New Member With Persistant Chest Tightness

Hi everyone, obviously I am new here, but definitely not new to anxiety/panic disorder =( I am curious if anyone else has persistant, daily chest tightness... Most of all my symptoms from anxiety have subsided, thankfully, except for the chest tightness which occurs every single day! The symptom comes out of no where, lasts for most of the day, and nothing sems to alleviate the pain or discomfort. I have had almost every test imaginable done related to my heart; blood work, numerous amounts of ekg's, chest xrays, a nuclear scan that tested for blood clots in my lungs, a stress test, a holter monitor, ct scans and mri's, you name it. Obviously it is not my heart! At least thats what they keep telling me. I see a therapist, I see my doctor regularly, I keep my mind pretty occupied majority of the time, yet I still feel this pain everyday. Does anyone else get this? If so does it occur daily? How long throughout the day? Is there ANYTHING that can help this? Thanks everyone to reading and replying <3

Hi! I am new here too (first post) and I can't believe that you wrote about the same issue I struggle with -- persistent chest pain. I have been diagnosed with GAD and panic disorder but I always wonder if anyone has this particular anxiety issue because I don't fit the classic GAD and panic disorder descriptions. Both include "muscle tightness" but most of the time, that's the only thing I'm feeling -- chest pain and worry about the chest pain. Sometimes it gets so bad I break down crying and spiral down into despair that I'm never going to get out of it. Yes, I've done all the medical tests too. Healthy as a horse.

I've struggling with this for 15 years and have had many years of total relief using only zoloft (100 - 150 mg). Then I get sloppy taking my meds, go off of them or get under a lot of stress and the chest pain comes back and doesn't leave for months. Then it goes away again. Recently, my chest pain started again in February after I weaned slowly off the zoloft (under the care of my psych) to get pregnant. I was fine for a month or so then it came back. I went right back on the zoloft and for two months have been on it with still no relief, even at 200 mg. My psych just kept telling me to wait, I had to give it a full trial. Then he added 2 mg of xanax xr in the morning and 1 mg at night. I just started it this week, along with the zoloft and it's still not doing the trick.

I started CBT two months ago and don't find it terribly helpful yet because I don't get much relief after filling out thought records and the negative thinking takes over again. For the past two months, I've also been doing diaphramatic breathing exercises everyday, cardio, group therapy, abstaining from caffeine, making sure to get enough sleep, etc. Basically everything I can think of and still I'm suffering. I know from experience that it always goes away eventually but when I'm in it, it feels like I'll never stabilize again.

I'm not sure if I'm being much help. But Scaredy Cat -- I'd be interested in that breathing link and also more info on what aspects of CBT helped you and how long it took before you started feeling relief.

WordGirl

hey there suffering people with chest pain, never had this, but have you ever tried a muscle relaxing med? Or maybe swimming or yoga???I have a muscle disease and the water is my best friend. just throwing it out there cause i know it really does suck when your in pain. sorry you have to live through (mazel tov)

 thanx s.c. getting ready to kitty sit for an hour hope your feeling better and thanx for the reply nice to know that people really do care..have a great day,m.t.

Hi softy and welcome to the A/P board! Thanks for the helpful input and please feel free to post with us anytime here:)

Take care,
Scaredy Cat