chest discomfort

[oliver]

I suffer from chf-cardiomyopathy recently I had some tests done including an xray that they compared to one from a year ago ( the reason was for chest pain and tightness)compared to the older xray which read normal the recent xray said borderline normal and my doctor said there was no significant change. When they say significant change it seems in my mind there was some change but not a "red flag". My question is does the reading of xrays depend on who does the reading of them, like they interpret it differently? ,  maybe it was the same but if two different people were reading it they interpret it their own way. When I said the second xray was boderline normal the reading said something about borderline cardiomegaly. I am just worried that something might be changing but my doctors are waiting for something more to change.

[militaryspouse_okinawa]

I'm 39 yr female, about a year ago I started having rapid heartbeats and light pain in my chest. I went to the doctor,but he just said it's nothing to worry about. Well a few days later I was at the store and I was standing looking at something and I felt as if I was going to pass out,I had to grab the cart to hold me up.My son "whom was with me" said my face got really red. By the time I got home , my heart felt as if was beating so fast. I got in the doctors and he told me I was probably dehydrated and sent me home. I just kept getting rapid heart beats and pain almost daily. I finally got back in to the doctor.This time he checked my Cholesterol and all.My cholesterol and triglycerides were way high, up in the 350 and my good cholesterol was way low.He put me on 20 mg of Zocor and with plenty of exercise I got my  bad cholesterol down and good cholesterol up and my triglycerides down. I have been doing ok,but the last few days I get a burning pains in my chest,it last about 2 or 3 seconds. I still get rapid heartbeats.
Is there a chance I could have heart disease? I asked him,but they just seem to ignore me. My husband is Military and we are in Japan and I don't really have any options at getting a new doctor. I walk 3 miles 5 days a week at a very fast pace with no pain at all. These chest pains really scare me, some nights I'm so scared to go to sleep. My mom had a heart attack at the age of 50 from clogged arteries,she is fine today. I know she had very high cholesterol at the time also.

[NorthernChic24]

Hello there!  I just found this site yesterday and can't post my own question, but I am wondering if I should be concerned:-\

A little History...
I had some serious chest pains last fall, went to the ER and they said it was all in my head (okay, not exactly those words :-).  Followed up with my PCP and she referred me to the Cardiologist.  Went and had echo back in March and due to insurance issues, I still haven't had my follow up, but requested a copy of the notes.  Doc says this as his diagnoses: "1) The left ventricicular ejection fraction was estimated at 55%. 2) Mild aortic insufficiency."

My dad had heart issues (2 transplants, Cardiomyopothy, and died at age 40, high chol., etc...) as well as my grandpa (his dad, a heart attack...not sure from what).  Mom has Hypothyroid.  Diabetes runs in my family on moms side.

My history, discovered Hypothyroid last fall, borderline high cholesterol (205 total ch.), and yes, I am a little over weight and working on getting it down, but I have PCOS and that works against me.

My main question is with the test results that I got in the mail, should I be concerned?  I do have my follow up scheduled.  I did some research to find out what the 2 things mean, but it seems that both are so very flexible in terms/definitions.  Can anyone help??  

Thanks!

NorhternChic

[jejeave]

I also have chest discomfort from time to time. But ocured only recently.I had my last check up ECG and the result is anteroseptal wall ischemia.  While the doctor compared it to my health background, he didnt conclude the remarks in ECG is correct since I have no history of smoking, or heart problems in the family.  It only triggers I think usually when I am in periods of stress, I am an IT person, and usually thinks a lot..  I felt this way even when I'm thinking of my own problems, otherwise I am fine especially when I wake up, or have rested.  I'm having tightness in my chest makes it hard for me to breath, and sometimes having slight back pain.  My neck feels tightness to.. and due to this, its hard for me to swallow as well.  I'm so afraid I am not taking any medications.  I was advised to take aspirin in the afternoon, unfortunately I am allergic w/ pain killers. hope I can be advised of any conventional medications and any explanation of my condition. thanks to everyone

[dmg]

Since you seem to not be satisfied with the report, you really should seek out another doctor who would be open to explaining to you what significant needs to be.  But get another opinion, when it comes to our health it's nothing to take lightly.  My sister had an ultra sound done on her intestines and they said it was fine.  But the next week after getting the report from her gastroentrologist, the family doctor read the report from the other doctor and asked my sister if she was told they saw part of a mass in her chest, she said no.  When she called the gastroenterologist and asked why he didn't tell her, he said it wasn't up to him since he was only her gastro doctor.  If she hadn't gone to the family doctor for something else it would have gone unnoticed.  And we feel the family doctor should have read the report and called her immediately.  So Oliver, we need to be aggressive patients and do some research on our own and push the doctors.   We need to be insistant.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Oliver,

I understand your concern.  "boarderline" is always a tough word to swallow. As a physician I don't think much of it. That is when your doctor needs to step in and interpret it in clinical context of what is going on with you the patient.  If it was over boarderline cardiomegally, I wouldn't think anything of it. This is a question for echo's, not for chest xrays. You are also correct that reader interpretation comes into play for calls like boarderline.

Dont stress about the xray, but if your symptoms persist make sure your follow up with your doctor.

I hope this helps.