Chest pains lasting several hours/days

[amoshub]

About 4 months ago, I began to have chest discomfort and lightheadenness.  I went to the emergency room 3 times, had blood tests run, and EC(K?)G's, all showed fine. I had a stress test with some abnormalities, so followed up with catherization which showed absolutely clear.  My primary Dr. says it's GERD.  I'm 44, a non smoker, about 80 lbs overweight, my cholesterol is 131, bp 125/75 (avg), pulse 80.  I still have pains that feel muscular in nature in the left breast area often radiating to the lower left abdomen and the left shoulder.  Also, there is a tightness in the center of the chest sometimes.  All this occurs at rest or after mild excercise, esp. when sitting straight up or leaned forward.  Flying is a real stressful event.  I am scheduled for further gall bladder tests (ultrasound was negative for stones) and endoscopy.  Is there something I'm missing?  This is driving me crazy.  Doesn't seem to be a real pattern on time of day, exercise generally improves the situation. Any advice would be helpful.  Thanks.

[Cleveland Clinic]

amos,

thanks for the post.

1) Is there something I'm missing?

Chest pain is a very difficult thing to manage sometimes. There are more obscure things that cause chest pain but I usually focus on the more common first.  You've had a alot of cardiac workup, only cardiac causes could be spasm of the arteries, but the duration and quality of your symtpoms really do not suggest that.

Things to also consider are pain from the muscles in the chest wall and gastrointestinal sources.  Sometimes empiric treatment with pain relievers or an aggressive peptic regimen can help.

Am important point is that even though your cath was negative, your overall health needs to be aggressively intervened on with increased activity and weight loss.

good luck

[Dr. Erik]

Your chest pain is most likely not Cardiac-related. The question is what is causing your dizziness. Is it possible that you are having anxiety during these episodes? That could be causing the dizziness. Good luck!

[amoshub]

I had considerable anxiety after my stress test.  The symptoms first began, kind of out of the blue about a week before the stress test.  After I had the stress test, during which I felt fine, I was feeling pretty normal.  Figuring I had no problems, I went for the reading of the results.  I was told to not return to work, begin taking blood thinners (well, aspirin), and two nitrogylycerin capsules daily!  My heart (figuratively) sank.  I was advised to schedule a catherization, which I did about 6 days later.  To be honest, I worked myself up to the point where I didn't know if I could make the 5 minute drive to the cath lab.  Anxiety can sure do a lot to you and still I have to talk myself down sometimes from a high stress level.  It helps just to talk about it.  My doctor sent me to a gastroenterologist, he agrees that it's probably acid reflux, potentially gall bladder disease and has increased my medication.  Thanks for the comments.

[bjking]

I am a 41 yr. old female.  I went to my fam. dr. for chest pain 6mths ago and he sent me to ER to evaluate.  All testing came out normal.  Recently I noticed skipped heart beats for which I was perscribed a heart monitor.  I've now been advised to seek a Cardio. Dr.  The monitor showed "Frequent PVCs", and that my lower lobe was not beating in time with my upper.  I still experience the chest pain on and off.

   What could this be?

[charchar]

hi , I am a 38 yr. old female .I have been having chest discomfort for a few days and sometimes it hurts in the left shoulder and down the left arm its like my left arm feels like it wants to go numb down to the elbow.  I noticed that the center of my chest feels very bruised to touch .Pretty healthy otherwise . There are several family members with heart problems. My family feels I should check this out . I feel like maybe I just pulled something. Would It feel bruised if it is a heart problem. Also sometimes I feel like my heart flops ??? Sounds crazy to me  but thats the only way i can decribe it. I'm going to talk to my dr. tommarrow but would like some input on this if anyone has any info. for me.   please... thanks

[KC135]

First let me say that I appreiciate this sight. My question is that for over the past 2 years I have been experiencing chest pains, and more time then not in sternum area. Pain in sternum is more of a pressure feeling. I occasionally exp lightheadiness with a nasuas feeling. I have had an upper GI, abdominal ultrasound, CT scan of lung(with a 4mm nodule found,that has not changed.) echo stress test,nuclear stress test and more recently a heart cath. All tests were neg. My question is why do I still have chest pains with lighthediness. I do smoke and drink occasionally. Thanks for any advice.

[ljta]

If one is having chest pains what type of workup should one ask a doctor to do.  If I have an EKG and it is fine, are further cardiac tests warranted or can one assume it is a gastric issue?
I do have benign pvc's.
It just these days with insurance companies sometimes I think we have to push on what should be done.

[dragonsbeauty]

Hi I am a 27year old female, and I have been having chest pains for about 3 months now. They are on and off and seem to move about my chest, Some pains are on my left breast then they move to my right, I also have a history of panic disorder, and recently, 4 days ago my dad died. My grandmother alos passed may of this year. My panic disorder started when I learned she was dying. I had my first full blown panic attack the day before she died. Any way, meds seem to help, but only for so long. I have a bad diet as of recently.. And do plan to change it. I exercised vigorosly a week ago, and seemed that my body wanted more. It was like I was addicted. And then my hubby ended up in the hospital with an emergency appendix removal. Anyway, my pains are here, and they are lasting more tonight than ever. And they are not concentrating on one spot. Its everywhere, and as I type this its under my right armpit. I have been to the ER so many times over this had EKG done and heart monitor, all were negative of any heart attacks, or other heart related issues.. even had urine and blood tests done. The pain comes and goes a lot. And its been going on for 3 months, really since my first panic attack. Sometimes the pain is bad when I lay down. I get up, and move around I am ok. Then I sit still again and it hurt all over. I have also had a gnawling burning pain under my left brest.. right near my stomach.. which has me to believe I have an ulcer. I have been diagonosed with Gerd, and acid reflux, gastritis, etc. Do you think that any of this is heart related??? Please help.

Leslie

[zero66]

A related discussion, on and off chest pains was started.