where I have none (no medications either)... I was in excellent shape before then. I used to walk 8 miles daily, but since Jan. I really haven't been doing anything. I mean nothing! So now that I am feeling 95 percent better mentally of course I start to want to get active again. I am only 17 and it seems only right.. I am young. But yesterday I was having a very hard time. I was walk/running about a mile and I noticed my heart rate jet up to 180.. I thought "Whoa!" I must be pushing myself too hard. So today I decided to just brisk walk a mile and a half, but still my heart rate got up to 185 on hills, and 150 walking pace.  I was extremely winded and I felt my heart pounding, and I was sweating.. yeah, that rough. And now it starts to get me thinking there is something wrong with my heart. Even the other day I punched on a bag for less than 3 minutes and my heart rate shot up to 168.



    My anxiety was with my fear of a heart problem and it kept me pretty inactive. I am 5'11 200lbs and I find I am getting burned out way to easily. I even feel worse now then I was a month ago and I am more active now. I have been to a excellent cardiologist who did an echo, 2 holters, stress and ekg on me. I also saw other doctors and got chest Xray, more ekgs and blood work. Most of these appointments were 1-2 months ago.



    So my question is can it be normal for a 17 year old guy who isn't very over weight who..in less than five months ago.. used to walk 5-8 miles everyday to struggle that much on a mile. Hell, I even struggle around the house. I fear the worst because of anxiety... so I need someone with knowledge on this to help me out.



I have really improved and I don't want to stop what I know could help me be the person I want to be.

by Dr. Erik, May 12, 2004 12:00AM
To: Makaveli
First, how did you determine your heart rate? Did you take your pulse or did you have a heart monitor on? Anxiety can cause the elevations in your heart rate that you describe. Being out of shape can also cause your heart rate to be high. I think you are having a combination of anxiety and deconditioning which is causing your high heart rate. When you stop exercising and rest does your heart rate return to normal? Maybe your doctor can have you wear a holter monitor to see what your heart is doing during exercise or have a stress test. If your doctor has already ruled out your heart as a cause of your symptoms then it is probably just the anxiety. My anxiety used to make my heart go fast. If your anxiety is out of control, medication may be the best answer. I am on Paxil for my anxiety and I am fine now. But what I tell you is just my opinion. GOD forbid that ADrox sees this post. He/she will tell you to read the disclaimer to make sure you don't take my advice like I am a doctor or anything. Because I am unbelievably irresponsible for sharing my opinions with others on this forum.(If you don't know what I'm talking about, read my comment in response to the post" Gotta keep her alive" and read ADrox's response) Good luck to you!



Erik (not a doctor)

by Makaveli, May 12, 2004 12:00AM
I agree that you should be able to say what you would like and I believe you said NOTHING wrong on that thread, some people though, should hold back. There are some people with serious disorders here and getting bad news from someone on a medical board can make it worse. I am saying this just to state that some people can abuse this site.. you don't.. so lets move on.



My heart rate gets under 100 fast after exercising, but doesn't get completely normal for a hour or so after. I have had extensive testing, and I don't want more believe me..



Thanks for the help :)



and



Any other help would be great too.

by arthur, May 13, 2004 12:00AM
To: makaveli
I've been a lifelong athlete and I've been in and out of conditioning enough times to know what it's like to resume exercise after a break of even a few months.  Regardless of what your body allowed you to do months ago, you decondition (even at age 17) quite rapidly...ie, when you resume exercising, you will definitely be surprised by the lack of wind and the high pulse rate.  If everything else checked out ok with the cardio, and you have a bit of anxiety kicking in, your experience is perfectly normal.  I would continue at a slow pace and short distances for a week or two, and see if things sort themselves out...ie, your peak heart rate becomes less and your recover more quickly.  If this happens, simply increase your exercising on the order of about 10% per week, until you feel you've achieved a reasonable level.  If, however, after two weeks of mild exercise, your pulse still seems to shoot up too high (and stay there for prolonged periods of time), then talk to the cardio and describe your symptoms.  



My gut feeling (of course, I am not a medical doctor) is that, with patience, you should be able to work through this thing.  



-Arthur

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