Undiagnosed Chest Pain

[Kewldude]

I am a 36 y/o white male. Over the last 5 or 6 years I have had chest pain that has sent me to the doctor and caused much anxiety. The pain has become much more painful this year.
They only last a second or two...but they are really intense and
makes you wince, scream and it scares the heck out of you. I would describe the pain as a quick, painful sharp squeezing across my chest. I can actually feel the pain in the glands of my neck for a second as well. Sometimes I feel it radiate to a small area on my left arm. They have happened when I am just sitting at a computer and when I am working out. I have started to sweat afterwards for a brief second (don't know if this is anxiety related).  And nobody has told me exactly what is wrong.  I have seen my PCP and a cardiologist. So far this year I have had an ...ECG,Echo, Nuclear Stress Test, Holter Monitor, Thyroid Blood Test, Cholesterol Check, URQ Ultrasound...all coming back "A OK". I went to my cardiologist this last time I had this pain...and he suggested going to a gastroenterologist. If this comes back negative, we could think about a cath.

I have also had episodes of skipped beats and fast beats lasting a few seconds as well...which adds to anxiety about the pain.

My question is does the pain and symptoms sound cardiac related given the above...and would a cath be warranted...in light of its given risks? My initial reaction is that I would not do one.

Thanks for any help.

[Cleveland Clinic]

dude,

Your pain really doesn't sound cardiac in origin.  The duration of your symptoms without significan progression, the negative workup and the quality of what you describe make it unlikely.

The gold-standard for coronary disease is a catheterization.  Even if you were to find blockages, i would have a hard time relating some of your symptoms to it.  

I would recommend a aggressive healthy lifestyle consisting of exercise, weight control, blood pressure and cholesterol management.

The holter should be able to tell you about the palpitations.

hoep this is a start

good luck

[Ianna]

Hi,
-
This could very well be Costochondritis or Tietze's Syndrome.
Benign but painful. Not the heart, but ribs and muscles etc.
Find Google search-engine; using words: constochondritis or Tietze, and get info.
-
Good luck - *Ianna* -

[jan]

Here, here.  I thought of costochondritis, also.  Here is a link to a forum for costochondritis:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/costo/

[lowbloodpressure]

10 years ago, I had quite a few fainting spells.  In all actuality, I sometimes would be able to see nothing while walking to the nurses office at highschool, but could remember doing it.  I was then monitored by my doctor and nothing came of it.  Recently, I have started to have dizzy spells when I stand up and sometimes feel like passing out.  I was at the doctor today and mentioned this to him.  He took my blood pressure and it was 105/60 while sitting down.  He then had me stand up so he could take my blood pressure.  He had a really hard time even hearing it.  Could you explain what might be going on and if there is anything that I can do to correct this.  I am only 28 years old with two small children at home and don't feel like leaving them behind anytime soon.

[jan]

I have a condition that causes that to happen to me, it is called neurocardiogenic syncope.  You will see NCS in some posts and that is what they are talking about.  Whether it's POTS or NCS it can be diagnosed by a TTT (tilt table test).

Good luck.

[Ianna]

Hi,
-
It could be your intake of water and salt is insufficient.
Check this:
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/3499/e/1/T/CFIDS_FM/
-
Good luck - *Ianna* -

[cdausman]

My husband had undiagnosed chest pains. It was triggered by a series of sneezing fits. His lips also went numb. His tests are ok. Could that the chest pains be be "costal" or "muscular" origin?
cdausman

[Ianna]

Yes, the pain could be from the sneezing, I've had that lots of times when I experienced a heavy sneezing-cold.
Good health to the both of you!

[cdausman]

Thanks a lot! That is reassuring...

[kbd513]

My symptoms sound much like Kewldude's, but my chest pains are usually constant when they occur.  The onset can be sharp pain and can last up to a couple hours of nagging heay chested pain.  I developed this pain about 4 months ago, I believe while exercising. At least that is what I want to attribute the pain to.  But I have injured myself before and usually a muscular injury improves with time, this pain has not. I am 34 years old and live a disciplined healthy life style of good nutrition and exercise.  I to have had an Echo, Nuclear Stress Test, and ultra sound.  All reported OK.  Other symptons I have encountered that are very new to me are incoherence in everyday conversation coupled with high anxiety/dizzeness during these episodes.  This is followed by weakness, cold hands and feet, with some nausea.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[Ianna]

Many of your symptoms seem anxiety related.
You're not alone; -far from it.
But you can do something about it!
For anxiety disorder almost never goes away by itself.
This site might help you:
http://www.anxietycentre.com/panic_attack_anxiety_about.html
-
I really wish you well!

[Cheeto]

I am 33 years old and I have had chest pains on and off for the last 1 1/2 years.  I've been to the Emergency room 6 or 7 times thinking I was having a heart attack.

I was initially 45 - 50 lbs. overweight and had a history of family heart disease.  Father died at 55 and his father at 58.  My mother's dad died at 42 of a heart attack as well so I am very aware of any chest pains.

My Cholesterol was 249 and trigylcerides were in the 440 range and I had elevated CRP readings.

Long story short - I dropped 45 pounds, cholesterol dropped to 138 and tri's to 85 and I still have episodes of the chest pain.

I have had mutiple ekg's, two echograms, and even an angiogram and nothing appears to be wrong with my heart.  My resting BP is normally 112/62 and heart rate is in the mid 50's.  My doctor recommended I look up the Vagas Nerve on the internet.  Has anyone ever heard of this?

Thanks,

Tony

[Ianna]

Hello,
-
You might want to look at this site:
http://www.clinicalpsychologist.com/clinicalpsychologist/vaso_vagal_archives.htm  

Good luck! - Ianna

[Cheeto]

Thanks for the link!

I will go there now!

Tony

[MrJeff]

Hey guys. I have a chest pain on the left side of my chest under my left peck. It pulsates with the heart and sometime does this for hours, sometimes i don't notice it. I am geting very worried and occaionaly have panic attacks thinking my heart stoped then checking for pulse. I went to my docter and he told it is probably from stress. But i don't feel stressed. I played football i thought it might be from that, but its been going for over a year now on and off every day. Im 17 turning 18 tomorrow and im fit and play sports. I also find it very stange that its happening to me at a young age. My family doesn't have any heart problems in there back ground that im aware of. And i haven't been tested what do you guys sugest I do?

[Ianna]

Could be Tietze's syndrome or Costochondritis.
Look for explanation on this site:
http://www.medicinenet.com/Costochondritis_and_Tietze_Syndrome/article.htm
-
Bye, good luck     - Ianna -

[MrJeff]

Ok thanks Ill look at that. I also my dad noticed me siting with a hunched back when doing work ona table, he thinks that it causing the pain and i am just pinching a nerve or muscle with my ribs under my left peck and when i breathe a shape pain occurs and with my heart beat. could this be what is causing the pain?

[Ianna]

Yes Jeff, that can cause that kind of pain.
Watch your posture, very important.
-
Bye - you'll be okay.
*Ianna*

[Cav]

I am not sure how this site works...just stumbled upon it.
I also have chest pains, they are absolutely unbearable, but only when I sneeze.  I have spoken with some medical folks in my area and they have told me to not sneeze so hard, but how do you regulate a sneeze?  The pains are comparable to being hit by a linebacker at full gallop...it feels as if you just want to fall over and scream, but then they fade away.  Could this be a heart issue or am I just a wuss and can't even stand a little painful sneezing???

[Ianna]

Hi,

No, it is most likely NOT the heart.
Look a bit back on this thread at my answer to Mr. Jeff.
It's probably costochondritis (Tietze's syndrome)- not so bad, but very painful, I know. Look up the site and check it out.
Hope this gives you some peace of mind.
Good luck - *Ianna* -

[palmergirl]

My husband can relate to you completely.  Your problem is exactly what I was searching for today.  I can't seem to find any info on it though.  My husband sneezes and it is followed by severe pain in the chest and his shoulders and arms go numb and then ache. He is a healthy, active 38 year old man.  We are very worried about this.  He thinks that he is having mild heart attacks and I am looking for information on the subject.  There seems to be no info on this subject...........but here is the really scary thing.............His paternal grandfather had a heart attack and died after he sneezed.  I desperately need info on this because it has a history in his family.

[palmergirl]

My husband can relate to you completely.  Your problem is exactly what I was searching for today.  I can't seem to find any info on it though.  My husband sneezes and it is followed by severe pain in the chest and his shoulders and arms go numb and then ache. He is a healthy, active 38 year old man.  We are very worried about this.  He thinks that he is having mild heart attacks and I am looking for information on the subject.  There seems to be no info on this subject...........but here is the really scary thing.............His paternal grandfather had a heart attack and died after he sneezed.  I desperately need info on this because it has a history in his family.

[Mnrob777]

Ok, 36 year old white male.
No hx of heart problems in family other than a Maternal Uncle.

I have left side chest pain. It seems to be located on my left pectoral muscle, left breast. It is a sharp constricting pain at times, and a dull ache at others. It has come and gone since July 03.
I have had normal results for all of the following:
EKG- twice
Bone Scan
Mammogram
Blood work- 3 times checking Thyroid, Hormone levels, etc.

IT is not a severe pain, I can usually just ignore it.

It does seem to worsen a day or two after high activity.
Motrin as recommended by Dr. does nothing.

Dr. will not do a CT scan as the risks out weigh the benefit, I'm allergic to the iodine dye.

HE also feels no further testing is warranted.

The muscle at times is tender to the touch. And my wife and I are uncertain if it is a normal thing, but slight swelling in the left breast area.

The pain has moved from near the left nipple area to near the left underarm.

Any thoughts?
I have no other symptoms related with the pain.

Rob