jaw,chest pains and weakness...is this my heart???

[zen]

For the last month or so I have been experiencing pressure pains in middle of my chest as well as tightness in upper throat and jaw. Chest pain has gotten worse plus sharper to the point of being almost constant, sometimes spreading, sometimes lasting 15+ hrs. and happening daily. Comes on anytime and now with activity. I was sure this was cardiac, but a trip to emerg. 3 wks. ago + later seen by a cardiologist + numerous EKG, Injection induced stess test, scans with radiation injection, echo test all neg. Loss of appetite the last few months. Loss of endurance the last 4 months...now I can't even walk around the block now with my dog without my legs turning to lead, breathless, chest tightness, nausea, faintness. Pain in my lower + upper right abdomen in past year. Also sometimes feel like something stuck in my throat/chest,  feel like some minor difficulty swallowing, some belching and gurling sounds after drinking. Pains and heaviness into my arms sometimes. Sometimes tough to breath like I can't catch a breath or yawn. Some chills as well as recent nausea and lightheadiness. Gp says I have GERD and put me on Prevacid. Just started last week. I have had enormous stress this past year...hit by a car as pedestrian...have recovered mostly but have watched my business, savings and life fall apart. Been told I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. How can this be just stress??? Trying to stay calm but  very worried as I've been feeling like hell. Can this be angina or my heart? Can angina last that long? Esophagus spasms? Stress? I'm a 40 yr. male used to feel healthy. HELP!

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear zen,
There are many causes of chest pain.  The one that doctors worry about the most is cardiac because it has the potential to be life-threatening.  Once this is ruled out the work-up can proceed at a more leisurely pace.

Amongst the cardiac causes of chest pain are: ischemia (due to blockages - including both stable and unstable angina and acute heart attack and coronary artery spasm), pericarditis (inflammation of the sack around the heart), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), cardiomyopathy (heart failure) and rarer causes such as coronary artery dissection, acute rupture of the heart and valves and infections of the pericardium.

Gastrointestinal causes of chest pain include reflux (acid from the stomach washing back into the esophagus), gallstones, esophageal spasm, esophageal rupture, varicose veins of the esophagus, strictures of the esophagus, tumors of the esophagus and other less common GI problems.

Pulmonary (lung) causes include pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, pleuritis and bleb rupture.

Other potential causes are aortic dissection, back and spine problems and musculoskeletal (muscle strain, rib fracture, etc.).

Psychological causes of chest pain are common and include panic attacks, anxiety, stress and mental duress.

As you can see there are a number of different things that could be causing your symptoms so it may take a little while to get a good diagnosis and treatment.  Chest pain lasting so long is less likely to be cardiac in nature.  GI is a possible source but it should improve with medications.  Stress can cause many different symptoms and should not be overlooked.

[alexawesome1]

Hello Zen, by the "sounds" of your email you appear to be very stressed out and anxious about these circumstances (who wouldn't be?) If you had the mentioned tests done recently then it would be safe to rule out cardiac abnormalities.  If you are to try the Treadmill Stress Test again and complete it succesfully with normal results than as the suggested, stress can be the factor which is now manifested into anxiety. Not be able to perform normal daily activities is a concern but this can be manifested in your mind along with all the other symptoms you've mentioned.  Feel free to email: alex_dolgonos***@****

[wilson-wilson]

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/ptsdfacts.cfm

[boogie]

hi Zen
don't want to add to your stress but when I read your comments, I said my life pass before me.  I have been where you are, to ER for my heart three times, several stress tests, all normal, had many GI test, prescribed paxil, prevacid, vioxx, you name it.
I also had two bad car accidents and have enough stress to kill anyone.

For the past eight months, I became short of breath, had the difficulty swallowing at times and like I couldn't get a good breath.  All test were normal.  I also have Hemachromatosis or iron overload.  This was discovered by the GI doctor by liver biopsy.  So to make a long story short, my blood doctor insisted
I see another heart specialist and all the initial test were relatively normal.  My gut instinct told me to follow up with the heart cath which showed reduced ejection fraction. (35%) and a biopsy showed borderline myocarditis.  I was placed on Altace and have not improved in the past month.  I don't want to worry you but I would still be sitting here with my 90/48 BP and chest pain with shortness of breath drinking extra caffine and lots of salt(per two doctors) to raise my BP.  Thank God, I listened to my inner self and the heart doctor who went a step further.
I am curiou about your BP.  Does it run low or high?

Sorry to be so long but your story just reminded me of all the years I have been a guinea pig. Hope you find a good heart doctor

[chiefr]

My father has recently had all those same symptoms too.   He was a previous heart patient, 2 angios & a quad bypass in 93.   He just knew it was his heart again.   He would get winded going to the mailbox, chest hurt.   But, he was also bruising horribly, the littlest of things would cause a huge bruise.  

He had a heart cath., and all was okay, including the grafts from his bypass.  

His bloodwork indicated a problem, white count 195,000+.   He has been diagnosed with CML (Chronic Myloid Leukemia)  

Don't want to scare you, but it's something else to consider.