In need of some help.....PLZ

[LadiInPain]

Hi, this is my first time posting. I don't know what topic this belongs under, but....

Lately I've been having these seriously painful attacks.  They start as a creeping pain in my chest (or sometimes the middle of my upper back) when I feel that sensation I begin to get terrified, because I know what's about to follow.  It's hard to explain but the pain is in the middle of my chest (between my breasts) and radiates to my upper middle back and shoulders, (sometimes visa vera) It is SO SO painful that if I don't have a pillow to scream into, I could wake up the whole house. :(  These attacks last from about 20 minutes to an hour. It's not a constant pain, it comes and goes in waves.  I can feel it coming on and I can feel it relenting, just to creep up on me again and have me begging God for mercy. *sigh*
I've had this before about a year ago and now all of a sudden it's back.  It's not anything I eat, because it doesn't matter if I've eaten or not....it just comes.  
I thought at first it was a heart attack or something, but I'm only 35 and well....I'm still alive, so it can't be my heart (I don't think)  I'm uninsured and am afraid to go to the hospital in fear of a lifetime of debt....probably just to hear "we don't find anything wrong"  If I could time it....I would go as it's happening, but I'm in so much pain when it comes on that I'm unable to do anything but scream, pray, and wait..much less get in the car and drive.  If anyone out there has any idea what's going on....PLEASE, PLEASE post a reply.  I thank you very much in advance.

[tle]

Have you considered anxiety attacks?  I've suffered from them in the past and they are frightening and paralyzing.  You feel like you may be having a heart attack.  They can be caused from a chemical imbalance, they don't appear to be linked to anything I've eaten, nor what may be going on at the time.  Taking deep breathes can cause even more pain.  Try breathing in through your nose and exhaling out through you mouth for a minute or so.  It can't hurt you to try and you wouldn't go through the "pre-existing condition thing".

[LadiInPain]

Hi, and thank you for posting a reply.  

Michelle....I will look up Mitral Valve Prolapse and see what I find.  However, the pain isn't directly on my left side and doesn't shoot down my arem (to me that sounds like heart attack) It's focused in the center of my chest and in my back, between my shoulder blades, my right shoulder and neck.  Last night it started again, although it didn't hit full force (thank God)  it was just kind of there, as if daring me to move.  You know, not quite painful but the same feeling. On the pain scale where usually it's off the high end of the chart and blinding, it was probably like a 2/3.  I laid there and just waited..bracing myself for another episode, but it never really came.
And yes, you're right about it being nice to know what's causing our pain.  I feel crazy half the time and HATE the thought of going in and trying to explain it, just to be told it's in my head or something.  (certainly there MUST be something going on in there with so much pain), and not having any health insurance it's frightening to think of all the tests they'll have to do to figure it out.  *sigh*  
Anyway....thank you again and I hope your pains are gone for good!

Seafari:  Thank you too for the advise.  I'm going to try and hold out a bit longer and hope my insurance goes through.  If I have myself looked at now, it'll be concidered pre-existing and I'll have to wait 6 months or a year before they'll cover it.  (I think that's how it works)  But I will keep in mind the sliding scale....although, my husband makes to much money I think to qualify for something like that.  He doesn't make enough money to be strapped forever with medical bills though.  Especially if it's something that might require surgery....paying for something like that is a scary thought. :(

Do either of you know what a "Liver Flush" is?

Thanx again!

[seafari]

Call your doctor's office, ask to speak to a patient representative (preferably) or someone nice in billing at the worse. Ask if they do "sliding scale" (charge based on ability to pay). If so, go in & fill out the form. I'm waiting on new insurance myself, and was surprised that mine was covered at 100% including labs.  I'd think you'd want labs at the minimum to check your CBC, Metabolic, Liver & Pancreatic enzymes.  If you need further testing, non-profits hospitals also have financial assistance programs (they "write off" a certain amount of care).

[MFolmer]

I was reading all the comments everyone has left and nobody mentioned MVP Mitral Valve Prolapse?  I too was having chest pain that was paralyzing!!!  Only on my left side that radiated down my left arm until if I moved I thought I would pass out in pain!  It lasted for an intense half hour then would start to subside within an hour but I was sore for 3 days afterwards!! It felt like a sore muscle.  Look up Mitral Valve Prolapse on the internet to get a detailed description, it has to do with the flap in your heart letting too much blood in a chamber of the heart because the flap doesn't fit perfectly where it should.  Mine is so minor that my doctor feels it will not be a problem but put me on zoloft which I couldn't stand so I weaned myself off of and haven't had any pains since.  My doctor felt that anxiety brought on my pains, who knows right?  I did have an EKG done on my heart and a ultra sound also, I can't remember but thats how I was diagnosed.  I hope this gives you maybe another option to consider, its nice to know what causes our pain isn't it?  Thanks, Michelle

[LadiInPain]

Hi, and thank you SO much for replying. I need to ask you though...what's a liver flush?  I know it's probably a dumb question because everyone else on the board seems to know, but I'm clueless.  :(    

I'm willing to try ANYTHING.........thank you, thank you, thank you.

[LadiInPain]

First I want to thank those of you who offered help for posting a reply on my behalf. *Huggz*

I just wanted to give a little feedback.  It doesn't hurt when I swallow (during these attacks or otherwise).  As for taking a deep breath, it hurts while I'm having the attack...but not otherwise.  I've also noted since my post that after a decent size meal it REALLY hurts, or it did last night.  I don't know if thats the case during previous attacks, cuz I guess I didn't pay attention.  I thought maybe it had to be BIG meals, but maybe ice cream or sunflower seeds or something like that is all it takes?  I'm not a huge eater, infact I probably eat less than I should, so I didn't connect food with the pain.  My chest and especially my upper back has been quite sore (not in pain) just "sore" since the last attack...just reminding me...have any of you had lingering soreness?

Again, I have no idea what this is, but if it's gall bladder..would it be chest and back?  Isn't the gall bladder on the right side?  Esophagus <sp?>  it doesn't hurt when I swallow.  I thought if it wasn't a heart attack, it might be gastritus or pacreatitus <sp?>  but again.....I haven't a clue.
I'm online a lot lately trying to figure out what all this stuff is and means. <sigh>

Like I said before though, I have no health insurance...but am in the process of trying to get some.  I don't know how long I'll have to wait before going to the doctor, but I hope it isn't long.  I seriously don't know if I can hold out for to much longer if these attacks keep coming, I don't know what I'll do.  

Again you guys....thank you SO much for caring enough to reply.  I'll keep checking the site and watch for further replies or other posts that might apply.  

Best health to you all.....and *HugeHuggz* for being there. :)

TTYS, I'm sure.  

[Nogrog]

Sounds like esophageal spasms to me. I got these after spontaneously giving up my PPI for a couple of weeks and getting ultra bad reflux. They hurt like crazy and I too wondered if it was a heart attack (which would have really pissed me off as I'm 23 and there's nothing wrong with muy heart!) - sort of escalating pain that hurts during the attack and leaves you worrying when the next one will strike.

It took me (and my doctor) quite a while to work out how to deal with them. If it is the spasms you're suffering from try the following things - they certainly helped me:
*If you have reflux, make sure your doctor is aware and he can prescribe anti-reflux meds for you.
*Avoid icy cold drinks! On one occasion I had no pain for about 7 days then got amazing pain after a McDonalds milkshake!
*Chew food properly to make sure it is swallowed easily.
*I took a very mild magnesium phosphate supplement (available from a health food shop) which says it deals with spasmodic pains. It relaxes the muscle and helped enormously!

Hope this helps.

[nadia]

I've also had a severe pain in the center of my chest radiating into the mid upper back.  Lasting for about 3 hours sometimes more.  I had all the tests which showed negative.  The gallbladder does affect the chest when it becomes dysfunctional.
I was only 38 in good physical condition so the doctors did not suspect the gallbladder.  It got to the point of rupture, so please do not leave this alone, it can have severe consequences.

[lylsiem]

I have had chestpains that feel like heart attacks, very severe. Mine is probaly due to my Hiatis Hernia, which can at any odd moment put pressure on your chest (usualy the left side) or back. Does it hurt when you take a deep breath in particular? Get checked by a good doctor.

[Lor]

Could be your gallbladder. Gallbladder pains don't always happen right after eating. A lot of people have their attacks during the night. Pain so bad it wakes them up at night. I had this problem for years. Always woke me up in the night, and could last for anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours. My attacks came and went. Seems like I'd have one - then it would make me feel gassy for a week or two - then go away for 3 months or more until another happen. I never knew when an attack was coming. One night I'd go to bed feeling fine - next thig I knew I was waking up with horrible pain. Unlike anything I'd felt before.