Aa
I'm A Basket Case-My Chest feels Wierd
Hello,
My name is Derek.
Firstly let me say that my father died of a heart attack @ age 46 after having lived with Congestive Heart failure for about 13 years. I saw him die and IT FREAKED ME OUT!
now about me.
I'm 23 years old 5'8 roughly 320-370lbs
former(until very recently) marijuana smoker
I've been overweight all of my life and have lost a large amount of weight and gained it back within the last 6 years. I've finally come to understand the importance of a healthy diet and exercise. I'm afraid that I may have damaged my body already though.
Since I was about 21 or so I have been having weird symptoms that come and go.
sometime my arms would start to feel funny. my left arm would hurt, not go numb, but sort of ache. Sometimes both arms. That doesn't happen anymore(not that I've noticed) but lately I've been having these strange twinges of pain in and around my chest. Sometimes stabbing in my arms or chest, very fleeting and not lasting long at all. Sometimes on the left side, sometimes on the right side. Sometimes I feel a pain in my neck and jaw/ collarbone area. Once again most of the time very fleeting often time the pain will disperse when i switch positions(like sit straight up and stop slouching etc). The pains themselves won't last long but the episodes of sporadic pain can last for an hour or more, Daily, then go away for a month or more. Sometimes I feel my heart flutter or palpitate, and am often aware of my heart beating(daily). No pain with exertion and most pain occurs while at rest (laying down)
I also have horrible posture and after years of sitting hunched over and slouching while standing, I can literally crack my chest as one would crack their knuckles if I straighten up and stretch my arms back. Sometimes correcting my posture will dispel
the pains. I had read that having poor posture can cause alot of chest pain.
I have been to the emergency room a number of times over the years for these symptoms. I've had a bunch of ekg's done and all show nothing strange. My blood pressure is normal. I haven't had a regular gp doctor since I don't have insurance so, i always have to go to the er. They kept saying that I'm not at too big of a risk because of my age even though I'm obese. But I also have a history of taking diet pills with ephedrine, I went to the hospital once last year because the pills i was taking at the time (stacker 2) had a reaction to some cheese I had eaten and had my heart racing.
Can anyone offer me any insight.
i do desperately want to turn my life around and get healthy but i fear I may be past the point of no return ( a ticking time bomb) I have no way of knowing if my arteries are blocked, At no time in my life have a had a sustained healthy diet, but I'm going vegetarian asap. I'm scared sh*tless here, someone please help.
i want to go through the process of getting a regular physician so that they can refer me to a cardiologist so that I can get checked out and make sure that I'm not blocked up.
The differences between my father and me are thus.
I'm overweight, so was he but I'm bigger than he was
Ive smoked marijuana since 14 with about a 2+ year gap when i was 16-late 19
(stopped altogether) and another 6 month stop last year. Don't plan on resuming ever, just not worth it. Very poor diet, very sedentary lifestyle. Not too many friends or activities nearly no structured exercise. (am starting this week, exercise regimen)
He was a regular smoker for at least 25-30 years
Did alot of drugs especially in the 70's, marijuana, heroin, coke, crack(from what I hear) Very poor diet. But was an avid bike rider in his day. He had some type of blood pressure issue that he was ordered to take medicine for when he was my age or about 22 but he never followed through and stopped taking the medicine shortly after he got the prescription(back in the 70's) and that is what my mom believes led to his CHF and ultimate death.
Thankfully I have not been diagnosed with the blood pressure issue.
Does anyone have any insight. I don't want to go to another ER because they will only give me a bunch of EKG's and probably find nothing, and leave me with a 5k bill to pay.
I make upwards of 2k a month base not including commission, so i don't think I qualify for public medical assistance. I can't afford my own because insurance companies don't like fat men. Does anyone know of any resources that I can seek out?
Any insight on my symptoms?
My name is Derek.
Firstly let me say that my father died of a heart attack @ age 46 after having lived with Congestive Heart failure for about 13 years. I saw him die and IT FREAKED ME OUT!
now about me.
I'm 23 years old 5'8 roughly 320-370lbs
former(until very recently) marijuana smoker
I've been overweight all of my life and have lost a large amount of weight and gained it back within the last 6 years. I've finally come to understand the importance of a healthy diet and exercise. I'm afraid that I may have damaged my body already though.
Since I was about 21 or so I have been having weird symptoms that come and go.
sometime my arms would start to feel funny. my left arm would hurt, not go numb, but sort of ache. Sometimes both arms. That doesn't happen anymore(not that I've noticed) but lately I've been having these strange twinges of pain in and around my chest. Sometimes stabbing in my arms or chest, very fleeting and not lasting long at all. Sometimes on the left side, sometimes on the right side. Sometimes I feel a pain in my neck and jaw/ collarbone area. Once again most of the time very fleeting often time the pain will disperse when i switch positions(like sit straight up and stop slouching etc). The pains themselves won't last long but the episodes of sporadic pain can last for an hour or more, Daily, then go away for a month or more. Sometimes I feel my heart flutter or palpitate, and am often aware of my heart beating(daily). No pain with exertion and most pain occurs while at rest (laying down)
I also have horrible posture and after years of sitting hunched over and slouching while standing, I can literally crack my chest as one would crack their knuckles if I straighten up and stretch my arms back. Sometimes correcting my posture will dispel
the pains. I had read that having poor posture can cause alot of chest pain.
I have been to the emergency room a number of times over the years for these symptoms. I've had a bunch of ekg's done and all show nothing strange. My blood pressure is normal. I haven't had a regular gp doctor since I don't have insurance so, i always have to go to the er. They kept saying that I'm not at too big of a risk because of my age even though I'm obese. But I also have a history of taking diet pills with ephedrine, I went to the hospital once last year because the pills i was taking at the time (stacker 2) had a reaction to some cheese I had eaten and had my heart racing.
Can anyone offer me any insight.
i do desperately want to turn my life around and get healthy but i fear I may be past the point of no return ( a ticking time bomb) I have no way of knowing if my arteries are blocked, At no time in my life have a had a sustained healthy diet, but I'm going vegetarian asap. I'm scared sh*tless here, someone please help.
i want to go through the process of getting a regular physician so that they can refer me to a cardiologist so that I can get checked out and make sure that I'm not blocked up.
The differences between my father and me are thus.
I'm overweight, so was he but I'm bigger than he was
Ive smoked marijuana since 14 with about a 2+ year gap when i was 16-late 19
(stopped altogether) and another 6 month stop last year. Don't plan on resuming ever, just not worth it. Very poor diet, very sedentary lifestyle. Not too many friends or activities nearly no structured exercise. (am starting this week, exercise regimen)
He was a regular smoker for at least 25-30 years
Did alot of drugs especially in the 70's, marijuana, heroin, coke, crack(from what I hear) Very poor diet. But was an avid bike rider in his day. He had some type of blood pressure issue that he was ordered to take medicine for when he was my age or about 22 but he never followed through and stopped taking the medicine shortly after he got the prescription(back in the 70's) and that is what my mom believes led to his CHF and ultimate death.
Thankfully I have not been diagnosed with the blood pressure issue.
Does anyone have any insight. I don't want to go to another ER because they will only give me a bunch of EKG's and probably find nothing, and leave me with a 5k bill to pay.
I make upwards of 2k a month base not including commission, so i don't think I qualify for public medical assistance. I can't afford my own because insurance companies don't like fat men. Does anyone know of any resources that I can seek out?
Any insight on my symptoms?
Derek,
Great news that you've come to terms on understanding the importance of a healthy diet and exercise program!! There's no time like the present to get things moving in the right direction.
I'm very sorry to hear about your dad. I can imagine how difficult that was for you. Hang in there, you're on the right track. As you probably already know, chest pain/discomfort can present for a myriad of reasons, from cardiac to anxiety. That said, it is always best to check with your own doctor. I know you don't have a doctor right now, but maybe you could find one (through a friend or relative) that will work with you on a payment plan. The fluttering you feel may be "palpitations," or an awareness of ones own heartbeat. Again, an internest will be able to help you figure that out. Lots of people are aware of their own heartbeats, so don't worry. But, do get it checked out.
Talk to your doctor about ways you might be able to improve your posture. Maybe he/she can suggest some things you can do from home that will help you.
Great news on the good EKGs and normal BP!! Despite what they tell you about your risk factors, you are wise to get working on diet and exercise. A good diet and exercise program are great ideas for all of us.
Derek, you are on the right track by recognizing what you need/want to do. Maybe you could talk to a minister, relative, friend and ask for some direction on finding a good internist. You mentioned that you don't know about your arteries. But, what you do know is your family history and that in general, it's a good idea to follow a good diet and exercise program. You may want to work with a doctor to get some good ideas on how to manage the diet. I think there is a nutrition forum on this site..maybe they can help??
Oh, don't be afraid to tell the doctor about the marijuana. The doctor is there to help you and the more honest you are, the better advice he can offer. There are many, many wonderful physicians out there who would be more than happy to help you kick start your new lifestyle : )
I'm not sure where to suggest you try calling for a referral. Maybe you could call your local community health center (try the county offices) and see if they can suggest a physician or clinic. Remember, you've made a great decision and you've got some good things going for you (normal EKG and BP, and a willingness to eat right and exercise). I am NOT a doctor, so I can only offer suggestions/advise based on what I've learned.
Good luck Derek! You can do this! Believe in yourself and keep moving forward.
Connie
Great news that you've come to terms on understanding the importance of a healthy diet and exercise program!! There's no time like the present to get things moving in the right direction.
I'm very sorry to hear about your dad. I can imagine how difficult that was for you. Hang in there, you're on the right track. As you probably already know, chest pain/discomfort can present for a myriad of reasons, from cardiac to anxiety. That said, it is always best to check with your own doctor. I know you don't have a doctor right now, but maybe you could find one (through a friend or relative) that will work with you on a payment plan. The fluttering you feel may be "palpitations," or an awareness of ones own heartbeat. Again, an internest will be able to help you figure that out. Lots of people are aware of their own heartbeats, so don't worry. But, do get it checked out.
Talk to your doctor about ways you might be able to improve your posture. Maybe he/she can suggest some things you can do from home that will help you.
Great news on the good EKGs and normal BP!! Despite what they tell you about your risk factors, you are wise to get working on diet and exercise. A good diet and exercise program are great ideas for all of us.
Derek, you are on the right track by recognizing what you need/want to do. Maybe you could talk to a minister, relative, friend and ask for some direction on finding a good internist. You mentioned that you don't know about your arteries. But, what you do know is your family history and that in general, it's a good idea to follow a good diet and exercise program. You may want to work with a doctor to get some good ideas on how to manage the diet. I think there is a nutrition forum on this site..maybe they can help??
Oh, don't be afraid to tell the doctor about the marijuana. The doctor is there to help you and the more honest you are, the better advice he can offer. There are many, many wonderful physicians out there who would be more than happy to help you kick start your new lifestyle : )
I'm not sure where to suggest you try calling for a referral. Maybe you could call your local community health center (try the county offices) and see if they can suggest a physician or clinic. Remember, you've made a great decision and you've got some good things going for you (normal EKG and BP, and a willingness to eat right and exercise). I am NOT a doctor, so I can only offer suggestions/advise based on what I've learned.
Good luck Derek! You can do this! Believe in yourself and keep moving forward.
Connie
Hey man you 23 thats not to young! I am 24 years old and a panic attack 3 months ago has caused me to have a complete life change. I weighed 206 so i wasnt obese but overweight and I i work on a computer all day and come home and play WOW all night so i wasnt in any shape i also use to eat a fast food diet for lunch everyday. I dont smoke (i did smoke pot until the attack) and i dont drink only thing bad i got going for my is high cholesterol and a small case of heart disease in my family but not with my mother or father as of yet. I now eat salads for lunch and i run at the gym everyday for 30 minutes i went from 206lbs to 190lbs in 3 months. What keeps me motivated now is imagining having a heart attack. I never thought i would be able to get off my *** and do something but that experience changed my life. YOU CAN DIFF. TURN YOURSELF AROUND!!! not to late not at all!.
You are not past the point of no return. Far from it. Watching your father die from heart disease is a very traumatic experience. I was 10 years when my father had his first heart attack and I was 20 when he died from congestive heart failure. I used to worry about heart disease all the time. I finally decided that I could make some positive changes in my lifestyle that would help me. Once I started to make these changes, I began to feel better because I was doing something constructive. I felt better.
You need to stay away from recreational drugs and the diet pills. As you realize, you need to go on diet and start exercising. Exercising will help you lose weight and it will help with the stress or anxiety you may feel.
While a vegetarian diet is good diet, it can be hard for someone to stick to it. The main thing is to find diet that you can stick to,
Here are some diet suggestions that I follow.
Avoid fried foods.
Try adding 1 oz of almonds and 1-2 TBSPs of extra virgin olive oil daily to your diet. Almonds and olive oils are high in monounsaturated fat which helps your cholesterol. Olive Oil can also help to keep your arteries and veins supple and flexible.
Eat more fish like salmon or trout. Have 2 or more meals of fish a week. You might try taking fish oil pills every day (1 gram twice a day).
Avoid trans fat. Trans fat can raise lower HDL(good cholesterol) and raise your LDL ((good cholesterol) .
Minimize your sat fat intake. Eat more chicken and turkey., less beef. Remove the skin from the turkey or chicken. Watch your portions. 3.5 oz (size of a deck of cards) is the rule
Eat more food like beans, oat,oatmeal, pears, apples etc., that are higher in soluble fiber. There are 2 kinds of fibers. Soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is roughage. Soluble fiber serves as roughage and can help reduce your LDL cholesterol. The soluble fiber literally traps the LDL in your intestines and you excrete it. Try for 7-13 gram of soluble fiber a day. The more the better. (You may have to build your way slowly on this and some people may feel bloated.)
Eat 2-3 servings of fruit a day and 3-4 servings of vegetable a day.
The main thing to remember is that your life is not over, and you can make positive changes that can reduce your chances of developing heart disease. However, it is up to you; you must make that first step. Other people have done it. You can, too.
Good luck!
You need to stay away from recreational drugs and the diet pills. As you realize, you need to go on diet and start exercising. Exercising will help you lose weight and it will help with the stress or anxiety you may feel.
While a vegetarian diet is good diet, it can be hard for someone to stick to it. The main thing is to find diet that you can stick to,
Here are some diet suggestions that I follow.
Avoid fried foods.
Try adding 1 oz of almonds and 1-2 TBSPs of extra virgin olive oil daily to your diet. Almonds and olive oils are high in monounsaturated fat which helps your cholesterol. Olive Oil can also help to keep your arteries and veins supple and flexible.
Eat more fish like salmon or trout. Have 2 or more meals of fish a week. You might try taking fish oil pills every day (1 gram twice a day).
Avoid trans fat. Trans fat can raise lower HDL(good cholesterol) and raise your LDL ((good cholesterol) .
Minimize your sat fat intake. Eat more chicken and turkey., less beef. Remove the skin from the turkey or chicken. Watch your portions. 3.5 oz (size of a deck of cards) is the rule
Eat more food like beans, oat,oatmeal, pears, apples etc., that are higher in soluble fiber. There are 2 kinds of fibers. Soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is roughage. Soluble fiber serves as roughage and can help reduce your LDL cholesterol. The soluble fiber literally traps the LDL in your intestines and you excrete it. Try for 7-13 gram of soluble fiber a day. The more the better. (You may have to build your way slowly on this and some people may feel bloated.)
Eat 2-3 servings of fruit a day and 3-4 servings of vegetable a day.
The main thing to remember is that your life is not over, and you can make positive changes that can reduce your chances of developing heart disease. However, it is up to you; you must make that first step. Other people have done it. You can, too.
Good luck!
I love that comment....ask yourself if its worth it.....I am in a battle due to bad genes Im 26 and when your this age I think you think you have all the time in the world but you dont. something has caused me to end up with IST or POTS and my quality of life may never be the same but I am still with the high heart rate hitting the pavement every night for atleast 30 min and I have quit smoking and am about 216 and need to get alot of weight off. Im trying to find a diet that will work for myself and my family something like weight watchers or something....but it is hard it takes every ounce of my body not to pick up a cig or run down and get a lg choclate milk shake...which i dont eat alot usually once a day its just my choices are bad....but I agree you have to ask myself if it is worth it.....that is the question I live by everyday...and NO ITS NOT WORTH damaging my body anymore then it is and leaving my kids. Im hoping to find something to help the IST but no help yet. GOOD LUCK oarnge chicken dont go out like your dad you can overcome bad genes with some hard work but it is hard but toatlly worth it!
Your genes and lack of discipline have got you into a mess. If you don't lose weight to where you can get insurance, you are going to owe thousands to these hospitals. I didn't know that you could be turned down by insurance for being obese. How was this explained to you?
Since your father died of CHF, you have an un-natural fear of heart disease, but at the same time you are digging your grave with your teeth. Your weight has put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, vasculitis and probably many more conditions. For every inch of fat you add, your heart and body produce close to a mile of blood vessels. Think of the stress placed on your heart to have to force blood to circulate through all of this fat.
It is a matter of life or death for you. Start exercising and eating right. How many times have you heard that? It sounds like pie in the sky and unachievable but you can do it. You had better start doing it.
You can get your cholesterol checked for free at some pharmacies or county health clinic. Also talk to the health clinic about how you may get health care.
Your posture is crushing your heart and lungs. Lead with your navel as you walk.
I wish that I could fix you, but I can't fix myself. Good luck in changing your lifestyle. Ask yourself if it is worth it......
Jack
Since your father died of CHF, you have an un-natural fear of heart disease, but at the same time you are digging your grave with your teeth. Your weight has put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, vasculitis and probably many more conditions. For every inch of fat you add, your heart and body produce close to a mile of blood vessels. Think of the stress placed on your heart to have to force blood to circulate through all of this fat.
It is a matter of life or death for you. Start exercising and eating right. How many times have you heard that? It sounds like pie in the sky and unachievable but you can do it. You had better start doing it.
You can get your cholesterol checked for free at some pharmacies or county health clinic. Also talk to the health clinic about how you may get health care.
Your posture is crushing your heart and lungs. Lead with your navel as you walk.
I wish that I could fix you, but I can't fix myself. Good luck in changing your lifestyle. Ask yourself if it is worth it......
Jack
Have an Answer?
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