Severe Chest Pain - Help Please!
#53170 - 03/23/04 12:17 AM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Hello all!
Well, it's almost 3:30 am and I'm still awake becuase I've got severe chest pain. I was wondering if anyone else experiences this? It doesn't feel like acid reflux and it's entirely on the left side and it just comes out of nowhere and is really severe. I keep getting waves of it that only last like 60 seconds (thank god for small miracles) and in that minute or so I'm just paralzyed. then it goes away although the area feels tender, and then boom! it comes back. I've been a bit C lately so I thought it might have something to do with that, but I don't know...
And then of course, when I get chest pain I start to panic that it's my heart and then that makes the tummy worse and around and around I go.
I know it's something I should definately be mentioning to the doctor (who I see Thursday finally) but I'm hoping someone might have some helpful suggestions or insight. I'm getting worried I'm going to have too many things to discuss with this new GI doc and he's not going to listen to it all!
Thanks,
Kelly
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Honey,if you are haveing Severe Chest Pains.I would not walk but run to the doctor,are they in your left arm too.
also gas pains can really hurt bad.an be up in your chest.
please have it look into.Gerry
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Neta G.Yale
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Do you have your gallbladder? I had severe chest pain 21 years ago and after several episodes and emergency room visits they finally tested my gallbladder. I had it removed then.
Good luck to you on Thursday. I hope you find relief and some answers to your questions.
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Kelly,
How are you today? Were you able to get any sleep at all? Oh, you poor thing, you must have been scared out of your wits! If you haven't called your Dr. already, you probably should and at least tell him about what happened. Let us know what you find out.
Terri
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Yes, I still have my gallbladder, and I intend on mentioning it to the doctor when I go...but I thought gall bladder chest pain was primarily on the right side? Can you get it on the left as well?
Kelly
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My gallbladder pain was in the middle of my chest, between and just under my breasts. It got so bad I thought I was having a heart attack and had my hubby take me to the ER at 2 am one night!! It was full of stones and was removed one week later! Do mention that to your doctor!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Kelly
#53389 - 03/23/04 11:49 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Gee, just when you were doing so much better.
I wonder if it could be gastritis. Janet has symptoms similar to yours -- I'm trying to remember everything she told me about her symptoms -- and her doctor put her on meds; she got better right away.
Thursday is day after tomorrow; I'd just "chill out" till then, and try not to panic. You know, this new GI doc might surprise us all and end up having something on the ball after all. Keep the faith...
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I hope you're feeling better. If you are having severe chest pain in the left side of your chest, PLEASE have your heart checked out! I had similar pain and it was prolonged QT interval in my heart which can cause your heart to stop! It was caused from my inhalers. Many meds can cause this! Please check it out and feel better!
Leah
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Hi Leah,
What's prolonged QT? I will absolutely mention these things to the doctor but I find my chest pain gets easily dismissed because of two things. 1 - I'm only 22 so they don't assume it could be heart trouble and 2 - I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks which can cause chest pain so I get a lot of "well it's just in your head" crap. I don't think it could be my heart, but I found your comment about medications causing problems interesting, any more info you can give me would be great.
Thanks,
Kelly
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Re: Kelly
#53419 - 03/23/04 12:41 PM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Hey Bev,
I'll keep that in mind...don't you normally have nausea with gastritis? Because thankfully I haven't been nauseaus, just in a lot of pain. I'll mention all these things to the doctor, I just hope that he's willing to spend the necessary time with me to go over everything, I hate it when they rush you out the door!
Kelly
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Don't let him do that to you! The time that he's with you is YOUR time. You pay him for that service, and damnitall, he's there to serve YOU. Grrrrr.
I just suggested to Steph in the Living Room -- make a list. Don't depend on your memory. Make a list of everything you want to discuss with him, all your questions, all your symptoms. You think you'll know what to ask -- I know -- but the MINUTE he walks through that door in his white coat, your mind will shut down, remembering only the most obvious problem -- the pain. Then he'll start with all the fancy words which will zoom past you so fast, your head will spin. Your heart will race, your face will flush, and you'll smile sweetly, hoping he doesn't notice your fear.
Can you tell I have WCS? ("White Coat Syndrome")
Make a list -- today. Sit down and write out all your symptoms. List the questions you want to ask him -- no matter how trivial -- number them, and even hand the list to him if you need to. But don't let him get away with patting you on the head and walking out.
Grrrrr.....
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Thanks Bev,
I'll try and stick to my guns! Unfortunately I don't technically "pay" for the service here in Canada...but I know what you mean, I've been waiting 3 months for this apointment and I want my time!
I have WCS too, I'm terrible. When the doctor comes in I'm all smiles and "everything is coming up roses" and then of course I don't get across what all the problems are. But darn it all, I'm determined to make this appointment worthwhile!
Kelly
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions and words of encouragement. I ended up going to a walk-in tonight because the pain got worse and got a not so nice doctor who barely examined me (poked me in the boob once and said "does that hurt?") and told me it wasn't my heart. I've had costochrondritis before (inflammation in the chest wall) and he said it's just that and gave me codeine and muscle relaxants. I guess I should be happy that he said it's nothing to worry about...but what's with these doctors? Honestly, he spent no more than two minutes in the room with me...how can he be so sure? And when he wrote the prescriptions he wouldn't even stay in the room and go over with me to make sure that they would interact with any of my other meds...god it's so frustrating!
Let's just hope my GI appointment Thursday goes better!
Kelly
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Kelly, I think the reason gallbladder problems are so hard to diagnose is because you can get pain in so many different places. I personally was experiencing pressure pain in the center of my chest. It felt like an elephant was sitting on a golf tee right between my breasts. I had 3 or 4 attacks and trips to the emergency room were useless. On the last attack I went to a different hospital and they admitted me and I had the surgery very quickly. I still suffered with indigestion when not on a seriously low fat fat for years but the intense pain was gone.
Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon.
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michele, my pain was in the same spot as yours. I also thought I was having a heart attack.
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Kelly; I hope your feeling a little better today. did the codeine and muscle relaxant help? I do know when a person goes to Emerg, I find that the Dr. kind of rush you because there is usually so many patients; and with them not knowing your background and history of med. you are on they just prescribe something to get you thru until you see your own Dr. This is speaking with experience. Hoping your won Dr. tomorrow will give you a thorough examine to rule out anything else!! Take care of yourself . Sue
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yeah, i've heard of costochrondritis. i think it's sometimes associated with fibromyalgia which i have. good luck with it and hope you're feeling better today.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hi Kelly. Well, I started having heart problems at age 26. Prolonged QT is when a wave in your heartbeat is prolonged. Sometimes the symtoms are fainting or near fainting, and pain like a heart attack. I had all the symptoms and my school nurse took me to the ER. They dismissed my symptoms as well until I told them that I had rapid heart beat and they reluctantly ran an EKG. They were shocked at what they saw and so I was in the cardiologist's office the next day. He ran more tests and said it was from meds. Protonix and any anti-spasmodics (like Levsin) can cause Prolonged QT. I am not sure what you have, but don;t let them brush off the heart stuff because of your age. Demand an EKG so you can rule heart prob's out.
Leah
p.s. I have anxiety issues as well, but I have never had severe chest pain with it.
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Hey Suzy,
Thanks for the kind words  Yes, I am feeling a bit better today, the pills helped a little but I was pretty out of it last night!
Kelly
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Hey LauraSue
#53994 - 03/24/04 07:28 PM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Thanks for the good wishes. Have you found anything to be particularily helpful with your fibro? I get annoyed because the costochondritis keesp recurring, and there doesn't seem to be anything that really helps. Even heat/pain meds can't calm it down when it's really bad 
Take care,
Kelly
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You should fax or email your list to the doctor prior to your visit and specifically state that you would like to discuss these items. That way the Dr. can, if he/she chooses, to priortize, review and study up on your symptoms b4 you get there. Plus you won't suprise him with your constellation of symptoms. Many Dr's. encourage doing that rather than getting offended by it. You won't know till you try. My doc was amazed that I took the time to do that and really appreciates it. She always has the list at my visit and places it in my file when we're through. I prepare such a list prior to every visit with that doc. Good luck and I hope you get a good doctor.
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Kelly,
My fibro meds are Ultracet (tramadol plus acetominiphen) to reduce the pain to an ignorable level, Elavil to help me sleep, and Xanax for general anxiety. Regular mild exercise is also essential for me. But really, nothing helps completely, unfortunately.
Good luck and let me know how things go.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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