Chest Discomfort

[daysieg]

Hi...I am a 26 yr old female, 5'7 and 228lbs.  I have always been in good health. I gained all of my extra weight being pregnant with my daughter who is now 2.  The last few days I have been having this chest discomfort, I do not want to call it pain, because it doesn't feel like that.  It is not constant, mostly when i turn a certain way or slouch over.  It just feels like a soreness, but I have never felt anything in that area before.  The first day I noticed it, it was sore when I pressed the area, but over the last 2 days, it seems to be getting better and there is no soreness when I touch it.  My question is should this be something I should worry about or is it likely just soreness.  It doesnt hurt when I breathe in or out and it does not worsen with physical activity..I do not have health insurance, so I cannot afford to have testing done...Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank alot!

[denise9]

HELLO I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION?

TODAY, I HAD MY BLOOD TEST DONE BECAUSE I HAVE HAVING SOME DISCOMFORT IN MY CHEST AREA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF A MUSCLE.

WELL, WHEN I LOOK AT THE TEST RESULTS, IT IS SHOWING THAT MY LD(LDH) LEVEL IS 461,
I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND IT SAYS THAT THE IDEAL LEVEL SHOULD BE 115-225, SO ISNT MINE INCREDIBLY  HIGH AND THE DOCTOR DIDNT TELL ME ANYTHING OR ARE THEY MEASURED DIFFERENTLY?

THANK YOU SOMUCH BECAUSE I AM GETTING NERVOUS, THINKING THAT THEY MISSED THE RESULTS

[teleman1]

hi.. Im am a cardiac tech and see a multitude of pateints in which all seem to be having chest pain or discomfort.  The best advice I can give you is to; first you might want to have a dr see you for a physical and do an ekg.  I understand with not having insurence this could be cause a little more heart ache with the pocket book but having an ekg and a lipid profile done would be a good start.  You especially want to do this if you have a family history of any cardiac desease, high bp, high cholestoral, or if your a smoker.  Getting a physical would be the more sure way to find out.  But from the sounds of the discription that you have written it sounds muscular or possibly GI.  More GI if this happens after you eat or if at stressful times it gets worse.  If you take an antiacid and it gets better this might be its.  If this gets worse or you happen to notice pain after activity you might want to get seen soon.

[krista]

Hi,

I'm a 23 year old female, who has been suffering from bouts of chest discomfort for almost three years.  Its very frustrating, and quite scary.  I know what you mean by being able to press on your chest and 'make the pain', but sometimes I can't make the pain.
I've had many heart tests for my age group, and they say that everything is fine.  SOmetimes I know its in my head, but you always wonder if its something that is being missed?  Anyways, i just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.  I don't have children, so maybe yours has something to do with that? I'm not sure.

[daysieg]

Thanks so much for the information.  I can't remember hurting it, but I hope thats what happened.  I to am working on getting off all that baby weight. I actually gained even after I had Hannah, once I didn't go back to work...I had no idea how hard it would be to lose even a couple of pounds...

[sampants]

I tore a muscle (pectoral?) once lifting my two year old.  It caused me discomfort off and on for weeks.  When it first happened I was sure it was my heart.  I think that if you can rub it and feel the pain, or make it feel better, it is probably something muscular.

And ugh.  Baby weight.  I know it soooo well.  I have three kids and gained with each one.  I actually gained less than most people do, but I didn't take much off.  I am now working to take it all off.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

daysieg,

Thanks for the post.

Firstly, we encourage all persons with chest pain to seek medical attention.  Secondly, I can't address your specific chest pain directly, because I'm not seeing you, but I can make some general comments.

Chest pain that is provoked by palpation (touching the chest) is more likely to be musculo-skeletal, but this finding does not exclude the possibility of heart-related pain.

Chest pain that is positional is less likely to be from coronary artery disease.

The combination of "p"s (palpation-induced, positional, and pleuritic) markedly reduces the likelihood that chest pain is from coronary artery disease.  Note that pleuritic means induced by deep-breathing.

Please note that no single historical or physical exam finding totally excludes the possibility that chest pain is from the heart.  If you are concerned, then see a doctor.

Best of luck.