[silver_queen]

So I've lost quite a bit of weight in the past month or so, with not eating properly, and now, for the past few days, I've had vague chest pain. I've had this chest pain before: it's dead in the centre of my chest, sternum-level, but kind of not deep inside, but not at the surface either, and hurts most when I take a deep breath, when it worsens the pain at the sternum. In the past I've usually got it when I've started exertion suddenly, and it passed if I rested, which made me think maybe it is angina, but I first remember it occuring when I was about nine or so, and how could I have that at that age? I've never been overweight. My weight currently is 101lb/ 46kg at 5'0".

Now however, for the past few days, I've had it more or less constantly, a vague ache and a feeling of the sternum being bruised when I breathe in deep: it gets worse when I do something physical, whether I am getting out of bed, walking up stairs, and then too I get a sense of my heart pounding hard at the sternum too, but it subsides if I take things easy, but doesn't go away completely. It's also relieved when I lie down. I've had it suggested that maybe it is acid reflux from not eating enough, but I took a couple of indigestion pills today (calcium carbonate) and it didn't make any difference... though I could take more, I suppose . The pain is annoying more than actually worrying, other than me fearing I'm going to drop dead of a heart attack, but I'm still alive after a few days of it, so I suppose things are ok so far. Not really sure why I am writing this since I'm afraid to go to dr about it (as usual lol) but I think I will actually try eating something this weekend and see if it improves any. The main thing is that I don't want to mention my weight loss to dr, but I think that that is probably contributing to this. I'm taking multi-vitamins and vitamin C supplements daily too, and prozac daily/ almost daily. Other than that, I suppose I'm wondering if anybody has any suggestions as to what it could be.

I hope all this makes sense lol.

[Fuzzybear]

Maybe try phoning NHS direct?
I think the irregular meals and not eating enough will be contributing....
I know seeing doctors is a pain and can be scary but I would make an appointment for this....

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[(JD)]

This sounds scarey for you! I know I get what are "chest" pains, and it takes me a moment to realize that it's my muscles spasming, in the chest area... and have to work on them with my hands,fingers to keep from knotting up... (can't use TENS around heart, I think?) Especially bad are they when my shoulders are strained..and the muscles that wrap over into the chest also spasm. As for those at the sternum, I can't even guess! Take care of yourself. Don't assume it's the same old thing, being nothing??? I, too, vote for a doctor's opinion.

for a little reassurance, i too had chest pains recently. went to ER and even thought i knew what real chest pains feel like...it sure felt good for the Behmer to tell me that it was from stress. chest pains will feel as thought someone is applying a lot of pressure to your chest. (mine were behind sternum) women will also have pressure and some pain that moves up through the neck area. then the left arm. our symptoms are very different from men's. and the bed news is that 85% of females who go to ER with real heart problems are pooh-poohed and sent home!!!!! that's from the horse's mouth. my ER doc friend. please, please go to a Doc.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

No question about it...doctor or better yet...ER

[silver_queen]

Ok, this sounds stupid because it always seems to happen (or so it appears) that everytime I post about some kind of health problem or whatever, it resolves itself. I've had no pain today. One thing I have noticed though is that the area on my left side, around the ribs area, but on my back, just below where the shoulder blade ends (that probably makes no sense whatsoever) is very sensitive... the skin is sensitive on touch, much like the skin discomfort caused by a fever... I have no idea why it is like that though, I don't remember doing anything that would have caused me any injury.

[Perzephone]

I don't want to undermine the importance of getting any kind of chest pain/pressure checked out immediately, but...

I have high b.p. & of course, whenever I feel tightness or pain in my chest, I go to the cardiologist. The last time, it was dead center - felt like someone was sitting on my chest & drilling a hole through to the center of my back at the same time.

After fruitless EKG's, stress tests, CAT's, etc. the doctor asked me if I had ever had ulcers or gastrointestinal problems - which, when I was drinking heavy as a teenager, yeah. So he sent me for an upper GI & there it was - a huge ulcer at the bottom of my stomach (and a few kidney stones, too, eh, I live in a desert & don't drink enough water). So I went to my regular doctor w/the results & he gave me the once-daily type of ulcer meds, and that, combined w/changing my job from front desk clerk to night auditor, my ulcer has been beaten back into submission. Nary a peep out of it for 2 years. I do have moments of great stress every once in awhile, and if it's prolonged, I get that pressure & pain again & take the ulcer meds for a few days.

The pain that you have discribed under your shoulder blade, it could be shingles. When I got shingles a couple of years ago, that's how it started.

I was doing a burn out at that time and shingles came as a package deal.

But a visit to a doctor would be wise.

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time0

i used to get this all the time (since i was an early teenager) I'd be afraid to breath much until the cramping in my chest stopped. It happens allot less now. I'm definatley interested what it is.

[Yack]

I had that all summer...panic attacks.

[jennie]

I get those type of chest pains all the time. I've had at least 5 EKG/EEGs, but they were all normal.

Chest pain can be a lot of things. But the fact you have pain when you inhale, it's most likely a pulmonary problem. I'd suggest getting a referral to a Pulmonologist; he/she will help resolve your issues for you.

When I was having a lot of those pains (they come and go), my family doctor referred me to pulmonary. After tests and referrals, I was diagnosed with: Asthma, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Acid Reflux, and Panic Attacks. After some time, I realized the acid reflux would trigger my asthma and asthma would trigger my panic attacks.

Your acid reflux meds you are taking may not be the ones that work for you, or you need a higher dose. Your diet could be the reason you have the chest pains (spicy foods, dairy, chocolate, acidic foods, sodas, caffeine, etc.)

But whatever the reason, I hope you get this checked out by a doctor soon!

Hey,
You may have pulled a muscle. That's what happened to me. Rub some Tiger balm on all the areas that pain you when it acts up again and if the Tiger balm or a heating pad and taking an aspirin makes it feel better then it is a pulled muscle.
Don't go spending a lot of money on hospital bills if you don't have to. I ended up spending $2,000. over a pulled muscle and your symptoms sound the same as mine did. Pain from the sternum around the rib cage all the way to the back at the tip of the scapula. It hurting while breathing in is another sign you pulled or strained a muscle in the rib area.
Where you doing exercise or lifted your arm in an unusual way you usually don't?
I'm not a doctor but from my experience, it's probably a pulled or strained muscle/s.

[emma4ever]

Hi,
I've had chest pains too, for 2 years now.. Quite sure it's stress induced as it follows my emotional and outside-stress situation. It started w pain between th eshoulderblades 6-7 years ago, since 2 yrs my sternum gets very sore and the pain spreads to intercoastal muscles and collarbones etc. Sometimes i get inflammations due to muscles getting pulled or pulling ribs out of place.

I went to a kinesologist friday, first time, and was quite impressed about what she did - i had to think about the thing which worries me and she'd do some muscle tests at the same time, then she'd work on some spots on my body, i cried, and when she did the tests again it was better and i didn't feel as worried about that thing. i'm going back there monday, feeling very curious and even hopeful that it might help. I guess it will never go away until i resolve some confidence-etc-issues i have and find peace with myself.

I'm not sure if what you experience is similar -you should defentiely go to the doc like the others have said. Feel free to contact me if you like

x em

[emma4ever]

hey Jennie, what's a Pulmonologist?
xx