Chest Pain comes and goes.

[Shazu]

For the past 6 months, I have had pain in my chest that comes and goes.  It is mostly on the left side of my chest, near the center.  I went to the doctor 3 times.  The first time he did an EKG and a chest x-ray, and did not find any problems.  He said it wes probably heartburn.
The second time I went, I also had some pain in my back, between my spine and shoulder blade, on the left side.  A different doctor there said that I had a pinched nerve and that the pain was radiating into my chest.
When the back pain went away but the chest pain came back, I went a third time to a different doctor in the same office.  She could not find any reason for my pain, did not do any tests but did a quick breast exam.  She did not feel anything out of the ordinary, but when she pressed on by breast it hurt.  This was a day before my period started.  She said maybe it was a pulled muscle.
The pain sometimes feels like it is in the front part of my chest, sometimes my breast hurts also.  My breasts look fine, aside from a small area on the left nipple that seems to be a bit puffy.  I feel better when I lay down, but when I get up I have pain like you feel when you have an injury and you get up from resting.  I have not had any chest trauma.
Could this be merely heartburn?  A pulled muscle?  Or something in my breast?  I have not seen my ob/gyn yet, I am going to call today.

[Shazu]

I wanted to add that the pain is in the upper part of the left side of my chest, near the center of my body, and sometimes the right side of my left breast.

[jackiemoo]

I am so sorry that this is happening to you. I know how scary chest pain can be. Unfortunatley if could be a number of things, mostly not serious, that can be impossible to narrow down. It could be the way your bones are, a pulled muscle, or maybe even hormones. Rest assured that if your heart rate is good, your blood pressure is good and the EKG showed nothing that your heart is most likely just fine. I wouldn't worry about your breast as it is normal for them to be sore before your period starts. How old are you? Have you had a mamogram yet? If you are 30 or over, request one and this should put your mind at ease.

This could also be something that is in your lungs. Do you smoke? It wouldn't be a bad idea to go see a chiropratctor as well. This could be as simple as a misalignment in your bones.

Good luick to you.

[sparkeler]

It can also be anxiety.  It manifests itself in numerous ways.  Did the doctor mention throw that out there?  I experience it even when I'm not stressed.

[Aruba417]

I've had this exact symptom. The doctors did every test in the book and said there's no reason for my pain. But my psychiatrist said that it could be something like a nervous tick (or whatever it's called). I have anxiety and panic attacks. I've had numerous other symptoms as well that scared me into believing it was a heart problem. But everything checked out fine. I also got the "it could be heart burn, could be pinched nerve, could be pulled muscle". I'm sorry you're going through this, but it's comforting to me that someone else is describing the same exact thing as me and I know I'm not going crazy. I've been taking anti-anxiety meds which have helped with most of the other symptoms, but this one seems to linger. It comes and goes. Most days I feel normal, and then others I get the weird pain. It doesn't really scare me any more. I've just learned to deal with it because there's really nothing else the doctors can or will do about it except shrug it off as anxiety. So I've pretty much accepted that that's what it is. Good luck!

[mom@homenow]

Well I'm glad this post was started because others chimed in and it's nice to know I'm not alone with anxiety causing chest pains. It happens to me for weeks at a time every few years or so.

Sparkeler & Aruba, do you ever get heart palpatations for no apparent reason? Even when I think I'm under no stress I'll have evenings when suddenly I feel my heart pounding, not necessarily too fast but loud or forceful. Especially if I'm trying to fall asleep it can make me so worried there's something wrong- and then it does start beating fast! Sometimes I even have to get up and walk around to calm down. Anyone else have this?

[Shazu]

Hi,
Thanks for all of the replies!  I thought I was going crazy.  One of the doctors asked me if I suffered from depression, which I don't, but I did notice that If I get upset it gets worse.  when I am resting, it goes away.  You all have been very helpful.
To answer one of the replies, I am 33 and do not smoke.

[sparkeler]

I had a couple of really bad anxiety attacks.  My heart started pounding, I couldn't breathe, I got light headed and my whole body started to tingle.  I thought it was a heart attack. (Last one happened at 22, I'm 25 now.) I was so scared.  Usually, I don't hear my heart beat.  Sometimes I can feel it. When I'm worried or upset, my chest starts to really tighten and hurt.  I'm on lexapro and take xanax when needed.  The xanax definatly helps with the chest pains.

[Aruba417]

You know, even though they say the Xanax doesn't stay in your system, I tend to think it does. Especially because I notice the dreaming, too on nights that I DON'T take it as well as nights that I do. But usually it's when I'm taking it a few times a week, as opposed to a few times a month, which is now how I usually am. It's pretty controlled right now, thank God.

Yeah, I've always worried since I was little, too. I remember if my mom or dad was late coming home from work, I would sit in my room and look out the window, crying and praying that they weren't in a car accident or something!!! How crazy is THAT?! Kids shouldn't think like that. I'm not like that anymore as far as on a concious level...now it's mainly the physical symptoms that make me start worrying. I mean, I have bills and family with health issues and the normal everyday life stresses, and that doesn't really bother me conciously. But somewhere inside it must. If you ask me how my life is, I can honestly say it's great and I don't dwell on anything. But once the physical symptoms start, I'm like, "oh my God, it's a heart problem, I'm going to die, there's something wrong with me, etc."

[sparkeler]

OMG I did that too as a little kid.  I was actually going to post that, but I thought it was a little nuts.  If one or both of my parents were out late, I would sneak out of bed, look out the window, cry, and pray they were safe.  I would sit there staring out the window until they got home.  I even went as far as dialing 911 behind my fathers back b/c I was convinced my mother wasn't coming home.  Yea, I dont know many kids who were like that.  I now have replaced my "kid" anxiety with "adult" anxiety.  I'm a little more rational.  But  I have to work hard at keep it under control.  It does affect me physically though.  That's when my chest starts to hurt.

[Aruba417]

That freakin sucks, we were both nutty kids! ha ha! At least I don't feel so stupid now knowing that there were other kids out there that thought the same way. Anxiety runs in my family bad. On both sides, so I was prone to be doomed I guess!

[Aruba417]

Yeah, I go through these "relapses" where I'll have a period of time where they happen a LOT, sometimes all day long. Then I'll go through a period of time when I only get like one or two in a month. Sometimes never during a month. It's really weird.

I take Effexor, and Xanax only when needed. Sparkler, you're right...the Xanax REALLY helps. Do you dream a lot when  you take the Xanax? I think I've finally put two and two together. I go through these periods where I dream constantly, all night, and it really bugs me because I feel like my brain can never rest. And I'm starting to wonder if it has to do with the nights I take Xanax. I haven't had the urge to take a Xanax at night in about a month, so I haven't noticed any dream-filled nights.

[sparkeler]

I have been dreaming alot lately.  But I didn't take the xanax last night and I was having some crazy dreams.  I like to take it at night when I come home from work. Then I shower, watch t.v., and just sit in my own world for a few hours.  I don't do it every night (3 times a week), but my mind never stops racing.  (I wont take it during the day, and I wont, only if it gets really bad.)  I constantly obsess and worry over everyhting.  I exercise, take lexapro, have done a lot of counseling.  But I always worry, ever since I was a little girl. It's something I know has been apart of me since I was born.  My parents told me they could never leave me anywhere, even as a little baby, because I would hyperventilate until I was in their arms again.  I recognize feeling this way too as early as 4 years old.  Anyway,  I love the xanax because, if only for those few hours, my mind just doesn't stress and I'm able to enjoy the peace.

[mom@homenow]

So nice to know I'm not alone! My anxieties were different when I was a kid but I had them. Depression too. I've actually been better as an adult and since my late 20's (10 yrs ago), it's been very intermittent and I haven't needed any treatment. When I do get really stressed, though, it's always my heart that bothers me- I always figured because I have a murmur (real not imagined, lol) with mitral valve prolapse. Not a big deal for now but my dad has had problems and he will soon have his mitral valve replaced. I've been thinking lately about him and my husband's health isn't good so I worry about him too. During the day I'm fine, but as soon as I lie down to sleep my heart pounds, even if I'm not conciously thinking about anything stressful. I've thought of trying a sleep aid, I may ask for one at my physical in December. Never tried one before & I don't think I'd need it often but it sure would be nice once in a while!

[mom@homenow]

Above was intended for you as well, your name was chopped off the 'comment to' section! (happens a lot it seems, cant figure out why sometimes it does sometimes it doesn't)

[JoAnnaRF]

I have had them since in my early 20's. Try cutting out anything brown from your diet. I know it sucks, but no chocolate, no tea, no coffee, no tobacco, no Coke etc.. Caffine tends to bring them on and my Cardiologist told me to follow the Brown Rule when I am having difficult times with them.
Just a suggestion but it does work. I have, over the years, found that I'd rather suffer the stress of having the palpations and enjoy my coffee and chocolate, after I figured out that the heart flutterings and poundings wasn't going to kill me on the spot.LOL But they do freak you out when they first start.. Also the Mitral Valve Prolapse can cause these symptoms.. Even then I believe the Brown Rule applies but you can ask your Doc.
I doubt this was much help, but I try.LOL
--J

[mom@homenow]

Hi, Thanks for your input. A doctor once did tell me caffeine could cause them, but I can't stay away from it either. I don't drink as much coffee as I did at one time but you'd have to lock me up and take away my car keys to keep me away from chocolate! Another doc told me that antihistamines and other meds can cause palpatations, and I have allergies so I do take Zyrtec some days & I haven't charted to see if there's a correlation. I can't stop taking it, I wouldn't sleep any better if my nose was running & my eyes were itchy! I hadn't thought about the mitral valve causing it, no one ever told me that but it makes sense, thanks for that info. I guess with all these triggers I just will continue to deal with it. When it bothers me I try to calm myself by thinking that the good news is I know it's beating, which is better than the alternative...

[JoAnnaRF]

Glad I was able to help.. There is one other thing that may sound strange but it helped me. Like I said, initially, every single time my heart would start that fluttering stuff, as if it was out of wack, it would really scare me, the fear caused the adrenaline to start flowing which only adds fuel to the fire. So I would go and stick my head into a sink filled with ice water. The SHOCK of it gave my heart a bit of a jolt which would regulate the beat. Like I said, I know it sounds wierd, but it did work a lot of the time.
It also helps just knowing that you are not alone. That many women have the same problem and carry on normal lives.
You are SO not alone.
--J

[VangiePangie]

I have the same problem right now and have had it before.  I went to the hospital for it a few years ago.  The pain was about an inch to the left of the center of my chest.  It would throb slowly a few times, then stop.  This time it just gives a sharp stab every 3 to 5 minutes, then stops.  They gave me a blood test for chronic inflammation, which can cause pains with this type of repetitious behavior. You might want to get a blood test to find out if thats what you have.  That turned out to be the cause of my chest pains.  Inflammation can cause a lot of weird health issues.  It's good to know if you have it.

[PAULA JEAN]

Hi I would like to ask a question if i may i also have been having some weired fillings in my upper left part of my chest and i to have been on zoloft but my real question is if im on meds why do i still have pannic attacts and things like that i am being treated for anxiety please help me with an answer

[wrrdazhll]

ok i have somewhat similqar symptoms though the pain is not only inthe center and in my left breat but in my right one too. I have been going through a roucgh time lately so what you say of heartburn and anxiety can be what is happening ot me also. The thing is that my heartbeat is very fast and im scared of heart attacks.. However im only 15 years old so i dont know what this can be. Please, oif you can help me ill be holding my breath till you answer!

[macmul]

There are literally thousands of us out in this big wide scary world of ours that suffer from the "I think I'm having a heart attack" syndrome. Fear is the strangest manipulator of bodily expression I have come across. Since 1995 I have been suffering from those dreaded and feared anxiety attacks that all of a sudden explode into full blow panic attacks... you know, the ones where you heart beats like the heart in the film "The Mask"! Boing!, Boing, it springs in and out of your chest so far you just know everyone around you can see you having an abnormal heart rhythm as their eyes see your exploding heart 3 meters in front of your chest. But the thing is, they can't really see that at all. Your fear has gripped you so tight the only way someone can know you are having a health crisis is by saying to them "I think I'm having a heart attack!" These chronic episodes of fear, ...fear of having it happen again, fear of facing issues that stress you out, fear of heights, fear of the unknown, fear of getting out of the house, fear of spiders, fears of being bashed in the street, any fear at all can have devastating effects on your body and it is manifested by your body shaking, hot or cold sweats, heart pounding, dizziness, chest pain, unreality around you - a sort of feeling you are not on the same planet as those around you, muscle spasms, crying uncontrollably, weakness as if you can't stand or make your way to seat to sit down, it is all debilitating and very very scary and oh so real!. If in any doubt at all get yourself off to your doctor or even an ambulance if you are really unsure about any of your symptoms, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Once you have been told a number of times that it is panic/anxiety you now have to stop fearing it attacking you again, either later today, or tomorrow, or next week, because if you don't clonk that on the head now, your fear will trigger another attack for sure. So I suggest when you feel you are having an attack, simply talk to it. It is only an "IT" remember that. "IT" won't kill you and even though you feel out-of-control you won't end up a mangled wreck and a total write-off at the end of it. Once you start to recognize it as something that can't really kill you then you are on your way to scaring the very thing that scares you, away. Deal with "IT" in a positive manner talk to it, go on... say hello to "IT" if it comes at you again, ask how it's going!, then make sure anxiety and panic know where the door is so they can make their hasty retreat through it because they'll now realize you are no longer scared of them popping in. There's a great little book out about "IT" I can't remember or find the exact title but just ask your doctor or specialist or book store who may just be able to locate a copy for you. I don't get them like I used to and when I do they are usually gone within a couple of minutes and I'm getting on with things as normal again. Good luck everyone... worth trying you know you've only got anxiety and panic to lose! Give it a try, May your force be with you!.

[LoopyLes]

Well i am glad to hear i'm not alone in this world, the words are taken right out of my mouth!i really like this forum to relate to and as well seek advice lets stay strong people!
Last night i went to the hospital and had a chest x-ray and an ekg done it was PERFECT but still my anxiety managed to find something else wrong with me it suddenly went to being about my heart to today my breast i guess we just have to live and play the hand we're given! i take panic attacks holy **** there scary!!!!!~but i'm managing to cope it out, i just hate that my mind always figures to find something wrong with me and it seems i manifest symptoms up in my head especially if i google things i read them and boom their there, well i gotta give my lil guy a bath so Chaio 4 now!

[mady01]

Loopyles, i understand what you are feeling about anxiety thinking their is always something wrong.....your not alone me too ,well i have ben to ER years ago many times palps and anxiety if it wasn't heart it was hyperventating ........so now for weeks i keep feeling my stomach thinking something bad is wrong ,when i look it up i find scary things ,i get panic attacks and it is ruining my life in suffer ocd ,but fear taking paxil side effects i do take xanax and beta blocker ...i'm glad your tests came out good ,i think reasuurance is helpful,i get scared anymore tell docter ....lol i'm stuck in FEAR big time ,hope your doing okay ,nice not feel alone to share with others .....mady

[tmack1201]

I have been reading all of the postings and I too am glad that I am not alone!!  I have been having chest pain, pain in my back, tingling in my arms, and I TOO have been tested over the last year for just about everyting.  I am getting to the point that I believe my doctor and husband think that I am nuts.

Anyone have any advice??  I have been freaked out about dying from a heart attack ever since my early 20's and now especially since my daughter was born.  My uncle died at the age of 28 from a massive heart attack.

Definitely has me freaked!!!

[kayleemay]

here is a link to a website i think you would find helpful, i had something similar and came across this article. there are also links to other disorders that share common characteristics, hope it helps!

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costochondritis/article_em.htm