Chest discomfort

[justlookingforanswers]

I have a pain that is straight through and slightly down from the center of my left breast.  It is like a burning sensation, like a thawing out type burn.  I feel short of breath as if I am shallow breathing.  When I do take a deep breath in it feels like there is pressure or fullness in my left chest, like something is stuffed in there.  This morning when it started I was on the couch and when I felt it I felt nauseous and felt my GI tract go whacky.  

I have been having this intermittent chest discomfort for over a year now.  I have seen 2 cardiologists and had all the standard tests and and CT-A.  Normal.   I've also seen many other doctors trying to determine if the pain is noncardiac in nature.  Tests are normal.  I have been given the anxiety diagnosis and find that, as most people do, quite frustrating.  I have no history of anxiety or panic.  I truly feel that my symptoms are more closely matched with women's symptomology of heart disease than anxiety.  

I would like to think I am not focusing on my heart but when the discomfort begins, it is difficult not to do so.  I  am wondering if this chest discomfort can linger for a year and still not present itself as serious?  The discomfort doesn't seem to come at exertion or anxious moments, usually at rest.  Do you have any advice as to what avenues, if any, I should pursue now?  

I am 35, strong family history of hd, hbp and diabetes.  My bp is normal and no diabetes.

[Forum-M.D.-bkj]

looking,

Thanks for the post.

With your workup it really sounds like you have no significant coronary blockages.  
Also, the chronic nature of your symptoms really argues against that as a cause.

I would look into other causes like gastointestinal, musculoskeletal or anxiety for your symptoms. No one is discounting you are having them and it doesnt mean you should watch your blood pressure and cardiac risk factors to prevent future problems.

good luck

[ireneo]

Have you had your esophagus/stomach checked for acid reflux or ulcer? You mentioned that it happens most often at rest so the GI system came to mind. Recently I've been under a lot of stress (big changes at my job, 2 of my kids getting married and my Dad is dying) and noticed some deep pain on the left side, up to my shoulder and back. Turns out it is my stomach, working on an ulcer. I never expected it because I typically have an iron stomach that can handle anything. Anything but severe stress apparently.

[justlookingforanswers]

Back when this all started I had a full GI workup.  They did everything and nothing showed abnormal.   But that was a year ago.  It is possible that since that time I have overly worried about this pain and made something happen.  I will see an internal med doc next month and will mention it to her.

Thank you.

[justlookingforanswers]

I forgot to mention that I have had a full blood workup.  My WBC count seems elevated each time as well as bicarbonate level and hs-CRP.  My mean platelet volume is low but other than that everything is within NORMAL limits.

[laurahs]

Has anyone mentioned costochondritis to you?

I get occasional chest pain from this.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costochondritis/article_em.htm

-Laura

[justlookingforanswers]

Costochondritis has been mentioned.  I was given, initially, a really strong anti inflamatory for it.  It didn't seem to help.  But in all honesty, I was scared to take the medicine for too long because of the listed heart related side effects--and I was so convinced it was a cardiac issue.  I am not sure if there is a definitive way to test for this.  Do you know?'

Thank you for your response.

[Valko]

Been having some discomfort in my chest area for a few days now. I also feel tired and dizzy. I also feel pain on the right side of my neck. I have had palpitations in my chest, so I had all the tests done. Everything came back normal. My heart muscles were a lil thick, but the doctor said that would get better as I lost weight and my blood pressure went down.

I am currently taking Avilade and I am about 50 pounds overweight (working on losing it all). I quit smoking 10 years ago and gained the weight in the process.

I dont feel pain when I work out, and I usually wake up feeling fine. It is usually after lunch that it starts.

I guess from reading some of the posts here it could be anxiety related.

Any ideas?

[Smeagster]

Hi! I'm 17 and I started having chest discomfort about 6 or 7 months ago, I didn't have much of problem with it at first, but it seemed like the pain kept intensifying. Sometimes when I went to bed I'd lie there and my chest would sometimes feel like it's about to implode, and other times like it might explode, but a couple months later most of the pain went away. Now recently the right side of my chest feels is feeling uncomfortable, like something is pressing down hard on that one spot. Just a couple days ago i woke up and my heart was racing, I felt i was about pass out so i sat down for a good 5 or 10 mins, then it eventually went away. It left me with a good scare so I planned on going to the doctor's the next day, so then the next day I decided to walk there, then while walking to the clinic I noticed the pain in the right side of my chest would intensify, my breath got short and it felt like my throat was closing up a bit. When i reached the clinic I was dissapointed to see that it was closed (I didn't realize it was a sunday). So the very next day I walked to the clinic again, and again the pain seemed like it was worsening. I told the doctor all my symptoms, I told her that my chest has been feeling tight the last few days and sometimes would come along with a burning sensation, I also told her it worsens as i walk and that my throat sometimes feels like it's about to shut. She asked me if I've been coughing lately and I said no, she then let me leave  with tyenol, nesonex, and cough suppressent. Now i'm not too sure why she'd give me cough suppresent when I'm not coughing at all, the nasonex is to clear my sinuses (nothing feels wrong with my sinuses), what I'm asking is should i use the cough suppresent, maybe I've got it all wrong and it does do something else, the brand is benylin dry cough (for relief of: dry coughs + soothes throat).