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Chest Pains?
For a month or two I've been experiencing intermittent pains on both sides of the chest but mostly on the left, never in the middle (sternum area), and not over the liver.
They are not terribly painful, nor do I feel any sort of pressure or breathlessness as often associated with heart issues such as angina. However, they sometimes occur with exercise or exertion, but often without, just lying around. Best way to describe them are "jabbing" pains that last only a few seconds each time. Might happen three or four times a day. The pain may be anywwhere from right under the breast to down to the bottom rib, but usually in a quite specific area (1" wide) as opposed to a larger area.
I finally reported this to my primary hep doctor. EKG was OK and both felt it probably wasn't heart related though neither could tell me what it was other than speculating possibly muscular or reflux related. I plan on getting a stress cardiogram, as I'm due anyway and probably chest x-ray.
Heart aside, my thinking also runs to either muscular or something to do with the lungs, maybe reflux related -- although I never remembered these pains when my relfux was worse than now. I've also worked out a lot over the years and don't remember anything quite like this, still it's a possiblity. Another thought is it has something to do with interferon withdrawal although I'm not positive they didn't start before I stopped treating -- really wish I kept a detailed journal.
Wondering if anyone here has had something similar either during or post treatment and if they ever got a diagnosis? Thanks.
They are not terribly painful, nor do I feel any sort of pressure or breathlessness as often associated with heart issues such as angina. However, they sometimes occur with exercise or exertion, but often without, just lying around. Best way to describe them are "jabbing" pains that last only a few seconds each time. Might happen three or four times a day. The pain may be anywwhere from right under the breast to down to the bottom rib, but usually in a quite specific area (1" wide) as opposed to a larger area.
I finally reported this to my primary hep doctor. EKG was OK and both felt it probably wasn't heart related though neither could tell me what it was other than speculating possibly muscular or reflux related. I plan on getting a stress cardiogram, as I'm due anyway and probably chest x-ray.
Heart aside, my thinking also runs to either muscular or something to do with the lungs, maybe reflux related -- although I never remembered these pains when my relfux was worse than now. I've also worked out a lot over the years and don't remember anything quite like this, still it's a possiblity. Another thought is it has something to do with interferon withdrawal although I'm not positive they didn't start before I stopped treating -- really wish I kept a detailed journal.
Wondering if anyone here has had something similar either during or post treatment and if they ever got a diagnosis? Thanks.
Man I saw this dude on our running path the other day -- 42B -- swear to God. But that's another story. As far as symptoms, all I ever had was liver(?) discomfort. Oh you know, tired, forgetful, whatever.... but I think that's just that -- at least in my case. Also, I did have the lady's flocking to me, and I think the was maybe a pherome or something that's maybe triggered by a hormone regulated by the liver. Or maybe it was my good looks and sunny disposition.
Hate to admit it, but now that you asked, I'm cutting the grass today. How 'bout you, how are getting along, my friend from down under? Had your lawn mowed lately?
Had a little reaction to a hep B vaccine last week, probably a rise in natural interferon and I was like wow -- I'm sure glad to be off the bug juice!
Take care of yourself and remember, stress is for wienies.
Hate to admit it, but now that you asked, I'm cutting the grass today. How 'bout you, how are getting along, my friend from down under? Had your lawn mowed lately?
Had a little reaction to a hep B vaccine last week, probably a rise in natural interferon and I was like wow -- I'm sure glad to be off the bug juice!
Take care of yourself and remember, stress is for wienies.
I had that sternum thing too. Discovered that I've reached an age where I need a little more support -and we ain't talking group therapy. Time to start shopping in the old lady dept?
Seriously, I did have that in the year or so leading up to tx. I also became tender in the abdomin, such that when L'il Goof would whack me it would send a shockwave of discomfort though the region. I attibuted both to that membrane thingie or whatever that surrounds the liver and can become inflamed. With your lower damage, it seems unlikely that's your situation. Get you some warm oil rubbed on there...
"...could this Costo be indicative of "
Goin's shopping today?
Seriously, I did have that in the year or so leading up to tx. I also became tender in the abdomin, such that when L'il Goof would whack me it would send a shockwave of discomfort though the region. I attibuted both to that membrane thingie or whatever that surrounds the liver and can become inflamed. With your lower damage, it seems unlikely that's your situation. Get you some warm oil rubbed on there...
"...could this Costo be indicative of "
Goin's shopping today?
aaaah, you don't need any support in that questioned *area*!!!! youre a long way from man-boobs yet! this was on the bone sweetheart, not on the boobies!!!! I guess this disease affects everyone differently...sometimes I hear of people with low damage having symptoms attributed to people with cirrhosis...
One friend of mine has that spider nev whatever you call it, a lot of seemingly cirrhotic symptoms, and he's stage 1 with good labs, so I guess the virus itself can cause some stuff in certain people...but that did give me pause...what are some of the other symptoms you had before going on the river? just wondering and if you have the time....hope youre enjoying youre new found lack of medications and taking advantage of it, kicking up your heels!
One friend of mine has that spider nev whatever you call it, a lot of seemingly cirrhotic symptoms, and he's stage 1 with good labs, so I guess the virus itself can cause some stuff in certain people...but that did give me pause...what are some of the other symptoms you had before going on the river? just wondering and if you have the time....hope youre enjoying youre new found lack of medications and taking advantage of it, kicking up your heels!
Hi, funny you should mention costochondritis, well, funny is prob the wrong word, anyway, about 6 months ago I had a tiny little what I call hep "hep flare up", not too bad or anything, I've had them before about two times, where I feel bit more fatigued then usual and a little bit sicky feeling...I guess some people manifest this disease in "flare-ups" instead of feeling bad all the time...it lasted about a month...the doc says he thinks it's tied into hormonal reactions too...anyway, I had that...the doc thinks it can be caused by viral infections...
I know you don't have any, but right dead in the middle of my boobs, the sternum bone? felt like it was a bit inflammed or something, just the slightest sorness...I had it for about 3 weeks or so, then it all went away and I haven't had it since and I feel much better now...
anyway, I do think that I could go auto-immune, in that arthritis runs on my mother's side of the family...could this Costo be indicative of someone who has an auto-immune propensity? I guess so huh? course docs can be somewhat vague and non-commital with questions like this, cause it's so hard to pin-point what exactly is going wrong at any given time...just wondering, course I'm not asking you to diagnose, but just your thoughts...thanks!
I know you don't have any, but right dead in the middle of my boobs, the sternum bone? felt like it was a bit inflammed or something, just the slightest sorness...I had it for about 3 weeks or so, then it all went away and I haven't had it since and I feel much better now...
anyway, I do think that I could go auto-immune, in that arthritis runs on my mother's side of the family...could this Costo be indicative of someone who has an auto-immune propensity? I guess so huh? course docs can be somewhat vague and non-commital with questions like this, cause it's so hard to pin-point what exactly is going wrong at any given time...just wondering, course I'm not asking you to diagnose, but just your thoughts...thanks!
You may remember that chest, rib, and upper back pains have been a regular for me since finishing tx. I have come to the conclusion that thay are something related to costochondritis.
Remember my linking several articles relating costochondritis to autoimmune disease, and also to fibromyalgia. I have experienced a sort of overall autoimmune reaction since tx (and while on tx, for that matter), and now seem to have several syndromes and sx that specifically relate to autoimmune disease.
I think the tx stirs up lots of 'connective tissue' stuff (which may or may not have formal medical names), and we often can continue to experience these problems long after tx ends, probably because the immune reactions that our bodies learned to generate very intensely, are still periodically charging up our bodies. My joints, ribs, eyes, lungs, etc. all feel very different after tx, than before. The sun also provokes very intense reactions, both to my skin, and systemically.
I do get those 'drilling' intra-rib pains frequently, and have learned to pay them little attention. Some weeks they are totally absent....other weeks they are regular, and intense.
Take note this summer whether excess exposure to the sun causes different reactions than you have had in the past, prior to tx. It may signal the development of this post-tx autoimmune syndrome. My rheumatologist, AND oral surgeon both claim to have seen many HCV post-tx (SVR) patients with this general autoimmune syndrome. They both seemed to feel that it could take some time to slowly fade, implying that it could take years, not just months. For me it has been over 2 1/2 years.
All in all, I think it is just part of the post-tx 'bag of tricks'
Best wishes to you. I know that I have been pretty 'persistent' in the past about some issues (pardon the pun), but I think we are both getting to some common ground. We both continue to test the hypotheses. We will eventually find answers.
DoubleDose
Remember my linking several articles relating costochondritis to autoimmune disease, and also to fibromyalgia. I have experienced a sort of overall autoimmune reaction since tx (and while on tx, for that matter), and now seem to have several syndromes and sx that specifically relate to autoimmune disease.
I think the tx stirs up lots of 'connective tissue' stuff (which may or may not have formal medical names), and we often can continue to experience these problems long after tx ends, probably because the immune reactions that our bodies learned to generate very intensely, are still periodically charging up our bodies. My joints, ribs, eyes, lungs, etc. all feel very different after tx, than before. The sun also provokes very intense reactions, both to my skin, and systemically.
I do get those 'drilling' intra-rib pains frequently, and have learned to pay them little attention. Some weeks they are totally absent....other weeks they are regular, and intense.
Take note this summer whether excess exposure to the sun causes different reactions than you have had in the past, prior to tx. It may signal the development of this post-tx autoimmune syndrome. My rheumatologist, AND oral surgeon both claim to have seen many HCV post-tx (SVR) patients with this general autoimmune syndrome. They both seemed to feel that it could take some time to slowly fade, implying that it could take years, not just months. For me it has been over 2 1/2 years.
All in all, I think it is just part of the post-tx 'bag of tricks'
Best wishes to you. I know that I have been pretty 'persistent' in the past about some issues (pardon the pun), but I think we are both getting to some common ground. We both continue to test the hypotheses. We will eventually find answers.
DoubleDose
Jim,
After being off meds, I have many questionable feelings. I have experienced the same pain you are speaking of & found it to be gas & very sore body. Today I had a what you would call a hang over headache-a really weird feeling. Neuropathy is my worse enemy now. Everywhere I go I try to locate the closest chair, just in case the numbness sets in. I am not sure that you caught it on a earlier post-but the Neuropathy came directly from the interferon. I am now off of all meds, so after 3 years I expect to have many strange feelings. This said, if you have had heart problems, I would definitely follow up on this. It probably won't amount to anything but just knowing will give you peace of mind. What a time you have had.
To all still taking the Ambien-Be aware the sleep walking really does happen causing problems you won't even remember. I experienced this myself. I am now trying Remeron-but it doesn't seem to help much. I don't even attempt to go to bed before 2 a.m., as I am not sleepy. I usually wake by 9 a.m. Does anyone else have this problem?
God bless, Jim, & I know he will.
Have a blessed Sunday,
Sandy
After being off meds, I have many questionable feelings. I have experienced the same pain you are speaking of & found it to be gas & very sore body. Today I had a what you would call a hang over headache-a really weird feeling. Neuropathy is my worse enemy now. Everywhere I go I try to locate the closest chair, just in case the numbness sets in. I am not sure that you caught it on a earlier post-but the Neuropathy came directly from the interferon. I am now off of all meds, so after 3 years I expect to have many strange feelings. This said, if you have had heart problems, I would definitely follow up on this. It probably won't amount to anything but just knowing will give you peace of mind. What a time you have had.
To all still taking the Ambien-Be aware the sleep walking really does happen causing problems you won't even remember. I experienced this myself. I am now trying Remeron-but it doesn't seem to help much. I don't even attempt to go to bed before 2 a.m., as I am not sleepy. I usually wake by 9 a.m. Does anyone else have this problem?
God bless, Jim, & I know he will.
Have a blessed Sunday,
Sandy
Now don't get your panties in a ruffle, it was yellow not green.
Odd i thought 'cowboy up' meant summin else, always got me excited enough to say YEE HAW, Time to get on the saddle again. But i just a country boy from the midwest so i didn't know
Odd i thought 'cowboy up' meant summin else, always got me excited enough to say YEE HAW, Time to get on the saddle again. But i just a country boy from the midwest so i didn't know
Yes, the pain can radiate up to yhe ribs and chest. I didn't even know I was that constipated till the dr said it. The med is LACTULOSE SOLUTION,USP, I didn't even know it was working and it tastes like honey, not bad. Remember a few months ago I had the same pains and ended up in the ER, thought I was having a heart attack. Hope this helps you like it helped me.
Beagle
Beagle
Thanks for the nice words. I'm almost positive I got it in 1969 which is 37 years ago. The reason I can pinpoint the date is because I had an acute attack of what was then diagnosed simply as "hepatitis" including highly elevated enzymes and other bloods, jaundice, brown urine, white stools, fatigue,etc. This was then followed by a biopsy after it became chronic.
I have never heard that if you've had it beyond 25-30 years you're unlikely to get cured. Right now I'm non-detectible six months post treatment and optimistic of a cure. I'm sure there are other here who may have had the virus over 25 years who have already achieved SVR (cure).
-- Jim
----------------
Back to the topic for a sec, I'm also speculating I may have devloped some sort of low level bronchitis or pleursy although I'm only coughing a little and the pain does not seem to come on with deep breathing. Maybe I've had this for some time and the interferon has just been masking it due to it's anti-inflammatory possiblities. Just the strangest thing, never had anything like this before, and frankly if it wasn't in the chest area I wouldn't be that concerned.
I have never heard that if you've had it beyond 25-30 years you're unlikely to get cured. Right now I'm non-detectible six months post treatment and optimistic of a cure. I'm sure there are other here who may have had the virus over 25 years who have already achieved SVR (cure).
-- Jim
----------------
Back to the topic for a sec, I'm also speculating I may have devloped some sort of low level bronchitis or pleursy although I'm only coughing a little and the pain does not seem to come on with deep breathing. Maybe I've had this for some time and the interferon has just been masking it due to it's anti-inflammatory possiblities. Just the strangest thing, never had anything like this before, and frankly if it wasn't in the chest area I wouldn't be that concerned.
I have had similiar pains, only mine were very painful at times.
I went in a for tests.
I had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, hyda scan, then full body scan, the tests always came back as unremarkable!
When I found out I had hepc everything felt like it came into some kind of order for me.
A gastro doc should probably have some answers for ya.
I feel like pdilly, I wish I had answers for you, cuz you are always so helpful to answer others
Let us know what you find out okay?
lilmoma
I went in a for tests.
I had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, hyda scan, then full body scan, the tests always came back as unremarkable!
When I found out I had hepc everything felt like it came into some kind of order for me.
A gastro doc should probably have some answers for ya.
I feel like pdilly, I wish I had answers for you, cuz you are always so helpful to answer others
Let us know what you find out okay?
lilmoma
sorry to hear about your chest pains. I also have Firbomyalgia and I get tender right below my collar bone. Good luck with the doc. visit.
I smoked for 20 years but stopped 20 years ago. I'm not around smokers but air quality isn't what it used to be.
I'm aware of Fibromyalgia but didn't think of it in relation to these pains and thank you very much for calling it to my attention. From the little I know, Fibromyalgia would be a diagonis of exclusion, in other words after other stuff such as heart, lung and muscular issues have been ruled out-- but not sure on this.
Just to clarify, these pains are not that severe and something I could easily live with, without much thought. The thing that concerns me is that whatever is causing the pains might be more serious.
-- Jim
I'm aware of Fibromyalgia but didn't think of it in relation to these pains and thank you very much for calling it to my attention. From the little I know, Fibromyalgia would be a diagonis of exclusion, in other words after other stuff such as heart, lung and muscular issues have been ruled out-- but not sure on this.
Just to clarify, these pains are not that severe and something I could easily live with, without much thought. The thing that concerns me is that whatever is causing the pains might be more serious.
-- Jim
I am looking for that one but have not found it yet. You know how it is you can't find it when you need it. Will post it when I find it.
One is digestive.middtk.nih.gov/ddiseases
One is digestive.middtk.nih.gov/ddiseases
Sentence in second paragraph should have read "I'm non-detectible six WEEKS post treatment " -- not "six months". Getting a little ahead of myself here :)
-- Jim
-- Jim
I've already seen two doctors but yes, more tests are needed. My main concern, given my cardiac history, is of course the heart, even though that's not probably it. I also had pleurisy back in the late 60's and it was EXTREMELY painful and had to take I believe Percoden to be able to sleep, plus some antibiotics if I remember correctly. Pleurisy makes sense since I've had so many infections on treatment although the pain isn't really all that bad and isn't brought on by deep breathing. Hopefully, the chest x-ray will clarify.
Hope all is well, on your post to jim are you telling us your full of s*it? :) Now if you could turn that into blood. Take care my friend
Hi lilmoma, you ok today? I've tried to be good now for two days.:):) So I'm hoping strator (POPS) will unground me. Its been a week now and i told him i wouldn't pee in the pool again. Parents what do they know?
wierd thing to try: there is a loop of the intestine that goes right up under the diaghram area, and gas gets trapped there. Next time you have the pain, lie down completely flat (no pillow) for about ten minutes relax, perhaps even massage your stomach area gently.... if it lets up immediately... wahlah...blame it on fiber...f^rt more, eat less..
Hey little momma, how did the graph work for you?? I will have new data next week.....hope you have a good weekend... mine isn't starting out to well, Uncle, mom and husband are on the way to the ER with my uncle....god, I am trying to be good, but that nasty little red Roseanne Barr on my shoulder....the one with the pitchfork? I only see my husband on the weekends,.... and now he will spend the entire day in the ER... which he hates, but what can I do? My mom called and told me my uncle had had a stroke, and they were coming to my house to stay for a while....My brained SCREAMED NO NON ONONON... AND my mouth said sure....They have been here almost two weeks now,..and I am just not up physically to spending a day in the hospital, not to mention the germ exposure, and our immune systems... Yall tell me to cowboy up and be a better person....can man, give me a swift kick in the easy target..
My pains are on the right over the liver area. I did have pains on the left side too, but decided it was gas from taking a multi-vitamin! Once I stopped the vitamin, the pains stopped. Still have more gas than ever before but am trying to adjust my diet again. It works out well...I have two boys 8 and 12 so gas is the funniest thing going around here. I hope it's as simple as that for you. Congrats on 6 weeks being clear! Good luck!
What graph?
I love your expression, "cowboy up"
I think you explained it once to mean "put your big girl panties on" gosh I love that expression, I have had to say that to myself more than once lately.
Can-do: your one of those people that turn the pool water green?? eeeeewwwwwwww!!!
lilmoma
I love your expression, "cowboy up"
I think you explained it once to mean "put your big girl panties on" gosh I love that expression, I have had to say that to myself more than once lately.
Can-do: your one of those people that turn the pool water green?? eeeeewwwwwwww!!!
lilmoma
Dyce,
Thanks for the input. Maybe I have a very low level pleurisy then since the pain is not all that painful.
BB,
Yes, I was constipated recently but it appears to have gone away when I increased my fiber content. Does constipation pain radiate all the way up to the ribs and breast? Sure, I'd be interested in whatever med you recommended to Dyce if you have it handy. Maybe the best explanation is as you say
"your whole system is out of whack". LOL.
Return,
I think you may have hit on something with the gas as I have upped the fiber content of my diet significantly since I stopped treatment, and that can often cause gas. I am taking probiotics and sometimes psyllium but maybe I'm taking too much, too soon.
Thanks for the input. Maybe I have a very low level pleurisy then since the pain is not all that painful.
BB,
Yes, I was constipated recently but it appears to have gone away when I increased my fiber content. Does constipation pain radiate all the way up to the ribs and breast? Sure, I'd be interested in whatever med you recommended to Dyce if you have it handy. Maybe the best explanation is as you say
"your whole system is out of whack". LOL.
Return,
I think you may have hit on something with the gas as I have upped the fiber content of my diet significantly since I stopped treatment, and that can often cause gas. I am taking probiotics and sometimes psyllium but maybe I'm taking too much, too soon.
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