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Original poster

Pain all around chest area

34 replies

Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 18:40

I'm at a complete loss as to what this could be but it's painful and there appears to be nothing wrong. Pain is all over chest area, shoulders, all around lungs.

I went to A&E last night but ECG clear. O2 fine. Heart rate high at some points - high 90's to 120 at some points. No infection detected in bloods. Xray clear. All other bloods clear. I had a chest infection treated 2 weeks ago.

The blood test to check for a PE coagulated or whatever they call it before it got to the lab, so they wanted to do another blood test, but it's really painful to get blood from me, and it doesn't feel like that sort of pain, as it's all over my chest - almost as if the whole outside of my lungs is painful if that makes sense so I just said no.
Doc said it could be pain in ligaments and tendons in rib cage. Don't know why that would be the case, as was never coughing violently with chest infection and didn't have this pain when I had the chest infection! I'm really frustrated, but at a loss myself as to what it could be. I think they just see no infection indicators and that's it, off you go.
Google suggests inflammation of the lining of the lungs. Could I have that, without having infection markers? Another suggestion is fibromyalgia - which IS in fact all in your head as far as doctors are concerned I believe.I know that I have the pain, it doesn't feel imagined.
Pain feels like I'm being stabbed all over. It doesn't feel like it's inside my lungs. It feels like it is all around the outside of my lungs.

GP useless. Can't leave house as too exhausted.

Any ideas? I can contact my Gp tomorrow if I know what to ask for.

OP posts:
Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 18:42

Paracetamol has no effect on pain. Deep breaths more painful.

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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 18:44

I have a nasty cough, and I have asthma. But lungs clear on xray and when they listen with their stethescope thing.

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FallenSky · 28/01/2021 18:48

Fibromyalgia is not all in the head, not sure why you'd say that... Anyway, sounds like it could be costochondritis. I've had it before after a chest infection and the pain was awful. Are you able to take ibuprofen or another anti inflammatory?

anxiousmess81 · 28/01/2021 18:51

I was going to say costochondritis. Have you recently had a child or been breastfeeding?

FineWhiteBread · 28/01/2021 18:52

I had that, OP, and never had a proper diagnosis.

It started in late 2018 and I ended up in A&E because I thought I was having a heart attack, the chest pain was so bad. Heart rate was very high, and oxygen levels were low, I was exceptionally breathless. ECG ruled out a heart problem, a slight clot was detected but D-Dimer test showed it was tiny and not an issue.

They ruled out costochondritis and pleurisy, but diagnosed a severe respiratory infection and prescribed antibiotics and two weeks off of work.

I still don’t feel it was a chest infection. I didn’t have a cough or phlegm.

I hate to tell you this, but it took ages to go away. Even a year later I was still experiencing breathlessness. The pain lasted for ages too. It was a weird pain because I could actually feel the outline of my lungs. That took ages to clear too. I remember so many nights lying in bed with the pain thinking they’d misdiagnosed me and I was going to have a heart attack. It’s a horrible feeling.

Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 18:53

Hi Fallensky. Thank you for replying. I say that's it's the all in your head one as that's how I've heard it referred to it in the past. Unless they've advanced medical tests now, as far as I know, it's one where they can't actually find a medical cause. I can't take ibuprofen as I have gastritis, so can't tak anything that would irritate stomach. I've been vomiting on and off too. Not able to eat with pain. Blood surgar last night was 2.8 so they gave a drip for that. I don't have diabetes.

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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 18:55

FineWhiteBread that sounds like it. Great. So just painkillers?

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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 18:56

@anxiousmess81

I was going to say costochondritis. Have you recently had a child or been breastfeeding?
No to both. What is the treatment for costocondritis?
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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 18:57

Sometimes I feel like it's a panic attack as I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen but my oxygen is fine! That's why I'm afraid it is in fact all in my head. The pain is real.

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FallenSky · 28/01/2021 19:02

Rest, heat and painkillers I think. I definitely think you should contact your GP again though if the pain is so severe, perhaps there is something else they can do for you. I hope it feels better soon.

BonnesVacances · 28/01/2021 19:07

OP, have a look at POTS/dysautonomia. Do you think you might have had Covid, albeit without symptoms? It's causing all of these symptoms in people; chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue. The high HR is another indicator. Unless your resting HR is 90, it went up by >30bpm to 120 in the hospital.

If you can get hold of a pulse oximeter or have a Fitbit or similar, google the 10 minute NASA lean test, do it and record the results.

itsgettingweird · 28/01/2021 19:10

That's what COVID did to me for weeks after I'd had it.

Any chance your cough and chest infection were COVID?

user194729573 · 28/01/2021 19:17

@Asthesayinggoes

Hi Fallensky. Thank you for replying. I say that's it's the all in your head one as that's how I've heard it referred to it in the past. Unless they've advanced medical tests now, as far as I know, it's one where they can't actually find a medical cause. I can't take ibuprofen as I have gastritis, so can't tak anything that would irritate stomach. I've been vomiting on and off too. Not able to eat with pain. Blood surgar last night was 2.8 so they gave a drip for that. I don't have diabetes.
Your stomach sits under your ribs, basically where you seem to be describing the pain. Especially pain on eating plus vomiting.

If you're having gastro issues then there is as much chance as any other that this is gastro pain - not only would it be felt in your chest but can refer into your shoulders.

It sounds like this needs investigating/treating as a gastro problem.

Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 19:20

That's interesting about the gastro issues. I told them that I have gastritis but they didn't question that further.

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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 19:23

I've had numerous covid tests recently with the chest infection and admittions ot hosptial. All negative or I certainly wasn't told that any were positive. They didn't check for covid last night. I have no fever or lost of taste and smell. If anything my sense of smell is heightened as one paramedic nearly knocked me out with the fumes of fabric conditioner off his unifiorm

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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 19:24

Stomach area very tender to touch and I'm nauseous all day long. Vomiting somethimes.

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lovelemoncurd · 28/01/2021 19:26

I had this when I had Covid. Have you had a test?

Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 19:27

www.nhs.uk/conditions/postural-tachycardia-syndrome/

I have EVERY SINGLE ONE of those symptoms!

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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 19:28

@lovelemoncurd

I had this when I had Covid. Have you had a test?
Probably crossed posts but last test was 10 days ago. Haven't had a test since and they were not concerned about it being covid last night.
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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 19:32

Blood sugars were very low though last night so that might explain the weakness and fainting.

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user194729573 · 28/01/2021 19:39

@Asthesayinggoes

Stomach area very tender to touch and I'm nauseous all day long. Vomiting somethimes.
If you're not eating due to pain and vomiting then it's not surprising your blood sugar level is low or you're feeling weak.

A&E are for acute and emergency care - once they'd ruled out emergency heart/breathing problems they wouldn't have been so interested in exploring your gastro problems because at most that is an outpatients issue or more likely GP.

I do think you should follow up with your GP for proper investigation and management. There is a dehydration risk. Are you tolerating fluids?

user194729573 · 28/01/2021 19:42

@Asthesayinggoes

www.nhs.uk/conditions/postural-tachycardia-syndrome/

I have EVERY SINGLE ONE of those symptoms!

Ok, but your tender stomach area, vomiting, pain on eating aren't on the list - and the weakness, fainting are because you're malnourished - so it's not the right match, is it?

Diagnosis would be based on all your symptoms falling within something - not just some of them. It's not pic'n'mix.

BonnesVacances · 28/01/2021 19:43

@Asthesayinggoes

www.nhs.uk/conditions/postural-tachycardia-syndrome/

I have EVERY SINGLE ONE of those symptoms!

Sorry to hear that. My DD developed POTS after Covid 10 months ago, and someone alerted me to it based on her symptoms that are similar to yours. Gastric issues are also common in POTS.

The next thing to do is the 10 min standing test at home, if you can, and take the results to your GP. You should ask for a referral to cardiology which is what POTS comes under.

But... most cardiologists are pretty useless so have a look at the POTS UK website to find a decent one. It's vital that your seen by an expert. The quickest and most effective way to move forward is to go private and some consultants are doing appointments via Skype. My DD is on heart medication now and it's sorted out most of the issues including the chest pain. But we've had to pay for everything.

Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 20:12

Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go private.

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Original poster
Asthesayinggoes · 28/01/2021 20:14

k, but your tender stomach area, vomiting, pain on eating aren't on the list - and the weakness, fainting are because you're malnourished - so it's not the right match, is it?

Diagnosis would be based on all your symptoms falling within something - not just some of them. It's not pic'n'mix.

I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me?

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