Costochrondritis and chest pain

[Dreamsofus]

If you were diagnosed with costochrondritis were you ever referred to just check out your heart etc to exclude possible issues? I’ve seen that some people have had a chest X-ray and ECG.

I was diagnosed with it a few months ago and now on my third bout of it. The chest pain just worries so much- what if it’s a tumour, a heart problem that’s not a heart attack etc? I was only told to take painkillers.

Last night I was worrying and I used the Oximeter that the NHS sent us when we had Covid and my oxygen levels are usually 98-99 but last night and this morning they are hovering around 95-96, for a few seconds it was 93.

I’m going to call the GP anyway but I wonder if I’ll be fobbed off.

costochrondritis is linked to anxiety, I know because I had it when I was going through a very difficult time a few years ago and it is incredibly painful. I had no further investigations.

You need stretching exercises and to be aware of how you sit and stand to improve posture. What I decided when I had a flare up was well this is bloody painful but it’s the same pain I had before and I’m still alive.

Mine was top left the ridge above my left breast and in the middle, basically that’s a classic pattern as it follows the cartilage.

@Adversity thanks for your message. Having this chest pain is making me feel anxious! Last night I was too frightened to go to sleep in case I didn’t wake up again. The GP didn’t say anything about exercises so I’ll need to look into that.

Years ago I had chest pain for a couple of weeks but when I saw the GP he said it was stress and that ‘something bad would have happened by now’ if it was caused by a heart attack, so I’ve tried to keep that in mind.

I was (mis)diagnosed with costochondritis which was actually a hiatus hernia / acid reflux.
I got medicine and made lifestyle changes which mean that it's not a problem for me now.

I guess your GP is better than mine was but could that be something to explore?
Hope you get sorted OP