Unrecognized pressure within upper chest

[mcdee708]

Pressure(sensation), not pain, in upper chest appeared 3 days ago:  1 March. I  will be 90-years-old  in September; a military veteran, and I cannot diagnose why I am experiencing pressure in my chest? I have pressed every inch on my chest without finding any pain. The sensation is around my right breast nipple near my armpit.

I recall I had similar sensation in chest about 10 years ago that disappeared without explanation. I only experience sensation when I yawn and breathe deeply. No physical activity affects the sensation, and sleeping and eating do nothing towards removing sensation.

I have maintained the approximate body weight of 185-195 pounds all my adult life. I expect various things to happen to me as I age. Four years ago, I noticed for the first time of muscle-loss in underarms near armpits. In 2023, I felt a strange sensation in my body but could not discover what had happened. Exiting my morning shower, I discovered my buttocks had dropped about 5 inches. I now have one, ugly winkle for a buttocks that my clothes do not properly fit.

I accept whatever may happen to me at my age, and I deduce the chest sensation may just be old-age speaking to me! I have never yet experienced heart troubles. I do not think I need to visit the Houston VA Medical Center ER?

Any suggestions what has caused the sensation in my upper chest will be appreciated.

Lowry H McDaniel

[Ken_PA]

Hello, Lowry. You seem to be quite an extraordinary individual. How about if I try to bounce some ideas off you?

I'm thinking this pressure sensation is internal, it's not on the surface, is that correct?

So let's assume for now that it's in the airway. Here's the line of thinking:

what are possible causes of right bronchi (airway) *FOCAL* obstruction, pressure not pain, sudden onset, 90 years old, no comorbidities (accompanying illnesses).

Regardless, an ER would first almost certainly do an EKG to rule out some unusual heart problem. It's not likely your heart, but they have to do that. They'd also perhaps have to rule out a Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot in the lung), even though you don't have typical symptoms of a PE, such as pain and difficulty breathing which gets worse with physical activity. They'd do a blood test called D-Dimer. For a PE, they'd also do a scan, such as a chest CT.

I think that getting that scan is your best bet. They'll also likely ask you if you possibly inhaled anything, like a bug. You would have mentioned that here if you did, but they have to ask.

Since it's focal, it's not likely an infection or allergy reaction, since those wouldn't likely produce an effect in just one focal spot. But still, an infection can sometimes produce a "mucus plug" in one spot. They have to make sure you don't develop pneumonia. They'll do a CBC blood test, testing for infection.

It's not likely a tumor since this is sudden onset. Plus, you had something similar those many years ago - and a tumor wouldn't likely just have disappeared, and now come back.

Bronchospasm (spasm in the smooth muscle surrounding an airway) wouldn't typically last for days, but sometimes it can.

There can be a collapse in one small spot in a lung.

So, they need a scan to see what they can see. I think you should go to the ER mainly to get the scan.

[SassyLassie]

Hello. First, thank you for your service.

Regarding the pain, even though you have never had any heart issues, I always feel for any type of chest pain, a visit to your physician is needed to rule out anything serious. Other causes could possibly be that you pulled a muscle by lifting something heavier than normal, you may have turned the wrong way, or, it could even be a misplaced vertebrae. Perhaps seeing a chiropractor might be of some benefit, he/she will take x-rays of your spine, study them, then go over the results. Sometimes a few treatments is all it takes to get rid of pain.