Chest Pains?

[jmjm530]

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.

[can-do-man]

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

[Mister beagle bailey]

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

[jmjm530]

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.

[lilmoma]

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

[doglover28]

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.

[jmjm530]

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