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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Strange feelings in chest/throat
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Strange feelings in chest/throat
by JBW1983, Nov 20, 2006 12:00AM
I am a 23 year old male, reasonably fit, but smoked about 7-10 ciggarrettes per day for 4-5 yrs. I quit smoking about 10 months ago. I am on propecia, vit. B12 deficient, and had asthma.
6 weeks ago I began experiencing shortness of breath, elevated BP, chest discomfort, palpitations, visual disturbances and general anxiety. I underwent testing, including an MRI (brain), Chest X-ray, CT Scan (chest, pelvis), Ultrasounds of my thyroid and testes, "stress test", and lots of blood tests. I went to see a neurologist who suggested my symptoms were stress related. I even went to see a psychiatrist to check my mental health, which is fine.
My chest X-ray came back clear, but two small nodules in my right lung were detected on the CT Scan (8mm and 5mm). All other tests were normal. I have seen two lung specialists, who got me to do a breathing test and physically examined me. Having reviewed all of my tests and based on their examinations, both told me that I had virtually nothing to worry about and that the nodules were probably an old scar from chicken pox or a flu.
More recently, I've begun to feel a tickle or a tingling type of sensation in the right side of my chest and up to my throat, the shortness of breath has continued, and I have a nagging cough that produces very little mucus.
Despite trying to take comfort in what the doctors have told me, these symptoms are starting to worry me and I feel like the follow up scan in a couple of months can't come soon enough.
Should I be alarmed that I am getting those sensations only in my right side? Could they be psychosomatic?
6 weeks ago I began experiencing shortness of breath, elevated BP, chest discomfort, palpitations, visual disturbances and general anxiety. I underwent testing, including an MRI (brain), Chest X-ray, CT Scan (chest, pelvis), Ultrasounds of my thyroid and testes, "stress test", and lots of blood tests. I went to see a neurologist who suggested my symptoms were stress related. I even went to see a psychiatrist to check my mental health, which is fine.
My chest X-ray came back clear, but two small nodules in my right lung were detected on the CT Scan (8mm and 5mm). All other tests were normal. I have seen two lung specialists, who got me to do a breathing test and physically examined me. Having reviewed all of my tests and based on their examinations, both told me that I had virtually nothing to worry about and that the nodules were probably an old scar from chicken pox or a flu.
More recently, I've begun to feel a tickle or a tingling type of sensation in the right side of my chest and up to my throat, the shortness of breath has continued, and I have a nagging cough that produces very little mucus.
Despite trying to take comfort in what the doctors have told me, these symptoms are starting to worry me and I feel like the follow up scan in a couple of months can't come soon enough.
Should I be alarmed that I am getting those sensations only in my right side? Could they be psychosomatic?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Dec 05, 2006 12:00AM
, Dec 05, 2006 12:00AM
Considering all the normal or negative test results, your symptoms could be due to anxiety. This could be with or without panic disorder. Also this could be with or without hyperventilation. You might want to talk with the psychiatrist about this possibility.
The pulmonologists interpretation of the nodules is almost certainly correct.
One problem that could cause unexplained shortness of breath in a young person is recurrent clots to the lung called pulmonary emboli (PEs). The best test to be sure that this is not a problem is a contrast enhanced spiral CT. Most likely what you had done was a standard CT. It is quite likely that your doctors have considered this possibility and concluded that this is highly unlikely. You should ask one of the pulmonologists about this.
The pulmonologists interpretation of the nodules is almost certainly correct.
One problem that could cause unexplained shortness of breath in a young person is recurrent clots to the lung called pulmonary emboli (PEs). The best test to be sure that this is not a problem is a contrast enhanced spiral CT. Most likely what you had done was a standard CT. It is quite likely that your doctors have considered this possibility and concluded that this is highly unlikely. You should ask one of the pulmonologists about this.
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Other relevant information:
I developed a swollen lymph node in my throat, in the area that tickle from my chest led to, and I have been treating it with an anti biotic for a few days... it seems to be improving. I have a gland up in my groin which has been there a while but isn't as sore as the one in my throat was.
I still often feel short of breath, my throat is very dry, and I have been feeling tired and dizzy even after a good nights sleep. My eyes have been more sensitive to light and visual disturbances have become slightly more severe.
I have a family history of auto-immune disease. My mother has lupis and my uncle (her brother) had a bout of sarcoidosis at one stage.
I am thinking that I might have sarcoidosis, which could explain the scars/nodules on the lung, but I do not have a fever.
Having ceased minomycin to treat the sore, swollen lymph node in my (right side) throat, my appetite has improved, and have been feeling better.
I had a PET Scan done which I've been told turned up absolutely nothing... a really great relief. But, since the nodules are so small I fear that any activity may have been missed by the scan. Then again, if these nodules were the cause of such wide ranging symptoms I suspect some strange activity should have shown up on the scan.
My throat continues to be dry at times. I am often anxious.
I have been feeling sore in my arms/legs/neck when I exert the relevant muscles, and the pain occurs where (I think) the lymph nodes are located. I have swollen lymph nodes in my neck just below the top part of my jaw. I have no fever and BP is fine. Currently awaiting results of a blood test to check if I have glandular fever or lymphadenitis.