Lymes and Doxycycline

[concerned930]

I have been on doxycycline for Lymes for 7 weeks now.  I have noticed a discomfort in my chest.  It does not increase with activity. I notice it when I lean forward.  It is intermittent. I have no medical insurance so I cannot go for more tests.  Is this a symptom of my Lymes disease??  I am a runner and have had heart testing and was told I had a strong heart.

[cindy903]

Does it occur when you're breathing? Are you short of breath?

[concerned930]

No I am not short of breath.  I actually ran 2 miles last week and I was breathing heavy but my discomfort did not change. It does not really change when I take a deep breath either.  It will sometimes hurt when I am not watching my posture and I slouch.  

[KStuff]

I've had intermittent chest pains and was recently diagnosed with lyme disease.  In fact, cardiac problems such as high blood pressure, random twinges of pain around my heart, etc. were some of my more prominent symptoms, although they are rare for most people. I also just recently started on Doxy and noticed that my heart symptoms are more intense than they've been in a while.

[Alidora]

Last year, I experienced the symptom you’re describing. I’d get intermittent stabbing pain in the chest, especially when I’d lean forward. It got me really worried when it started waking me up at night. I thought for sure it was my heart—it made sense to me, as I was having a lot of arrhythmia (heart skip) and palpitation at the time. A Holter showed that I was having close to 200 heart skips/day.

So I went to the ER, thinking there was something really wrong with my heart. The doctor told me that this type of pain is called costochondritis.

“Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.” (www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626)

He told me to take non steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killer. The problem eventually subsided and now that I’m being treated for Lyme, it hasn’t come back.

Lyme disease can cause so many symptoms, it’s maddening!

[patsy10]

Lyme frequently causes chest discomfort, tachycardia, palpitations etc....It's hard to tell whether the pain is nerve or muscle pain, costochondritis  or  actually a heart condition.  Lyme can cause heart blocks too.  I think everyone with chest discomfort should have it evaluated  to rule in or out heart problems.