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Posted 2/25/2016 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
I can't get out of my head with these symptoms:

Pain in my sternum (where shoulder meets breastbone)- Dr. said costochondritis (i don't think so, symptoms dont seem to match)

Shortness of breath all the time

Feeling of lump in throat most of the time

What I think is happening: I have cancer. The pain in my sternum is from a tumor or from metastasis. It is connected to my shortness of breathing.

What I've had done: Gone to GP several times. Tried Reflux meds (didnt work). Tried Lexapro (had horrible side effects) Tried ibuprofen for pain (nada), had a cardiac workup (fine) had a comprehensive metabolic panel (all normal except slightly elevated glucose but negligible)

What I'm thinking of doing: seeing an ENT for the lump in throat/possible LRP situation. But then I also want to see a GI doctor to check my esophagus, and a orthopedist for my arm. But right now I'm considering going to the urgent care aroudn the corner for a chest x-ray in the meantime.

I am so turned around. I really have these symptoms and I am so afraid of just writing them off to anxiety. i KNOW i have health anxiety. I'm very aware of it. But I still feel these things and they are really getting in the way of my quality of life. I just want to be a good husband and father and I feel like I'm so in my head that I can't be the best me by any stretch.

Do i see the doctors? Or wilL i just come up with new stuff to get checked once that stuff is over and fine (or not fine)?
Posted 2/25/2016 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Mersault,

I am sorry you are going through bad health anxiety right now

Of course, it is your decision to go visit a dr about your worries. No one can tell you to do otherwise.
But let me just share my experience with very similar symptoms.
I got the same pain in my esophagus and nearby tissues. I also had trouble when swallowing so much that I got convinced that I had a type of C. there.

When I started worrying about something else in my body, my esophagus symptoms disappeared as quick as snapping my fingers. I was so surprised to see that.
I was SO convinced that I had C.
I felt the same as you do now, they felt so real... This is the worst side of health anxiety. They feel real and you just don't want to brush them by saying all is anxiety related.

I can just recommend you to pay attention if your symptoms move around. Meaning: if your symptoms change place, one day in esophagus, next day on your back/arms... Because one thing I know, pain caused by something sinister won't move around...

If you want a reassurance from a dr, just visit and talk about your worries.
They know better than us, but unfortunately they lack informing us as much as they do know.

I hope you feel better soon
Posted 2/25/2016 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
M.,

I posted some recommendations in your lymph node thread, so be sure you see that. :)

S.C.
Posted 2/25/2016 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I did see that. Thanks.
Posted 2/25/2016 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
its not so much that my pain moves around, but my interpretation of the pain changes. So i have the breathing thing, which one day I think is lung cancer, the next GERD. This pain in my sternum is definitely real, but I go from thinking it's just muscle strain or maybe my doctor is right and its costochondritis, or cancer.
Posted 2/25/2016 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
I totally understand how you feel.

But if you really feel distressed about it, go take a second dr opinion.
and if you already did go to the dr again, then try to use your coping skills and trust your dr's diagnose.
For us it can be hard to trust dr's opinion.

Chest area (anything in that area) is easy to get strained by anxiety. There is a very big muscle group there and it gets various symptoms with anxiety.
Esophagus is also very easy to distress with stress.

Please do not forget to use your breathing techniques and I really do hope you feel better soon.
Sending positive thoughts.
Posted 2/26/2016 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for the replies. a bit calmed down now.
Posted 2/26/2016 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
So i went to the urgent care today, because of course I did. he said that my chest thing is definitely muscular and not to be worried at all that its anything worse. Then he looked in my mouth, said my throat is swollen, and gave me antibiotics. I don't know if I'll even take them because didn't really seem like I had any kind of infection or anything. Feel like they just write scripts for antibiotics as a reflex.
Posted 2/27/2016 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Mersault,

Maybe due the swollen glad, your doctor suspects a bacterial infection of some kind?

...but yes, you are right...a virus won't be helped by abx...only rest and time.

Maybe wait on the medication until you can talk to your PCP?

Glad to hear the chest discomfort us nothing to worry about!.:)

S.C.
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