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Original poster

Chest pain… Somebody help

37 replies

Mumof2boysxz · 07/05/2023 18:58

Hello all. I am a regular lurker but this is my 1st post here and it took me a lot to do this.

I am a mum to 2 boys (a 6 year old and a 8 month old).

Since December of last year, I have been struggling with the most horrific chest pains. The pain can vary from pressure, stabbing pain, shooting pain, dull aching pain, burning pain and squeezing sensations. The pain also radiates into my back and shoulders - they are incredibly tight, sore, and hurt to touch.

I have been to a&e twice this year with the chest pain. At one point I was in the back of the taxi with severe chest pain, in absolute tears because I thought I was dying. This has consumed my life and I’m utterly obsessed with the thought I’m going to have a heart attack.

I have had 2 ECGs and 2 lots of blood tests and everything has came back as normal. I have had Omeprazole in case of GERD and this did not help at all, and it doesn’t feel anything like heartburn or stomach issues.

i have been to my GP who keeps telling me to go to a&e if the pain continues - But the pain is all day, every day and if that was the case, I’d live at the hospital. They have however, concluded I have high anxiety levels. I have been referred to a cardiologist for next week, but I’m not sure if this was just to put my mind at ease.

Other than this, I have extreme fatigue, sometimes pins and needles in the limbs, weak arms and so on.

For context, I am 25 years old. I have no family history of heart issues at a young age. I quit smoking a year ago, drink on very rare occasion and have never touched illegal drugs in my life. My diet isn’t the best and I’m slightly overweight, but I have gained weight since being pregnant and, similar to my last pregnancy, remained chunky afterwards, but in no means obese.

I am utterly obsessed with heart attacks and keep convincing myself I’m going to have one. I have tried anti depressants but they made me worse to the point I couldn’t even function. I’ve bought books on panic attacks, surfed the web no ends for info, had talking therapy and the list goes on.

I don’t feel any better. This is ruining my entire life. It gets in the way of my daily activities every day. The only thing I am able to do is take care of my children and run my Etsy shop. I am feeling completely helpless. I want the pain to fo away….

Has anyone else ever been through this? Has anyone had non cardiac chest pain (not GERD) and can give me any idea of what it is?

thank you in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumof2boysxz · 07/05/2023 20:01

CCIH · 07/05/2023 19:55

Sorry you're going through this OP. I don't have much helpful advice but my step dad is exactly the same. Numerous trips to a&e because he thinks he's having a heart attack but every time his results come back fine. Doctors are pretty sure it's just anxiety and panic attacks. He's also scared of heart attacks because his dad died from a heart attack at the same age he is now and I think it's all related.

Have you had therapy/ counselling? Do you think that might help?

Thank you for responding. I’m really sorry he has to go through this - it’s horrific to live with. I have had therapy a gazillion times and unfortunately it hasn’t done much. CBT however I have yet to try.

OP posts:
DelilahBucket · 07/05/2023 20:03

I've not read the full thread but have you seen a physio? It could be something as simple as you are so tense, your muscles are in spasm all the time. It causes terrible pain, and one muscle in spasm, such as your neck, can drag other areas into the pain too. You could also have a trapped nerve, hence the tingling and pins and needles.

Original poster
Mumof2boysxz · 07/05/2023 20:09

DelilahBucket · 07/05/2023 20:03

I've not read the full thread but have you seen a physio? It could be something as simple as you are so tense, your muscles are in spasm all the time. It causes terrible pain, and one muscle in spasm, such as your neck, can drag other areas into the pain too. You could also have a trapped nerve, hence the tingling and pins and needles.

I haven’t, but it’s definitely something to consider. Thank you!

OP posts:
GracePalmer33 · 07/05/2023 20:30

Honestly ring a physio tomorrow and get an appointment. Tell them what you've been experiencing and they'll check you over. It can't do any harm and worst case scenario is they rule out a bunch of things. Best case scenario it's an issue they can fix.

I put up with issues and different aches and pains all the time and then one day I booked in with a physio and it blew my mind lol.

1of2 · 07/05/2023 20:35

Hi! This isn’t a medical advice reply, but I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone. I suffered from bad postpartum anxiety after my last child and spent years convinced I was going to die from a heart attack. Chest pains, the lot. I still suffer every now and again, usually when I’m stressed. I had all the tests too, all okay. Figured it was from my anxiety.
I finally snapped one day, and thought, if I’m gonna die, I’ll just die and that’ll be that. Sounds harsh but I needed to give myself a shake. And it definitely helped. 8 years on, I’m still here. No heart attack.
You can do this, you’re stronger than you think. And remember, your body doesn’t want to die. It will do everything it can to keep you alive. That thought helps me a lot.
please feel free to pm me if needed x

Original poster
Mumof2boysxz · 07/05/2023 20:58

GracePalmer33 · 07/05/2023 20:30

Honestly ring a physio tomorrow and get an appointment. Tell them what you've been experiencing and they'll check you over. It can't do any harm and worst case scenario is they rule out a bunch of things. Best case scenario it's an issue they can fix.

I put up with issues and different aches and pains all the time and then one day I booked in with a physio and it blew my mind lol.

I will look into this - thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumof2boysxz · 07/05/2023 20:59

1of2 · 07/05/2023 20:35

Hi! This isn’t a medical advice reply, but I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone. I suffered from bad postpartum anxiety after my last child and spent years convinced I was going to die from a heart attack. Chest pains, the lot. I still suffer every now and again, usually when I’m stressed. I had all the tests too, all okay. Figured it was from my anxiety.
I finally snapped one day, and thought, if I’m gonna die, I’ll just die and that’ll be that. Sounds harsh but I needed to give myself a shake. And it definitely helped. 8 years on, I’m still here. No heart attack.
You can do this, you’re stronger than you think. And remember, your body doesn’t want to die. It will do everything it can to keep you alive. That thought helps me a lot.
please feel free to pm me if needed x

It really is so reassuring to hear this. I’m glad your coping better now and I hope one day I also can. Nice to know I’m not alone! X

OP posts:
VioletladyGrantham · 07/05/2023 21:05

Could it be colic, OP? That can give you chest pain and pain in your back.

Pluvia · 07/05/2023 21:47

I'd take a trip to a good chiropractor or similar physical therapist, OP. My first thought would be shoulders and spine.

Nananana90 · 07/05/2023 22:09

I could have actually written this post myself. Since 3 years ago on and off I have been having chest pain. This past month it has been off the scale. I ended up in hospital for a week and have been to a&e multiple times with the most recent one being last night. I have had ecgs, bloods a holter monitor etc and everything came back clear. I have been put on diazepam by my doctor and refereed to a psychiatrist as she thinks it's anxiety. Last week I was taken from ikea in an ambulance in severe pain. Well last night I decided to go to a different hospital. The pain was in the middle of my chest but mostly above my left breast going up into my shoulder. I was crying so much with the pain and felt so weak and dizzy. I drove myself to a hospital in a different county( I'm in ireland) so I drove from dublin to kildare. There I wad admitted immediately as my ecg was not normal. After a while it did return normal so I'm not sure if it was like that because I was in such a state. But I was sent for a ct scan which showed I have inflammation on my left lung. My inflammation markers were also up. They started me on IV antibiotics and the pain has definitely eased but I'm skeptical. I am going private for an echocardiogram because the lists over here are 12+ months. I haven't been able to work for over a month. I'm hoping to god this is what it is and I can now get back to life. My life has been miserable. After spending so much time in hospitals in dublin without any answers I'm now praying this is it. I hope you get sorted I know just how awful it is 😭

Original poster
Mumof2boysxz · 07/05/2023 23:07

Nananana90 · 07/05/2023 22:09

I could have actually written this post myself. Since 3 years ago on and off I have been having chest pain. This past month it has been off the scale. I ended up in hospital for a week and have been to a&e multiple times with the most recent one being last night. I have had ecgs, bloods a holter monitor etc and everything came back clear. I have been put on diazepam by my doctor and refereed to a psychiatrist as she thinks it's anxiety. Last week I was taken from ikea in an ambulance in severe pain. Well last night I decided to go to a different hospital. The pain was in the middle of my chest but mostly above my left breast going up into my shoulder. I was crying so much with the pain and felt so weak and dizzy. I drove myself to a hospital in a different county( I'm in ireland) so I drove from dublin to kildare. There I wad admitted immediately as my ecg was not normal. After a while it did return normal so I'm not sure if it was like that because I was in such a state. But I was sent for a ct scan which showed I have inflammation on my left lung. My inflammation markers were also up. They started me on IV antibiotics and the pain has definitely eased but I'm skeptical. I am going private for an echocardiogram because the lists over here are 12+ months. I haven't been able to work for over a month. I'm hoping to god this is what it is and I can now get back to life. My life has been miserable. After spending so much time in hospitals in dublin without any answers I'm now praying this is it. I hope you get sorted I know just how awful it is 😭

I’m so sorry that your struggling so much and I’m glad you got the help that you needed. I’m sure you will start feeling better now your on the medication for the lung issue - it sounds very much like that’s what’s caused your pain. Hopefully I get to the route of my issue at some point.

OP posts:
DaisyChain1283 · 26/07/2023 13:16

@Mumof2boysxz Hi, how are you getting on? I've had chest/upper back and breast pain for months now. Tight, pressure, aching. Put on omeprazole (no change), ibuprofen/paracetamol (no change). Doc mentioned Costochondritis back in March, but still have the pain. Had CT Angiogram (which show small hole in heart, but does not appear to affect my heart in any way), echocardiogram (normal) and physio which hasn't helped (although she says I have very tight thoracic spine). Physio has now written to doctor to do more investigations. Just wondering if you got anywhere with your pain?

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