Shortness of Breath and episodes of chest pains.

[Mike81]

Hi,

I'm going to give a brief medical history.  Round the end of 2001, I began suffering from Chronic Urticaria.   Fortunately, using anti histamine (TELFAST) medication, controlled my urticaria.  I ran various tests and blood work.  I made a full blood count, liver function tests, thyroid tests, urine test, etc and everything was within nominal range.  After about 2 years, urticaria vanished on its own.

During the period when I had chronic urticaria, I began suffering from episodes of severe chest pain whic sometimes radiated to my left arm, shoulder, arm pit and jaw.  I suspected heart problems and visited my GP which suggested I had nothing.  After recurring episodes and worsening of symptoms,  I decided to visit a specialist.  He ordered various tests including FBC, ECG, Stress ECG, Chest X-Ray, Abdominal Ultrasound and Barium Swallow.  All results came back good with no abnormalities found.  Nowadays I still suffer from episodes of Chest Pains and am even having episodes of shortness of breath.  What could be the cause of such symptoms?  Sometimes I have chest pain without breathing problems, sometimes I have shortness of breath without chest pain and sometimes I have both.  After running all these tests showing no evidence of serious problems, what could be the reason of such symptoms?  Could it be a psyhcological problem, stress, panic?  Thanks and please help.  Sorry for being long.

[National Jewish]

The testing that you have had done is certainly showing that there is no evidence of any physical causes for your symptoms.  However with your description of the chest pain, it is important to know that the stress electrocardiogram (ECG) was enough testing to be sure that you do not have coronary artery disease.  You should ask the heart specialist if an echocardiogram, a heart scan and/or Holter monitoring should be done.  Also as part of your examination you should have been checked for muscular problems as the cause of your symptoms.  As long as you do not have these physical problems then it is possible that your symptoms are due to a psychological problem.  Chest pain and/or shortness of breath are often symptoms of stress and/or panic.

[sportsco]

Mike

I'm going through some of the same things.  My shortness of breath comes and goes.  Anxiety has been a big problem in my past and the docs are leaning towards that being the problem.