chest pains

like a lot of things relative to this disease, I will try my best to describe what I am experiencing and to see if anyone else has experienced similar and maybe help figure out what it is? So the subject is chest pains, which I've had on and off since symptoms started in 2013. I've had pains center, left and right and heart palpitations, but what I've experienced over the last few months, and what is very difficult to describe, is a feeling of 'fullness' in the center of my chest, followed by 'clicking' or 'cracking' sensation of either the muscle or fiber or something....but the closest I can relate it to is that feeling when you twist your neck to crack your vertebrae; that's what it's like only it's in the center top of my chest. I'll take a deep breath and feel like there's a fullness or pressure in my chest (doesn't really hurt) and then I follow it with turning my shoulders and chest and that's when it 'cracks' or 'clicks'. It's a very weird sensation and very hard to describe, but has anyone else had weird chest pains or discomfort? I don't get them often but when I do, it's usually these things I described where it feels like my muscle is clicking or cracking....I'm making an appointment to see the cardiologist again just to get checked out but the last time I went to my regular doctor back in December the EKG was normal but I guess it doesn't hurt to get checked out again.

so I looked up costochondritis and that is probably the closest to what I tried to describe, in terms of location and localized pain. It feels like a 'tear' or 'cracking' of the muscles or fibers and from what I just read about costochondritis one of the causes is severe bouts of coughing, which I've also experienced many times since being diagnosed. Can't say for sure that this is what I have, but definitely close to what I'm feeling and in the area where I feel it. Can I ask if your costochondritis comes and goes? how frequent is it? and does it go away when you move or shift?

Yes, the symptoms shifted somewhat, and definitely came and went many times. I also had pain around my spleen at times, and had a lot of abdominal pains and digestive issues also. But the chest pains you describe are almost exactly like the ones I used to get. It worried me so much I developed health anxiety, which made the chest wall muscles tighten up, it was 10x worse then. Cardiologist threw me out of his office, told me I was healthy as a horse and go see my GP for costochondritis. I went to my LLMD instead and he told me that was normal, Lyme eats away at the connecting tissues.

As I said, get it checked out. See your cardiologist. But try to remain calm when it does it. It can cause a lot of anxiety which will make it 10x worse believe me.

PeteZa said...

trader758 said...
Yes, the symptoms shifted somewhat, and definitely came and went many times. I also had pain around my spleen at times, and had a lot of abdominal pains and digestive issues also. But the chest pains you describe are almost exactly like the ones I used to get. It worried me so much I developed health anxiety, which made the chest wall muscles tighten up, it was 10x worse then. Cardiologist threw me out of his office, told me I was healthy as a horse and go see my GP for costochondritis. I went to my LLMD instead and he told me that was normal, Lyme eats away at the connecting tissues.

As I said, get it checked out. See your cardiologist. But try to remain calm when it does it. It can cause a lot of anxiety which will make it 10x worse believe me.

Excellent advice!!!!

Thanks, wish I was more helpful. I know what its like. I used to visit the anxiety forum and Scaredy Cat had to calm me many many times! I thought I was going to die! Honestly, you never know, ya know? I never knew at that point I had Hashimotos, and wasnt even close to knowing I had Lyme and Bart. Even at that moment when the cardiologist told me I was healthy as a horse, I didnt believe him. Many nights I prayed to wake in the morning. Xanax was prescribed, which helped relax me enough. Every time I got anxious my pec muscles would tighten and the pain would be unreal! I never knew the combination of anxiety and costochondritis could be so scary, yet so benign! I was a mess, let me tell ya!

my pains (recently) are very localized and go away after a few seconds, but when they first happened they scared me and I thought I was having a stroke or heart attack. I went through all the chest pains and heart palpitations but the more recent (what I described earlier) ones were weird and would happen if I inhaled deeply or if sitting in the car or something, but they would be sharp, central pains in a small area and would go away if I twisted or turned. Probably the costochondritis but will follow up with my doctor nonetheless. He's used to me talking about Lyme Disease now and more open minded than he was before, only because he saw the result of my suffering and I showed him my blood work, but at least he's more open minded and civil and not so easily frustrated with me. Thanks for all the helpful comments and replies!

Ace said...
my pains (recently) are very localized and go away after a few seconds, but when they first happened they scared me and I thought I was having a stroke or heart attack. I went through all the chest pains and heart palpitations but the more recent (what I described earlier) ones were weird and would happen if I inhaled deeply or if sitting in the car or something, but they would be sharp, central pains in a small area and would go away if I twisted or turned. Probably the costochondritis but will follow up with my doctor nonetheless. He's used to me talking about Lyme Disease now and more open minded than he was before, only because he saw the result of my suffering and I showed him my blood work, but at least he's more open minded and civil and not so easily frustrated with me. Thanks for all the helpful comments and replies!

The palpitations I had too. Anxiety. Hopefully everything turns out well. Hang in there! All the best to ya!