Breathing difficulty, chest pains, lung pain, and hacking for over a year now

[RyanRTX]

It was June 5th 2010 when I went to the ER for my chest pain. They said I had heartburn and sent me packing. I went to my PCP shortly after, and he said I had Pleurisy, so I toughed it out for several months. I haven't documented any of this very well, and some of my problems may overlap other conditions that I may have, but like many other undiagnosed people have said, I have trouble breathing all day and night. I have nearly forgotten what a good breath is like. I am scared to fall asleep every night, thinking I won't wake up. I feel tired when I do wake up. I have hacked and hacked for the past year. Nothing usually comes up, but it is the strongest urge that you wouldn't believe, beckoning me to do so in the hope that a good clean breath will come of it. I went back to my Doc, saying Pleurisy should have run it's course by now, and we tried Xanax and something for my back pain. I have had chronic back pain for about 8 years. I don't have anxiety or depression. The only thing bothering me is this labored breathing. My back can hurt for all I care, but it's hard to enjoy life when you can't breathe. Needless to say, neither of those helped. I went to a Gastro Doc that recommended I do an Upper Endoscopy. I had the procedure done without anesthesia, for 2 reasons. 1. So my family, and doctors wouldn't think I was just being a whiny complaining crybaby. 2. Because I had things to do that day, and didn't want to be drugged. The Endoscopy results were clear, although I have a sour throat at some point or another, every day. I went to a heart doctor for the chest pains, had a 24 hour holter monitor that I wore home, and the results were that I have a healthy heart. Thousands and thousands of dollars have been made, by doctors that haven't lost any sleep at night for having not helped me. I have been told to go to a musculoskeletal doctor. I've been told to get an MRI done, which I think will find something for sure in my neck or my back, but not only can I not afford it, but I also don't think that the person reading the results will do their job right. They will find one thing and close the case. If I have a 10,000 dollar test done, I want it to be screened thoroughly, and incompetence is a job description for half of Americans, at the very least. If anyone knows what is going on, help me. I quit smoking marijuana months ago when I noticed that it aggravated the issue.

[RyanRTX]

Thanks for the tip. Not so much pain while breathing. I'm in pain from time to time, but yes breathing is the biggest issue. I think you are right about intestinal gases and it surely could be back and or neck problems too. I've been in one bad wreck with no seatbelt. 55 to 0 in a tenth of a second. (Tree) Had pre-existing pinched nerves also.

[solace21]

Hi,
   If your problems are mainly due to short breath, you should concentrate more on lung issues. If pain while breathing is the major problem, it may be due to persistent pleurisy, back and neck issues or acid reflex / intestinal gases. Most likely it is pleurisy or back problem I guess.Sorry to learn that presently you have no insurance coverage.
Solace

[RyanRTX]

Thanks. I had some primitive form of lung test done at my PCPs office and I think capacity is what was measured. They said that was fine. My lung sounds are usually okay also. Not usually any gurgles or bubbles. A lot of the time I feel like I need to burp and relieve some pressure, but I never can release a good one. And, when I do my burps don't come out clean like they used to. It sounds like my burps are drowning when they come out if that makes any sense at all. I have to get back on some insurance first. I'm working a minimum wage job while working my way through college and they don't offer any.

[solace21]

Hi,
   You may need to do a complete lung function testing to make sure the lungs are functioning alright.Since you were smoking, there is a chance that the lung capacity got reduced. If there is no problem with the lungs, you could do deep breathing exercise daily and if possible do swimming to improve the overall health of your lungs.
Your symptoms may be also related to some injury of your upper back. You could consult a Neurologist / Ortho and get it diagnosed and treated.
Solace