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Neurology (Expert Forum)
MY HEART IS GETTING HEAVY!!!
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
MY HEART IS GETTING HEAVY!!!
by NOW DEPRESSED, TOO, Oct 11, 2002 12:00AM
Hello, I am a 32yo black female. About 2 years ago I began to experience chest pain, and shortness of breath. I was in good shape, large boned @ 5'6" 180 lbs. I ate healthy, excercised daily. My pain and shortness of breath would come at any time, while lying down resting, walking, and even being awakened. After seeing my pcp and being dx as anxiety, intergestion, cardiac reflux and a heart murmur. I took meds which were not helping. Test done were echocardiogram and pulmonary fuction test, both showed everything ok, and told that I was in perfect health, and that it was all in my head and sent to a psychiatrist. PST states that not all in my head, and referred me back to doctors. I was told that I was hit or kicked in the chest and to just take pain releivers. I argued knowing was I was never hit or kicked. I now to go to the best hcf in Atlanta, in which i have been attending for approx 1 year, with still no dx. These drs told me to come to the er when this occurs, but by the time I am seen, everything's ok. This pain can last for 10 minutes or several days. Within the year, and still no dx, I am getting more frustated. I think about death on a daily basis now. No one can tell me what is wrong with me, and it is, but what? I wish this was a mental problem, I accept that. I just found out that I do have a fam hx with heart disease. But the drs say not to worry about that. I have to boys, WHO ADORES ME,and I never want to leave them, they're so scarred of loosing me. I dont know how to heal the problem, if i dont know what it is. HELP US
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Oct 13, 2002 12:00AM
Not quite sure that this a neurologic problem. At the CLeveland Clinic which is the premiere cardiology center in the country, it there is a question of heart disease we do a cardiac catherization to rule out any possible chance. Although this may be considered agressive at other facilities, it may considered in your case if it's atypical chest pain. Good luck.
To depressed,
The heart pain can come from anxiety, alcohol or drug withdrawal, fibromyalgia, Lupus and other connective tissue diseases. I have heart pain quite frequently from all the above mentioned except the drugs.
Some of those diseases have to be specifically tested for. If it is alcohol or drugs (prescription or illegal) even in small amounts can be very addicting and cause withdrawal and you may not even realize that is the problem. I had alcohol wothdrawal for two years on and off and could not figure out why I always felt sick and went back to drinking when I tried to quit. I learned about withdrawal later and then went to detox.
I still always have chest pain, especially when taking a deep breath from the Fibromyalgia.
Good luck in finding your cause.
Chatahan
thanks so much,
Abbey
Abbey,
I was told by a well renowned Rheumotologist from Washington State that there are certain symptoms, mainly joint and connective tissue pain that go along with Fibro. Apparently the disease causes the pain in certain pressure points in almost anyone who has it so that is how they determin it. If you have pain at a number of those locations, then they diagnose it. I had pain at all locations. I also have had all the symptoms for Lupus at one time or another which has simlar pain points and other symptoms, but the blood tests cannot be done from this far away as the sensitive test for Lupus has to arrive within 24 hours. The lab we send to is Hawaii, that's the closest and it takes 36 hours just to get it through customs etc.
I was told by my General Practitioner that Fibro is a real disease, it causes very distinct and chronic pain and most people with it have to take pain killers of some sort. He also informed me that three people that were diagnosed negative for Lupus here were found to be positive once they went to the U.S. mainland. I can't afford the trip, but the symptoms are so similar only that Lupus can cause organ damage to kidneys, and others and can eventually lead to death in some people. The main pain remedy for that is prednisone, a strong anti-inflamatory steroid, but I cannot take it due to side effects.
I take Ultram, a non-narcotic pain med instead. Some people have claimed problems with withdrawal symptoms from Ultram though so be careful. I never had any but many supposedly have. It may just be they forgot what the pain was really like until it came back and they percieved it as being worse than before taking the Ultram. Who knows?
Anyway, I dom't know if that helped at all, but if you have some doubts you should get a second opinion, just in case. Fibro does cause me very severe pain, that is why I live in the deep tropics warm climate. I cannot tolerate the cold weather on the mainland.
Take care and feel free to email me anytime or post again here. My email is ***@****
Take care,
Chatahan