Dull chest pain for past 24 hrs

[vp94]

I am a 21 yr old female and am a healthy weight for my size. For the past 24 hrs I've been experiencing dull chest pain, which is usually mild to moderate and seems to be mainly on my left at and above my breast but it extends to the other side. For the last few months, I've often noticed heart palpitations, esp when I'm laying down, where my heart seems like it beats really fast for a minute or so and then slows down. I had a heart murmur when I was little but I got an EKG when I was 8 or so and it was deemed innocent. Other than that, I've never had any other problems with my heart and normally my blood pressure and heart rate have been in the low range of healthy.

For the past month, I've also experienced some mild joint pain (ankles and wrists mainly) and fatigue (I used to be able to easily run on less than 8 hrs sleep but now I feel tired even after 10). My seasonal allergies and asthma are also a lot worse this yr than the last few.

When I was younger I got canker sores, bronchitis, and strep throat a lot but I've been pretty healthy in recent yrs until now. I've had mono so I know it's not that and the blood work I recently got showed that I am not anemic and my thyroid is healthy. I got more blood work the other day to test for auto immune disease but that has yet to come back and now with this chest pain I'm scared it's something with my heart but I really don't know.

Meds I take are cefadroxil (for acne), 20mg prozac (for GAD), singulair (asthma/allergies), 110 flovent inhaler, and proair as needed. Also, I am allergic to penicillin.

[CFS56]

I was thinking the same as Tom.  Lyme disease can cause all or most of your symptoms and you may not even be aware of the tick bite.  If they haven't already checked you for that I would request that they do. I was diagnosed with it 20 years ago and have never been sicker in my life.

[tom_h]

Did they check for Lyme disease?  You can pick up ticks just working in the garden. Darn things are a scourge.....

[vp94]

I'm still experiencing the chest pain though it hasn't got any worse. It's difficult to get a read on my heart speed when I experience the palpitations because it jumps around a lot, sometimes one beat a second, sometimes two.

I got the blood work back and I do not have an auto immune disease (no sign of rheumatoid factor or inflammation). I'm not much of a caffeine drinker- sometimes I drink tea (usually green) but not more than one cup a day. I looked up licorice and anise and it doesn't seem like I've had anything containing either of those recently. My digestion has been fine.

As for the allergy meds, I've been taking the lowest dose of singulair for the past 10 yrs and haven't had any issues in the past. I was on symbicort briefly about half a yr ago but made me really shaky and my heart rate was over 100 bpm (normally it's been 65), so I was switched to flovent which doesn't have the beta agonist and the issue went away. I haven't taken my albuterol (proair) in about a week.

[MichelleP_3811]

Glad to hear you are getting checked for auto immunity issues.  When you say your heart speeds up have you checked how fast?  If you can see if you can note the speed it is.  Some of the meds you are taking can affect the heart especially the allergy meds.  Caffeine as the previous poster mentioned is also a big trigger as well stress and anxiety.  Stomach issues too.  In any event, I would push to see a cardiologist just to make sure all is healthy with the heart.  Odds are something outside the heart is adding stress to it but best to get it checked out and know for sure the heart is structurally fine.  Best of luck sorting it all out and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[YoYme]

I had some pretty severe arrhythmia 2010-2013, and I still get occasional episodes.  I can tell you my symptoms are pretty similar to yours although I often feel it more between my shoulders blades, but also above the left breast.  Interestingly, I also had a lot of strep throat and canker sores as a kid, and prozac for a while.  I don't know if that's relevant or not.

Anyway, I found out that a major trigger of my palpitations was anything containing licorice or anise.  I did some research, and there is something contained in them which is known to cause arrhythmia.  I found out that it is a common natural flavoring found in flavored coffees and other items which I was consuming a lot.  I was also getting too much caffeine at the time.  I cut way back on caffeine, avoided anything with licorice or anise, and even unidentified "natural flavors".  I started taking supplements to strengthen my heart and circulation, such as vitamin D and magnesium.  I have been free of serious episodes for 2 years now, and when I have had them, they can usually be traced back to caffeine consumption creeping up and flavorings.

At their worst, it got so bad that my vision dimmed and my extremities were cold to the touch!  I hope you don't let yours get that bad; my best wishes are for your success in fighting this.