Posted 7/11/2008 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Newbie here, so bare with me...
LITTLE HISTORY about MYSELF....
I'm a 29yr old male, measure 5'9, and weighed 250lbs when I began having symptoms (I am currently at 240lbs)
I have a had a history of uncontrolled (never taken meds for high blood pressure) mild high blood pressure (which was first detected at about age 23) and recently quit smoking pot (I was a heavy consistent everyday pot smoker for the last 2 years or so). I've considered myself very inactive both at home and and work as my job requires sitting in front of a computer for most of the day for the last 4 or 5 years and my eating habbits were careless, as I did not watch what I ate (I actually had the tendency to eat out at fast foods alot, including Pizza).
MY CURRENT SYMPTOMS....
It started about 2 months ago when I started having different kind of pains in the left side of my chest approx an inch to the left side of the center of my chest (aligned with the nipple). These pains can range from achy, dullness, heavy pressure, tightness, shocking (or spasm), squeezing.... with achy, dull and shocking being the most common. The pains come and go ranging from a few seconds to about 4 mins. Sometimes they come more intense than other times (most notably as of late more intense at night). The pains seem to come spurraticly throughout the day and night. At times I can feel the pains with deep breaths and at times I cannot. I don't think anything specific is triggering the pains and I cannot seem to pin down when they often come (there is no certain cycle). It seems they do not necessarily come on with excertion or while exercising, however, I have felt them a few occasions after having sex. At one point I could feel the pains (also shocking sensations) with what seems to be each heartbeat. I twist and turn to see if the pain is related to possible muscle pain and the pain does not seem to happen with any movement or action. At one time, I woke up with alot heavyness pressure and pain in my chest and as soon as I would get up it would slowly go away. The pains can become quite frightening, painful and very discomforting. I also note that I get heart palpatations (it seems like every other day) but not as frequent, although sometimes they come on even when I'm simply walking, sitting down or after about 20 mins after a meal. I may feel one heart palpatation here or there.
WHAT HAPPENED...
For the first week of pain i brushed it off, in hopes that it would go away, possibly by excersising. I decided to start excersing after I quit smoking and also decided to change my diet. But after a week and a half, I woke up with heavyness in my chest for 2 days in a row, not to mention a continuance of "on and off" pain that ha not gone away, I thought I better seek medical attention by making an appointment with my family doctor. They took me in right away as I complained of chest pains.
They checked my blood pressure and, as usual, mildly high (153/93). They did blood tests and 2 (resting) EKGs which both came back normal (including normal cholesterol). The doctor advised that she felt I may be suffering from GERD (acid reflux) and prescribed some Zantac. She stated she did not think this was a heart realted problem, but to be on the safe side, she scheduled me for a stress test (treadmill EKG), which came out normal
Last week I had the most frightening pain of all, I was at work around 9 AM simply walking to my desk when I stopped to chat with a co-worker, while talking all of a sudden I felt what seemed to be a bit of heart palpatations and a few seconds later I felt like a crushing chest pain with a spasm mixed in around or where my heart is, that almost knocked me to the floor. It lasted about 7-10 seconds and slowly went away. I freaked out and quickly rushed to tell my boss. I did not get that same awful pain anymore for the rest of the day. After work I rushed myself to the ER as I was still freaked out. They took me in and did an EKG and chest X-ray immedietley. Both came out normal. This was the 3rd EKG that has came out normal. Ever since that scary incident, I continue to have spurratic chest pains that come and go, but I haven't had the consistent pain that lasted for more than 5 mins since then. The doctor also gave me a holtor monitor for 24 hrs, which came out normal as well. Most recently, I have workn up as I have also felt like I don;t breathe as soon as I fall to sleep and I sleep on a flat pillow.
MY CONCERNS....
My greatest concern is that my chest pain is heart related. Being that I had unctrolled high blood pressure smoked pot heavily, was inactive both at home and at work, Over-ate (Also due to Pot)....... Could this be heart related? Could I have somehow caused damage to my heart? Could I have heart disease?
NOTES TO CONSIDER....
The day before I had that sharp pain that almost sent me to the floor, I had pushed my limits on the treadmill, doing an hour of excerises and somewhat intense. I did not have any pain while on the treadmill that day at all......could that have caused my pain??? Could my heart simply be waking up from being nonactive???
I AM SINKING INTO DEPRESSION...
I'm at a lost. This is causing depression and anxiety in my life (which now seems to alter my symptoms). I cannot concentrate at work (especially when I have spurratic pains in my chest). I am now having trouble sleeping. I dont' know if it's me or if I am sometimes feeling like I am having shortness of breath at night when going to bed. Any help or input would be appreciated. I have a wife and 3 children (ages 6,9,12) that I think of everyday. I am very scared.