chest pain?

Good morning everyone,

     It has finally happened. The cool weather is here. I have heard everyone talk about the difference in their symptoms when cool weather strikes, but until this year it has never noticeably affected me. The temp dropped Monday night and by Tuesday morning I was in excruciating pain.  Severe back spasms and all over body aches. I was also experiencing some really intense chest pain. It felt like I was having a heart attack, but I am pretty sure ut was a cramp right above my heart. Has anyone else experienced this? Anything I can do to relieve the cramp when it starts? Anything to ease my mind? With already having heart problems I get really nervous and upset when this happens because I can't really tell whats up. It would ease my mind a lot to know someone else has dealt with this too! Thanks for listening!

Gentle hugs & Lots of Laughter,

Ivey

Hi Ivey,

Unfortunately I can relate to what you're going through. about a month ago I had my first terrible bout with chest pain but thankfully it only lasted a few hours, but definitely left me unable to function. Two weeks ago I had another HORRIBLE episode of it. I was screaming in pain and kept telling my husband we had to go to the ER. I was pretty convinced it wasn't my heart since I had been through it once and it ended up fine, but the pain was so bad in my arm and my back. After about two hours of tears and screaming we decided not to go to the hospital because I wouldn't take the pain meds they would have given me. I try to make it through without anything for the pain at all times. I used heat and ice for 3 days and that began to take down the pain a bit. The first day though I was attached to my heating pad. Just make sure to drink A LOT of water if you're going to be using a heating pad a lot, I didn't realize how dehydrated I was getting from the constant use of the heating pad.

I confirmed with my Dr. that it was probably costochondritis. You should look it up and read about it. It is very common with Fibromyalgia. The pain gets worse when you press on your sternum and on your ribs. It's the inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs. Even after two weeks I still have moments of pain and it is not comfortable at all!

But, it is VERY important that you still talk over the symptoms with your Dr. and be seen to rule out other causes, especially cardiac. I am currently waiting on results from a 24 Hour Holter Monitor and an Echo. Since I had these symptoms occurring at the same time as an abnormal heart rhythm and I have a very low heart rate the Dr. is checking it all out to make sure everything with the heart is fine - we expect it to be. I am only 28 and this is my second round of heart testing - I went through it all 4 years ago before my diagnosis.

Good Luck with the pain! Hopefully the heat/ice can help a bit.

Thanks guys. I will definitely look over the costochondritis possibility. I have done this a few times, but this time was a doozy! And Frankey, that is exactly what I was dealing with. The pain was excruciating through my chest and my back. I was attached to my heating pad all afternoon and it seemed to make things better. I am feeling better today, but that was one of the worst things I have dealt with yet!

Thanks to you both for the great advice!

Gentle Hugs & Lots of Laughter,
Ivey

The esophagus is right over the heart and a severe attack of gastric reflux (GERD) can mimic a heart attack. It would also be likely to occur at night when you are lying down. Of course you did the right thing by getting the heart checked out first!

You might consult a gastroenterologist if nothing comes up on the heart that could cause the pain. After an accident I had mid-sternum pain that I thought was a heart attack. That turned out to be a paraesophageal hiatal hernia - my stomach had been pushed halfway into my chest. A barium swallow - x-ray after drinking barium contrast agent - can quickly show if you have a hiatal hernia, and is noninvasive, not painful.

Wow I have not experienced this yet and I hope i dont have to but I do hope everyone starts to feel better soon

Gentle Hugz
Stacy