Help!

Posted By  CCF Cardio MD - MTR on February 16, 1998 at 18:14:25:

In Reply to: Help! posted by NanetteSchlarmann on February 12, 1998 at 13:05:15:

: I am a 20 year old female and have had one baby.  I was on birth control pills but I recently stopped taking them for fear of heart problems.  No one in my family has had heart problems that I know of.  Lately, I 've had a low, dull ache in my upper left side of my chest.  In the mornings I feel just fine and in the evenings is when I feel like there is something wrong.  I am scared to go to the doctor for fear of hearing that I have some fatal disease.  I want to be able to raise my child knowing that I can be there for her whenever she needs me.  Does there seem to be any explanation?
  Nanette Schlarmann

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

Dear Nanette: Regarding your symptom of a dull chest ache at night, I doubt that it represents
a fatal disease of the heart or any other  organ system.  I assume your pregnancy went
well from your letter and if you are more than six months after delivery now, the chance
that you could have some cardiac condition related to the pregnancy is miniscule.  I suggest
that you do see your regular physician and discuss your symptoms with him/her to help
find a better explanation than I will be able to give without being able to have a dialogue
with you.  It may be safe for you to continue on birth control pills and I think reassurance
from your primary care physician would help ease your concerns.  Symptoms that you should be
concerned about would be chest pain that is severe and is precipitated by strenuous exertion,
shortness of breath, palpitations, or extreme fatigue.  A constant dull ache in the chest
could be caused by many different conditions like muscle strains, stress, reflux of acid
from the stomach into the esophagus, or bronchitis.  Again, I suggest that you speak to your
regular physician about these symptoms and your concerns.  
   Information provided in the Heart Forum is for general purposes only.  Specific advice
and recommendations can only be made by your regular physician.