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4 months...no diagnosis...scared!

In January of this year I was put on Macrobid and Metrogel for a 5 day course for a UTI infection. Within days I developed tinitus, shooting eye pain, severe pain on left chest,shoulder, arm down to wrist, soreness under left breast/rib cage area, and a feeling of not being able to catch a deep breath (left sided strain). I started to get these SCARY feelings in my throat and upper chest. They last only 1-5 seconds and then they're gone, with no lingering effect other than they terrify me. I called the pharmacist and they told me to stop the meds (at that point I did).

All went away in two weeks except the follwing:  

- Wake up feeling ok then left sided soreness kicks in remains all day. Gets worse with movement sometimes (showering/blow drying hair) but not walking, etc.

- Can't catch a deep breath. Left side feels strained.  

- Spasms on left side. I dont know if its a heartbeat or not. They are deep and feel like they are right over the heart/within the breast. Every few seconds some days and other days nothing. Almost feels like my heart is being squeezed. Last 1-5 seconds. Pulse seems irregular at times.

-"Stomach pit"/squeeze type feelings in the middle and left of the chest. Sometimes when I get them I feel them in the gut too. Again Last 1-5 seconds.

-Same thing happens in throat/neck. Left side, right side, in the middle, in the nape. Again Last 1-5 seconds.

- Voice hoarse/strained (left side)

- Days with alot of gas pockets "popping".

I never know what's going to bring these feelings on. I have had several just typing this. They happen at rest, out of the blue, BUT I also notice they happen sometimes if I bend over, go from sitting to standing, exertion, catch a deep breath. Sometimes a yawn, laughing, singing or talking for a long time brings the throat feelings on. I don't know what to do. These things literally stop me in my tracks and I think THIS IS IT. They are that strong. I am afraid to eat certain foods. Afraid to exercise.

Tests so far:
My GP -1/25 EKG. Normal. Said maybe I was sensitive to palpitation, or anxious. Gave me Xanax (which I refused to take).
Internist ON 1/30 EKG again. Normal.
2/14  chest xray, normal.
Cardiologist - 2/20 EKG again, normal.Echocardiogram, normal.
3/14 - EKG stress for about 6 minutes. Normal. PFT test, normal.
Blood Work (from internist not exactly sure what he ran but said he ruled out Lyme, RA, etc...)
4/6 - Chest CT Scan - normal.
4/12 - PFT again. Normal
4/13 - Barium Swallow. Normal

I was put on Prevacid 3 wks ago. Referred me to a gastroenterologist, hence the barium. Came back normal.  I don't know if the prevacid is working cause although the feelings havent been as strong, as often, I'm still getting them. Whether I eat or not. At rest or not. I did notice on two occasions I got strong ones after drinking tea or eating chocolate but thats it. Can it still be gastro related? Should I go back to my cardio? I don't know what to do.

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Avatar universal
I don't know what I am going to do. I am convinced there is something WRONG inside me and its not mental. Part of me wants to rule out a medical cause before I consider mental causes. I dont want a possible problem that needs treatment to continue on much longer. But part of me thinks maybe I should try the meds and see what happens. I know the doctors are thinking anxiety or stress cause I have been so upset lately but after 4 months...OF COURSE I AM is how I see it. I went to the doctor weeks after the symptoms first started cause I thought it was a side effect from these UTI meds I was on and it would go away. I went to the docs when it didnt go away. Wasnt nervous. Wasnt scared. Just figured I would go, they would give me something and all would be well. That hasnt been the case and now they say anxiety ( i say they because my GP said the same thing recently) but to me...the anxiety is symptom brought on from 4 months of my symptoms. NOT the cause of them.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your responses. I used the wrong terminology in my last post. Didn't mean to say mental persey...I meant psychological/stress type things and believe me...I know anxiety can cause a ton of symptoms and some similar to mine and I believe my anxiety over this probably isn't helping. But because I was fine prior to all this, physically/emotionally/mentally...I can't help but think against it being the cause of everything. Also, since the symptoms come on OUT OF THE BLUE..when I am at work, out with my friends, laughing with my niece, doing house chores, driving in my car, talking on the phone, food shopping, or sitting watching tv, and so on....it makes no sense to me. I have cried and got stressed out ALOT in these 4 months because of this and not once during my emtotional outbursts did the symptoms come. Not once. And my GP agreed...usually the symptoms would come on at those times.

So...I am completely drained and completely lost as to what to do. He prescribed me Xanax to take as needed.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI i know how upset you are at no diagnosis. But, it is possible that some of the symptoms are anxiety related. Are you going to try and take the meds he prescribed to see if you notice an improvement?

Hudson
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just returned from the gastroenterologist. I am more upset and confused. I had some of the strong feelings in my throat prior to me going to his office so I was upset when I got there. He said with the prior tests I had done and with the way I was in his office, he was thinking anxiety. I told him I was upset NOW but I wasnt 10 minutes ago. He felt my abdomon and checked pulse and listened to my chest and all that...but went right back to anxiety. I told him I wasnt under any stress or nervous about anything prior to these symptoms starting 4 months ago. I am under stress NOW due to no diagnosis. He said he didnt want to send me for further testing just yet. Wants me to take anxiety meds and wants to see me in 6 weeks. I am upset cause I think I wasnt able to give him a proper run down of everything going on because the throat was acting up and I was too upset to concentrate. Think I hindered his taking me seriously.

My GP said he would do the heart monitor for possible rhythem problems if the gastroenterologist was ruled out. I brought up the monitor in the past but he said my cardio doc didnt order one so he didnt think it was needed. But now he may do one.  

I wish I could explain these feelings better. They come out of nowhere. Turning my head, bending over, deep breaths, laughing, or just doing nothing and BAM I will get one. It's like a pressure type feeling maybe? Choking maybe? Cant put my finger on the right words. I get the deep butterfly type feelings in the chest and stomach the same way....out of the blue. Never know when its coming. They last seconds but they are terrifying seconds.

I am scared something is going undiagnosed. I am afraid it still may be the heart and something was missed. I am so confused.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
have they done a 24 hr holter monitor to check for sporadic arrythmias? they can cause some of your symptoms.....usually an ekg won't pick them up because you usually don't have the symptoms when they so it...i would request one just to make sure.  good luck
Helpful - 0
233190 tn?1278549801
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You have a pretty comprehensive evaluation that would have ruled out many of the major causes.  The normal echocardiogram and EKG stress test would make a cardiac cause unlikely.  PFTs and a normal chest CT would make pulmonyar causes unlikely.

I agree with pursuing a GI evaluation.  An upper endoscopy to evaluate for any upper digestive tract diseases, as well as more specialized testing like esophageal motility tests can be considered.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
Helpful - 0

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