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Avatar universal

I need help, Dr.'s not listening to me,,,lung/chest problems...anyone please!

I need your help ladies, I know that this isn't the correct forum, but I tried the other forum to no avail.
I am 19weeks pregnant. I have been having back pain off and on for about 3 years(mid to upper left side, right under where bottom of bra is) It mostly feels like a fist is pushing on it, pressure more than anything. Since I have been pregnant it has resurfaced. I have shortness of breath, and my lung growls occasionally, like your stomach if it is hungry. Sometime heart palpitations.
I went to the Dr. about a year and a half ago and she thought that it wasn't lung related, but musculo skeletal pain. Gave me flexeril and it did seem to help. I was happy to think that it wasn't lung cancer or some lung related horrible disease.
Now, not so sure...
Explained problems to my OB/GYN, only to be blown off...everything is baby related...lung growling: intestines pushed up higher by baby, making me "think" it is my lungs...(I am only 4 1/2 months) Shortness of breath...baby is pushing on organs, may make it harder to breathe...etc. etc...
I think it is serious and no one takes me seriously. Does ANYONE have ANY idea as to what this might be?
Dont' say go to the ER, my OB/GYN operates out of the hospital and consulted with the Dr there and he blew me off as well. His diagnosis, without looking at me, costocondritis...I have had that before and it was like a heart attack feeling, NOT THE SAME...I feel that they aren't listening because I am a woman and under 40. Please anyone that has ANY sort of idea as to what it is, please let me know!
Thanks!!!
17 Responses
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192055 tn?1263555537
Keep getting second, third, or even fourth opinions until you feel most comfortable with an answer.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have the same exact thing going on right now, ever find out what it was?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with taysmommy i think you should get a different doctor. Your doctor sounds like an a@@ if you know what i mean? I honestly would not go back there but I don't know how you feel about your doctor. You might like him but if it was me I wouldn't go back. I don't know much about your problem and I wish I could help but I have never heard of your lungs growling that sounds weird. I don't know if I helped any about the doctor situation but I hope I did. GOOD LUCK!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
pleurisy maybe?  no clue really.. my lung weezes sometimes.. if i were you I would see about getting a different doctor... I am not sure about the range of tests they could do at this time due to the fact that you are pregnant.. but.. all the same.. I would get a different doctor..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks ladies, I will. I also did some more googling on costochondritis, and it said that the first attack could feel like a heart attack ( had that) and then it could feel like what I am having, it mimics heart disease and lung disease, pain most of the time left sided...it explains it all,,,, except the lung growling thing.

Rockrose: I can breathe fine during the growling...????

Thank you all, I do feel somewhat better, but I will make an ppt. with a different Dr. :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok - yes, I know - but I'm saying that I am hearing constant gurgly/wheeze sounds from my mother's "lung area" regardless of inhalation/exhalation and it's definitely not coming from her stomach. Anyway :) debate isn't necessary but from my personal and recent (last nite) experience, sounds seems to come from there. I'm done now!
Helpful - 0
172023 tn?1334672284
There is a big difference between the heart and the lungs.  Yes, the heart beats all the time even if you hold your breath, but no, if you are holding your breath, your lungs are not actively moving air.  

I've never heard of lungs growling like a stomach growls. If it's objectively present, a doctor would certainly be able to hear it if she could get it to do so in the office.

I'm glad she's going to get it followed up, though!
Helpful - 0
13167 tn?1327194124
Baby - I'm glad you're persuing this and hopefully you'll get some answers soon!!

When you think about the process of breathing,  air is coming in and filling up your lungs.  When you think about the process of what makes the sound of growling,  it is air being forced from one place to another,  as in air trapped in your stomach being forced around.  I can't imagine that your lungs can growl while you lie and don't breathe,  and the growling would continue while you're breathing - I just can't picture the two actions - breathing air in - and growling - could occur at the same time in your lungs.

So anyway.  I wonder if it's your esophagus,  or your stomach,  that is growling behind your lung and causing your lung to vibrate or move on top of the growling?  

Best wishes.  I hope you get a diagnosis and some help soon!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have spent the last week tending to a family member with severe pneumonia - and your respiratory system is still working, even when you are not actively "breathing". Have you ever noticed that if you hold your breath, your heart still beats? Your lungs are still working, even when you are not actively inhaling or exhaling. So indeed it is possible that there is movement within the lungs at any time.

Anyway - glad you are getting things checked out baby4me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
RockRose, and ladies-
Yes, I do see your point...if I didn't feel it for myself I would call myself crazy...thank you so much for your help, I do appreciate it, it is nice to bounce idea's off everyone and make some sense of things.:)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You need a chest x-ray. There are many things this could be, and it's not normal at all to have sounds coming from your chest. My first thought is that you've had walking pneumonia at some point and sustained damage to your lung tissue but you need to be evaluated. This could also be asthma, or some other respiratory condition. I do not know anything about American healthcare, but why can you not simply go to the hospital, explain your symptoms and request an evaluation, even though your obgyn thinks it's nothing? There must be different doctors working different shifts and perhaps you can get another opinion.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
you might trying seeing a general practitioner if it's your OB giving you the brush off. Maybe someone else who looks at other "parts" other than pregnancy on a daily basis might be the way to go. Pregnancy's wierd and anything's possible, but at least that way maybe you'd get your questions answered...
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13167 tn?1327194124
What happens during this growling,  if you try to breathe in?  Have you ever tried to breathe in and out during the growling?

Helpful - 0
127124 tn?1326735435
Is it possible for you to get a 2nd opinion?  If not call your Dr back and insist this is just baby related because it occured before pregnancy.  Be adamant that they try to figure out what is wrong.
Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, I can be laying still, not breathing and my left lung (left only) will GROWL! Like an empty stomach. I actually had this before I was pregnant a few times, so I now it is not baby realted. No, never been at the Dr's when this occurred. But I swear I can put my hand flat up under my breast and even feel it growling.
Helpful - 0
13167 tn?1327194124
Lung growling?  Like,  while you're not breathing,  you spontaneously get growling sounds from a still lung?  Like if you sit still and your stomach spontaneously growls?  

It's really hard to believe that's your lungs,  isn't it?  I would think that if you have air spontaneously involuntarily moving around in your lungs,  you'd choke.  

Are you sure it's your lungs and not high in your esophogus?  Have you ever been at the doctor when this is occuring,  so they can hear it/feel it too?

Wow.  Best wishes for your diagnosis.
Helpful - 0
174483 tn?1327625477
sounds to me like you need to get another doctor, if your genuinly concerned about something, and i know you are, its their job to address your concerns and try to find the reason for your situation, im not sure if you are experiencing shortness of breath because the baby if moving your organs but it could be, none the less he/she should realize that your worried and take you seriously...i hate doctors like that who try to get you in and out of the office in 5 minuets.

ps. i didnt experience shortness of breath and chest pains(mine were from heart burn, but i felt like i was having a heart attack!) until i was 7 or 8 months...good luck, and try to get a second opinion

and also the doc may very well be right, but its your right to get good treatment and have all your worries delt with...good luck sista!
Helpful - 0
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