What's wrong with me? Short breath, chest pain.

Okay so I'll try to make it short.

3 weeks ago I started to get really bad short breath and chest pain when inhaling deep. I waited a day and it didn't get better so I went to the ER and they checked my vitals and did 3 chest x-rays. They said everything was perfect... They said that it could have been a pneumo thorax, and that is wasn't asthma, then kicked me out. So now 3 weeks later I still have it and don't know what to do... It's not near as bad as it was that one day but it still hasn't improved much since. It's starting to really annoy me and keep me from getting outside because it makes my chest uncomfortable.  

So here is some more detail:
-I've noticed a poping sensation in my rib for years now. Lately it's been doing it more often.
-It was mostly on my right side but now it's on both sides.
-when doing physical activity my heart will race, chest will ache, and short breath will get worse.
-sometimes I will feel faint when standing up or when trying to catch my breath.
-seems to be worse at night.

I think it's a spontaneous pneumothorax but shouldn't it have healed by now?

Then again it could be a pulled muscle because right before this happened I started to lift weights.

I'm 15, weigh 140, 5'10.
Ive been REALLY stressed out too for the past 8 months if it matters. 

Please Someone answer... I don't really have any help with this and its stressing me out way more than I can handle... Any info/opinion is greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

[michellepetkus]

We aren't doctors here so we can't diagnose you but it does sound a little like you my have overdid your weight lifiting and pulled a muscle.  I do hope you have a spotter when you do it?  Pains related to the heart are more sustained than being tied into your breathing in and out.  That said, considering this is going past 3 weeks I might make an appointment with a GP and get checked out.  If you tore something you may need some assitance to get it repaired.  Take it easy on the lifting until you get this worked out.  Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[achillea]

"Then again it could be a pulled muscle because right before this happened I started to lift weights. "

You are pretty much in the right age group--and the right activity group (weightlifting)--to be having what is called costochondritis.  It's an inflammation of cartilage at the front of the chest, and although it is painful, it is also benign.  If the medhelp site allows me to post this, here is more info:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/costochondritis

If that doesn't work, google costochondritis.

When you breathe deeply, your chest wall and ribs move a lot.  That will irritate costochondritis, but it is not dangerous.

Hard exercise will normally increase your heart rate and breathing.  If you are one of those people unusually sensitive to your body, you will notice these things more, and it may make you anxious.

Feeling faint when you stand up is very, very common in normal people, but more so when they have rather low blood pressure (as kids and athletes often do), or after exercise.  Try not to worry too much about this.  Low blood pressure is a healthy thing to have. Just be aware of the tendency and stand up more slowly.

I suggest you buy a very inexpensive, small paperback called "Hope and Help For Your Nerves."  Claire Weekes, the doc who wrote it, provides some info on what kinds of sensations it is normal to feel, as well as some little mental exercises to help calm you down when you are stressed.

[Powdrman8]

Thanks guys for the info!

I think it actually could be costochondritus. Just a minute ago I wanted to test my breathing so I sprinted as fast as I could in one direction. At only like 100 yards my chest started to get this horrible pulsing aching pains!!!! Like really bad! It really scared the crap outta me. I'm going to go to a doc as soon as possible. I hope it's nothing bad :0

[Rogej]

Good idea, I was going to say get to the doctor period.