Chest Discomfort/Anxiety

I have had chest pain for one year and a half now. I have had this pain EVERY single day since it has came. I have been in and out of doctors for this whole time and still have nothing. The tests Ive had done on me are EKG, CT SCAN, BLOOD WORK, STRESS TEST, and ECHO all for the heart. I have also had a ENDOSCOPY for the esophogus. All of these tests have come back normal. The chest pain is in the upper left part of my chest right over where the heart is located. It radiates to left side of neck, left shoulder and even into left arm, I know perfect description of a heart attack right? (sighs)
So here are some questions, Is it possible some of these test missed something? Can I have an ongoing heart problem slowly getting worse or is it even possible to have that kinda pain this long with out something happening already? Alcohol does make it worse thats the reason I had the ENDOSCOPY cause of it maybe being from ACID. I have to admit I am a VERY anxious person and have been for as long as I can remember. My mother told me it was anxiety even before I had any test done . I recently got some prescriptions for it cause Ive had every test and I feel like theres no other options. Been to cardiologist and gastroenterologist so what other choice do i really have. I feel like Id need the anxiety meds anyway cause I know I have it. I got some prozac for my every day dose and some zanax for the special occasions. (sorry if misspelled meds)
Im only in about 2 1/2 weeks of my prozac and my internal med doctor said it can take 4 to 6 weeks for it to start working.  Do you think these pains im getting EVERYDAY can really be from anxiety cause im sick of worrying and living my life around it. Im 20 years old, fit as can be and no history of heart problems that I know of in my family.
Please help if at all possible.
thank you.

[AnthonyDasilva1222]

Hi I am a 21 years old male and I have had those pains I had them for about 2 years. I managed to get rid of them by just relaxing when you feel overwhelmed or anxious just take a deep breath and say it is not worth it to get all worked up about it. I also left my job to much stress. JUST RELAX things will be just fine. you have to stop thinking about your pain and just go on with your day and if you feel something just take a deep breath. I am not a doctor i am just trying to help

[ktrent]

hey,  i am 31 and if i told you what was happing to me it would be the exact same as you.  i have not had all the heart test because my doc says its gerd and anxiety.  i have had a ekg and blood work and everything is normal.  i just had a endoscopy last week and they did find some information in my stomach. i am waiting on the test results from the biopsys.  he sent me to get a ultrasound of the gall bladder that came back normal.  it just seems to me that a pain that last a year are more just can't be normal gerd.  i am in great shape, i eat ok, and live a great lifestyle.  my job is very high stress and we have a 9 month old but i don't fell stressed.  they just put me on nexium and i will let you know how that goes.  but i am like you with the pain in my left side and arm it just seem like my heart.  even with everyone telling me i am crazy.  i am letting this get me down and i don't know were to turn.  together maybe we can figure this out.  my wife says i am crazy and just say to relax.  i feel tired all the time and must do something.  i know this isn't much help.  but it did help me knowing i am not alone, and i though maybe you would feel the same way

[chevy man]

Hey same here all the test and nothing i even had a angiogram and they say my heart is in a1 condition but pain and discomfort since 4/06 i had an endoscopy and i have a hatial hernia but that still don't explain the pains. You guys are not crazy i've been told the same thing.  

[OverIt236]

Thanks for all your help and even taking the time to answer to my post.  I really hope we can all get through it even know its been a very hard last year dealing with this pain/discomfort. I am going to try and stay calmer and not think about the pain as much or at least try not to concentrate on it when it comes upon me. Ill let you know how the meds work once a couple more weeks have passed and its in effect. I have tried the nexium it did work for me hopefully it will work for you ktrent. I just know mine isnt gerd related i have had too many gerd related meds and nothings been helped by them. Aciphex, protonix, nexium etc.
Good luck to all you and if anyone new can help to my post above please help thanks.

[palpgirl]

I am here b/c all day today I have been having pain on the left side of my chest and neck.   i have been to the docs regularly for palpitations and I am sure they are sick of me.  I had alot of tests  stress test, blood work, holter monitor, xrays, ekgs, they say I am fine.  I go for an echo on wed.  I cant wait.  I keep thinking what if they are wrong, and something is about to happen,.  I just took a xanax.  I am going crazy right now.  This is so terrible.  I just wondered exactly what your pain felt like, if anyone could take some time to talk to me.  Thank you.

[suz1727]

hi i have same as you pain in chest and down left arm tingling in hands and feet had x-rays ,ekgs done treadmill test nothing showed up doc says its anxiety been like this for 2 years take propranolol doesnt help its horrible nobdy seems to understand

[shell1925]

I am so glad I have found you guys!  I have been suffering with intermittent chest pain pains, left shoulder, left arm and neck pains.  I have had so many tests done on my heart and all of them have come back negative.  The only thing that has shown up is Right Bundle Branch Block on one of my EKG's (out of maybe 15 in my life).  I had episodes of syncope over the summer but they have since found out it is related to my hiatal hernia and GERD (at least this is what my cardio thinks).  Does anyone here have GERD or hiatal hernia?  Does anyone else think it is related to each other?  I have been waking in the morning lately with dull pressure in the middle of my chest but it seems to subside after being up for about an hour.  I started taking my Protonix again this morning so we shall see.

BTW palpgirl:  I took propranolol for years and the only thing I use it for now is when my heart starts racing to slow it down.  It never helped with the chest pains or anxiety.  I found out when I was pregnant that it can be taken on an as needed basis only....they didn't want me to take it after my 1st trimester because it could have slowed down the babies heart rate.  Good luck to you!

[elizabeth187]

OMG YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT CRAZY! I HAVE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR THINGS HAPPENING TO ME. I AM 21 YEARS OLD I AM A FEMALE, ALL MY LIFE IVE BEEN HEALTHY....IT ALL STARTED ON CHRISTMAS OF 2007 A FEW MONTHS AGO...I HATE TO ADMIT THIS BUT I SMOKE A BLUNT {WEED} WIT MY MAN, AND I HAD A PANIC ATTACK {ANXIETY ATTACK} AND SO I QUIT SMOKIN WEED AND CIGS, AND THAT WAS LIKE TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AGO ALMOST AND I AM STILL HAVIN THE DISCOMFORT IN MY LEFT CHEST, UNDER MY LEFT RIB, IN MY LEFT ARM, IN MY LEFT BACK. IT COULD ALL BE NERVE DAMAGE THE DOCTOR SAYS. CUZ I USED TO DANCE, AND I MAY HAVE A PINCHED NERVE. I GET TINGLY FEELINGS IN MY LEFT CHEST, AND THROUGH MY BODY. I GET A BURNING SENSATION IN MY LEFT BACK...I GET PANIC ATTACKS. I ALWAYS FEEL A DISCOMFORT, AND IM SICK OF IT. THEY ALL SAY ITS ANXIETY BUT EXCUSE ME WTF IS THIS! I AM SICK OF IT AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE TOO....I HAVE HAD CAT SCANS DONE ON MY BRAIN AND CHEST, EKG'S, ECHOCARDIOGRAMS, STRESS TESTS, HOLTER MONITORS, ULTRASOUNDS, U NAME IT I HAD IT! XRAYS ETC....ON MARCH 6TH 2008, IM SUPPOSED TO HAVE A EMG DONE...TO CHECK MY NERVES FOR ANY PINCHED NERVES OR NERVE DAMAGE HOPEFULLY THEY FIGURE SOMETHING OUT THAT ISNT LIFE THREATENING THAT CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF....ALL THESE THINGS CAN BE CAUSED BY STRESS THO. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT....IF YOUR AN ANXIOUS PERSON MOST OF YOUR LIFE...IT WILL EVENTUALLY SNEAK UP ON YOU IF YOU DONT LEARN TO RELAX! I WAS BURNED IN A GREASE FIRE...IN OCTOBER OF 07, BEEN IN AND OUT OF FRIENDS HOMES MOVIN BACK AND FORTH...FAMILY STRESS....RELATIONSHIP STRESS...ALWAYS ARGUIN WIT MY MAN...THINGS ADD UP. REMEMBER THAT. THEY SAY STRESS IS A KILLER....WELL WE GOTTA STOP STRESSIN SO MUCH AMNE!...SERIOUSLY! IM SO YOUNG I SHOULDNT BE HAVIN THESE ISSUES. NO ONE SHOULD! GO GET A MASSAGE! GO TO THE CHIROPRACTOR GET YOUR BODY ADJUSTED....SOMETIMES THATS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE REJUVINATED...GET A MASSAGE A FEW TIMES A MONTH UNTIL THE TENSION SUBSIDES....WELL THATS ALL FOR NOW. COMMENTS PLEASE!

[bill533]

i have a hiatial hernia and heart desease. i am 61 y.o. i have had a lot of stress tests and before the last two i had a couple of stents put in. i have the pain you all talk about and put it off to the h.h. because my last two stress tests for my heart show it is pumping ok. my question is that i also am sort of anxious from time to time but my symtoms (symptoms) seem to be a general feeling of fatigue and the need to lay down for a while. during these bouts i have no pain but the feeling is terrible. like you are going to die any minute. i actually get mad at the feeling and i am sure that does not help. i seem to be annoyed more than i used to because i hate this feeling of helplessness and the doctors say we don't think it is heart related, "lose some weight and you will feel better". i have been a little overweight most of my adult life and never felt this way before. it has been a couple of years now and before i ramble on does anybody else get the same weakness and slight nausiousness and feeling they need to lay down type of symtoms (symptoms)??? sorry about the spelling.

[hoosier1907]

I have also similar symptoms. Left chest area very very slight pain like a burning sensation but very annoying. Started about 3-4 days ago after workout. I am 30 yrs old, healthy male. EKG, blood tests came normal. Scheduled for holter and stress test this week. My heart first started to run little fast but now it is normal but pain is not gone. Is this anxiety or a musceloteral problem maybe?

[Hubert82]

Hey guys! I have exactly same thing! 4 weeks ago I had panic attack, my heart was racing like crazy, I was sure it's heart attack and I goin to die. After 2 days, I woke up with chest discomfort, like a pressure and aching left arm and leg. I went ER, they did ECG and physical test on my left arm and leg. Doctor told me it's all anxiety, week after I went to my Doctor, I got ECG done again and it's all ok, just waiting for my test blood results. I have that pain/discomfort for 4 weeks now, sometimes is  above heart, than it's more to left side and than sometimes is below my heart, my leg is aching every now and then. Dose anyone else have similar symptoms?

[Hubert82]

My symptoms are very similar, I have this discomfort in my left chest, sometimes is more to left, sometimes is more above my heart and sometimes below. It's like pressure or it also might be more of a stabbing sensation (it's not pain coz it dose not hurt) it goes to my left arm or left leg. I got ECG done twice and everything is ok, now just waiting for my blood test results.
My doctor is 100% sure it's nothin more than stress and anxiety. It's really hard to believe that stress can make such a mess from your life. Anyone got similar symptoms?