Help, what do I do now?

[Mommy Kymmie]

3 days ago I had pain w/each deep breath @1st. OK no deep breath'n &skip gym. Day2 It hurt2 breath'n normally. Hurting-left side right under my breast. When I had to get up & do things move/sneeze/cough it hurt my shoulder &sometimes down my arm. If I stopD breath'n, noth'n hurt. I had Pleurisy b4-so off 2 DR BUT Dr. didnt hear anyth'n &Xray showD noth'n.  DR worryD about heart issues-I was shockD. I was sent 2 ER. ER-Blood work & EKG -All normal-I felt stupid 4 go'n 2ER.  @ home L8R breathn pain seemD 2 vary intensity. I had 2 MAJOR PAINFULL attacks that night (<<labor pains, but built &fell off s/a) One @9pm & 1 woke me up @4am. During IT if I stoppD breath'n it was Xtreme PAIN &breath'n spikD that pain X10. It faded after both times, and breathing was easy after for awhile.  Day3=/<Day1, I was hop'n it would fade but it's still there whenever I take a deep breathe, So now what??  I dont want to be pushed aside feeling stupid again, for wasting Dr time & my money and Insurance Co $, but I'm also very scared to have it happen again...whatever it is.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
There is a strong possibility it is costochondritis (inflammation of the joint between rib and sternum. The inflammation around the joint area gives sharp pain on taking a breath. This can also cause tenderness on pressing the area which pains. An orthopedic doctor can diagnose this for you. Pleuritis and Pulmonary embolism are other possibilities causing shortness of breath with chest pain. A CT scan of the chest can rule out both.
Chances are that you have esophageal reflux (GERD), where the food in your stomach is thrown up into your food pipe or esophagus. This also causes burning sensation or discomfort in the chest area. Another possibility is hiatal hernia, where a portion of stomach herniates into the chest cavity through the diaphragm. This along with chest discomfort cause shortness of breath too.

Hope this helps. Please discuss these possibilities with your treating doctor. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[Mommy Kymmie]

I had 2 MAJOR PAINFULL attacks that night (<<labor pains, but built &fell off s/a) One @9pm & 1 woke me up @4am. During IT if I stoppD breath'n it was Xtreme PAIN &breath'n spikD that pain X10. It faded after both times, and breathing was easy after for awhile.  Day3=/<Day1, I was hop'n it would fade but it's still there whenever I take a deep breathe, So now what??  I dont want to be pushed aside feeling stupid again, for wasting Dr time & my money and Insurance Co $, but I'm also very scared to have it happen again...whatever it is.