Severe Chest Pains

[Amoose]

im a 23 year old male, non smoker and i used to keep actively fit until this.
i was running a half marathon which no great shakes for me, about 10 miles into it i got stabbing chest pains.
i was taken to hospital and examined. they found nothing wrong but made a guess of pericarditis and said i woul be ok in 6 weeks.
here we are 9 months later and im still suffering. in the mean time they have done numerous ECGs, electro and eco. chest xrays, blood samples and even an exercise tolerance test and they have come up with nothing.
the pains are centralised but sometimes slightly to the left over my heart, i also get some lightheadedness, fatigue and heart palpitations.
i have been told by other my symptoms fit that of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but this would have shown on the eco, there is no pattern to my chest pains they just happen whenever but have worsened by physical exercise.

[kenkeith]

I understand your concern, but it is difficult to second question your doctor's or health provider regarding what tests, medication, etc. and the basis of their decision is in question. Paracetamol may be be adequate for neurological pain, etc., but nitro dilates the coronary arteries and provides a better supply of blood to areas of the heart that is not receiving sufficient supply and as a ressult there is angina pectoris. It is also effective for prinzemetal syndrome.  Nitro is quick acting when there is angina pectoris and if helpful that good indicate a heart issue.  One pill taken at the time of chest pain when be a deciding factor.  

Take care,

Ken

[Amoose]

my doctors so far have not offered me anything other then paracetamol, when taken it does little if anything to alleviate the pain.
the problem is also that instead of being sent to a cardiologist like my GP refered me to the hospital decided to send me to renal doctor so thats not helping matters as a cardiologist would have better knowledge of rarer problems.

[kenkeith]

Q:"i have been told by other my symptoms fit that of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but this would have shown on the eco, there is no pattern to my chest pains they just happen whenever but have worsened by physical exercise".

>>>>>>Hypertrophic cardiomyology by definition is an enlargement of the heart walls, chamber, etc.  So a chest X-ray and/or an echo would have disclosed the condition. Also, it would be likely you would have shortness of breath, muscle fatigue, etc.

It appears the focus has been with a heart disorder but research on the symptom lists 3 most common chest pain issues that are experienced  by runners. There may be other problems causing chest pain like issues with the lungs, esophagus or muscles. Also, there is a heart problem that doesn't appear with the tests you have had and that is prinzemetal syndrome. Prinzmetal is a rare form of angina -- a heart condition that is commonly characterized by chest pain that is associated with spasms of the heart vessels...almost always with angina (chest pain) the pain can be effectively treated with nitro or nitrate medication.  Has your doctors tested whether or not your pain is alleviated with medication?

Thanks for sharing, and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care,

Ken

[Amoose]

thanks for the reasurrance, the doctors i have seen have been much less then helpful, the last one i saw told me in a sceptical voice that they didnt think it was cancer! most other are content to tell me they have no idea but they are sure i will be fine.
i have slowed right down, i havent done any physical exercise in 9 months and its only got worse!

[vienna13]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a very serious heart disease, who ever told you that it was nonsense. Just because many runners and other sport people drop dead, and the diagnosis is hypertropic cardiomiopathy ,that most they had no idea about , it doesn’t mean you  have anything to do with that. The point is many was not testing before.Your tests are ALL perfect. And you are absolutely right; it would show up on eco or on other tests. So you just go from there.
  Wish you the best luck to get your answer and until do less, maybe that is what your body is asking you to do, less. Running is a very demanding sport as we know, try swimming instead.
Take care