Posted this in other sections as well. Any ideas?

[Crewchief67t]

Hi,  I am 32 yo male.  I have posted here before.  I am still a bit scared.  This has been going on for a little over 4 months now.  I do smoke a littlen no drinking and have very good cholestorol levels,    Started with some racing heart one night.  Next day i didnt feel well.  Abdominal pains all over.  Was prescribed some aciphex for acid reflux.  Didnt really help.  Two days later went to er because i was having chest pains. Did a EKG, bloodwork, chest xray.  I have had a total of 7 or 8 ekgs and bloodwork, chest xrays at er and all were fine.  They said Gerd and anxiety. I have been to the er 5 times for chest pain,  everything was normal.  Treadmill stress test, endoscopy, Mri of c-spine, coronary calcium screening (scored 0).  Numerous bloodworks, xrays, Ct scan of abdomen and pelvis. I was diagnosed with esophogitis and diverticulosis, some mild bulging of c-spine disks at c3,c4,c5.  Doc says no nerve impengment.  All were normal besides a few small issues that i probably would have never found out about without these tests.  The pains i have had are usually very localized.  They never travel from chest to jaw or chest to arm or such.  They are usually sharp or a throbbing pain.  usually lasting only a few seconds at a time or sometime for a few mins.  But they do come back many times everyday.  Forgot to mention BP at the start of this was very hi.  Probably due to anxiety.  Now i have totally changed my lifestyle.  Healthy food choices, no caffiene at all,  low sodium diet.  regular long brisk walks.

I have had chest, neck, arms, hands, legs, headaches, finger pains, jaw, toothaches, bottom of feet.  I do admit at the beginning and up until a month ago or so i was having serious anxiety issues with all of this.  I have probably been to the multiple dr. visits 30 or so times in 4 months.  

The last serious anxiety attack i had was one month ago.  I started feeling kind of weird so i sat down and didnt feel quite right so i stood up and walked away.  My heart started racing super fast.  My left arm went numb and had some tunnel vision for a few secs.   My boss called 911.  by the time they got there i felt better.  My HR and BP were down and the numbness went away.  Since then i have felt mentally fine but am still having all the pains i have described.

I dont feel anxious anymore but still have the pains.  I usually dont have anypains when i am busy.  Usually when i am less busy i have these.  I can go out and pushmow the yard when its 100 degrees out and be totally pain free.  But when i take a break and sit down within a while my pains will reapppear.    

I am currently on xanax, nexium 2xday, and some BP meds.  Seen a counselor a couple of weeks ago but do not get to see a real therapist until end of september.  I really dont think this is anxiety but i guess that is part of the process?

I have had very few answers on this.  Other than anxiety.

[Crewchief67t]

Just wanted to update you.  Had a CTA done last week.  Once again this test is normal also.  The Cardio doc started me on some cholestorol lowering drugs now.  All my levels are in the "normal" levels.  He wants them better.  Then back for another cholestorol check in 6 weeks.  I didnt get a chance to get the nuke stress test done yet.  Since my CTA he hasnt mentioned it.  I may have it done anyways in a few weeks.  

I am still in frequent pain.  I just wish i could get this figured out.  It is very nerve racking.  I think about it almost ALWAYS!!!  

Thanks!

[SassyLassie]

I feel pretty sure it is safe to say your pains are NOT heart related. Actually, it is good that you had pain during the test, had it been SOMETHING it would surely have shown up, in others words, caught in the act. I am so glad your results are all coming back good, I knew they would. :-)

Keep me posted.
Susie

[Crewchief67t]

Hi,  Just wanted to let you know that my Echo and Corotid doppler came back good.  Had a CT angiogram today and should have those results back soon.  I was having the pains i have described in my initial post while having those tests along with the EKG and still came back normal.  Is it safe to assume this is not heart related?  I Am getting more convinced everyday.   I will give rest of results when i get them.  He still wants a Thillium Stress test so i will do that soon.

Thanks
Mike

[SassyLassie]

Please keep me posted on the outcome of the tests, I am sure they will be fine. You are fortunate to have a doctor who cares that you are worried, so many don't and they won't even let you have tests.

You are very welcome, any way I can help, I am always happy to, it is a privilege to be able to help others.
Susie

[Crewchief67t]

Thanks once again!  I had another EKG today along with a Echo and Coratid Doppler ultrasound.  Cardio doc says all is fine.  He still wants further testing.  I believe because I am soo worried over this.  Wants to do a Nuke Stress test and CT angiogram.  He already said probably wont find anything.  He just told me to keep an eye on my BP and Cholestorol.  I do that anyways.  I really feel now that my pains are more than likely either anxiety or my spine issues.  

Thanks for the support and kind words.  They are always comforting.

Thanks
Mike

[Crewchief67t]

I have had ultrasound of gall bladder, pancreas, kidneys, liver, spleen, they all looked fine.  Thats what the doc said anyways.

Thanks

[mevan54]

I have been through some of the same situations. After have my hear tested several times and two years later they found that I had to have my Galbladder taken out! I had 4 huge gal stones 1.5 cm each and one of them was stuck in my bile duct, which was causing my sever chest pain. I was told my Galbladder was so sick they could not do the surgery right away. I had to receive antibiotics two days before and after. so i had a 5 day hospital stay. Which should have been an out patient surgery and back to work in 3 day's, it did not happen that way. I missed 3 weeks of work and now that i am back and am having other problems. Maybe you should ask you Doctors to do an ultrasound of your gallbladder to see if you have stones.?

[SassyLassie]

I understand your concerns, I worry all the time about my heart, no matter how many docs say I am fine, I STILL worry. So, after you get all the assurance you feel you need, then maybe see a chiro, I know one will be able to help. Yes, an orthopedic doc might help too, so might an osteopath, both are good choices.

Good luck.

[Crewchief67t]

I appreciate the time you took to read my very long posts.  This has been driving me absolutly mad!  Lots of symptoms.  Few answers.  My mom has been telling me for the last 4 months to see a chriopractor and now my wife is suggesting the same thing.  For some reason i am still stuck on the heart attack like symptoms even though it has been ruled out by my docs.  That is probably why i havent gone to see a chiropractor yet.  I was thinking a orthopedic doc first maybe.  But i havent decided yet.  

I have one more Cardio appt tomarrow for one more bit of reassurance i guess.

Thanks alot!

[SassyLassie]

I think I would believe the physical therapist, they are trained in these areas.

Having the anxiety that you mention does not help the pain either, it keeps you in an "uptight" mode all the time, and this can definitely cause pain.

Have you ever thought about seeing a chiropractor. I have a great one, he prescribed an MRI for me, which showed a lot of bulging disc's and such, we feel this is the major reason for my upper back spasms and rib pain. I get treatments twice weekly and they really help, they also usually will work with you PT.

[Crewchief67t]

Ok,  I have the offical report from my MRI i had done two weeks ago.  This is of my C-spine only.  

report says:

An area of fluid signal is present within the c5 vertebral body likey represent a benign hemangioma with slight fatty replacement suggested.  The vertebral bodies are otherwise normal in height and alignment.  The spinal canal appears slightly congenially, ap diameter from 1.1cm to 1.3cm greatest at the c6/c7 level, otherwise normal in single appearance whti the spinal cord normal in caliber and appearance. The craniocervial junction appears normal. Minimal facet degenerative changes are suggested.  Very minimal disk bulge is present to the left lateral aspect at c3/c4, minimally to the right at c5/c6 and very slightly bilaterally at c4/c5 level.  This mildly narrows the neural foramina without nerve root abutment.  No focal disk herniation is identified.  Disk spaces are otherwise unremarkable.


My doc says this is NOT causing my pain.  My Physical therapist says it is.  (more than likely anyways).  He is very confident on this.  He explained that mri's are taken laying flat and not when you are in abnormal body positions. and mri may not show everything when laying flat on back during mri.

Who should i believe?  My doc is the one who referred me to PT about 2 months ago and doc is the one who ordered mri of c-spine.  This is really confusing to me and VERY frustrating.  

Thanks