Chest Pressure, Why Why Why??????????? Options

[DanaRae]

Okay so I have had chest pressure for along time. It is not pain. Just like someone if pushing on my chest. So of course I have to try to figure out why I have it. what is causing it. Anxiety? Maybe there is alot going on right now. Allergies? Maybe the doc gave me medicine when I took it faithfully the pressure went away I forgot it for a few days but have been taking it for the last three or four days and it is not helping. Gas? maybe thats it to. Who knows. But it is driving me crazy. I just got done with my period yesterday and the last few days have been awful. Not used to the after period thing I am used to the before period thing.

My periods are coming closer together. does that mean something. I smoke I want to quit talk to the doc about the gum but my insurance will not pay for it. My daughter is getting married next Saturday so I do not want to try quit until after so maybe I can figure something out. We talked about Chantax? not sure on spelling but he did not want to give me that...because of the anxiety issues.

Oh what a mess. if it was not for the chest pressure maybe I would feel good. I had a episode yesterday no pain just the chest pressure and felt like I could not breath, doc says how long did it last...........FOREVER. But I am used to it. says if anything is diffrent I should have it checked. OHHHHH. don't tell me that. I did have my heart checked about 5 years ago. a stress test and it was fine. He did a ekg a couple of months ago when I was in the middle of a panic attack and he said that came out fine. BUT it does not matter I always think it is my heart.......Heart problems run in my family. My dad died from a heart attack 11 years ago and My mon just went in for heart surgury last year.

I need help. I have been doing this by myself for about 6 years no meds just trying to get by. Things just started hitting me real hard in March and it is not letting up. Why not? Is something changing again?

Sorry for rambeling. I just need some others to tell me this is normal. Oh and my post about feeling like I was going to die before my daughter gets married well I have another week and she will be walking down the isle. guess that was a HEAD thing.

thanks for listening

[MercurialIN]

Hello DanaRae,

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I wish I had some helpful advice but I'm not sure what to say. I sometimes have a feeling of pressure inside my body but can't really pinpoint it to an exact location. I notice it most before a period. Also when my neck and shoulder muscles are really tensed up.

It sure sounds like you are stressed out especially with the wedding coming up so soon. I am sure that the wonderful ladies on this forum will be able to come up with some helpful advice. I just wanted to offer a big hug and some emotional support in the meantime. Take care and know that you are not alone.

[kath S]

Hi DanaRae

oh it,s just the pits this isn,t it?
I can,t offer any great medical advice just that I have had couple of bouts of chest pressure felt like a heart attack but lasted seconds.
Have heard muscle spasms can cause this pressure type feeling DanaRae

Real hope you perk up a bit for the Wedding. I,m sure you will gets lots of great info from this to make you feel better

P.S i quit smoking 7weeks ago I read Allen Carr quitting smoking book if you decide to give it a go worth a read

Hope things improve for you

[Michah Hadley]

Dana, is there a reason why you have not gotten treatment? 6 years is a Long time to suffer........I suffered 4 years before i was finally dx and that was bad enough!......

Yes, chest pressure can be related to anxiety(doesn't make it any less revolting!) or constipation. I find when constipation is really bad for me, I get discomfort that radiates up underneath my ribs and it feels "pressurised".

I hope it gets resolved sweetie........don't put yourself through anymore suffering......

[DanaRae]

Dana, is there a reason why you have not gotten treatment? 6 years is a Long time to suffer........I suffered 4 years before i was finally dx and that was bad enough!......

Yes, chest pressure can be related to anxiety(doesn't make it any less revolting!) or constipation. I find when constipation is really bad for me, I get discomfort that radiates up underneath my ribs and it feels "pressurised".

I hope it gets resolved sweetie........don't put yourself through anymore suffering......

I was on AD Remron it worked great but I gained tons of weight and the doctor gave me a hard time about the weight gain so I went off it. I have Lorazapam to take but I am always thinking I can get through with out it. I only have to take it when I need it. He refilled my perscription today for next week. I just wish that I can get back to feeling GOOD again; Of course I am alittle resistant on taking AD now. I do not feel depressed just fustrated from all these things going on with me.

Thank you for your reply. It always helps to hear of others feeling or going through the same things.

[Becca233]

Just so you are not alone....

I went thru that too. I went to my doctor a few years ago, if not more, kept telling him the same thing. He did EKG, Echocardiogram, Chest Xray, BP, the whole 9 yards, and after basically calling me a hypocondriac ; I changed doctors. I learned two things. See besides the chest pressure, I had stabbing, I mean serious stabbing chest pains. Come to find out, from another doctor, that I have costochrondritis. (See about 12 years ago, I was riding one of those motorized scooters, well you know how they saw smoking will kill you, will here I am riding this scooter down the street - keep in mind I have about as much balance as a bull, well anyways I decided that I was going to try and take a puff off my cigarette that I had in my hand.... Bad idea.... As soon as I lifted my hand, and handle bar went one way and I literally flew over the whole scooter - pushing the handle bar right in to my chest... found out 3 days later I seperated my sternum from from a few ribs, yes it felt lovely..... well fast forward several years, anytime I do any heavy lifting I apparently stress that, it's like a arthritis of cartlidge.... let's just say totall *****...).... So that was the first problem... Like my doctor told me, if you can push down on your chest and recreate the pain, then it is not your heart...

Now another thing that I had for years.... It drove me crazy, and sent me almost into panic, that was the chest tightness.... Took me some time to realize that after I felt the pressure, say within 1/2 hour to an hour I would belch, yea, just like a sailor - so lovely.... and it would go away.... Till this day when I get that feeling, I hate it, omg, yes I do. Now I try to walk around, and see if I make lovely belch, and if I do, then I know I am okay....

And finally.... We should always check w/doctor when you are having any chest symptom. Most of the time we are fine. And even when the doctor tells us we are fine, we still find it hard to believe... But we are... Signs of serious chest pain, or heart issues, (are the many that of course follow a panic attack, we all know SOB (shortness of breath), but with a woman there is also usually vomiting, and/or serious nausea, pain in the arm, pain in the jaw....

Honestly, when I have this, I ask myself, how am I breathing, (make sure that I am not causing it by breathing to shallow), do I have any other symptoms, then I walk, even if it's just around my house, I walk.

Trust me, I know it is soooo scary, I really know it is, pressure more than likely is honestly just gas. Apparently you have had the necessary test for your heart, so it appears that ain't the issue... Do you ever notice your are belching? If so it is truly gas... This all started with me in my late 30's, and it took me years to realize I was going to live... I tell myself now, beck, you have had this before, breathe it will go away, and it does... I would bet it's your belly.... gasey... and yes I still smoke, and yes that can cause it to be worse, the gasey part...

PS - I have been taking probiotics and digestive enzymes, and they have help so much w/the gas build up... In the meantime, ask your doctor about Zantac... Now since I have start the probiotics, and totally change my whole diet I haven't need the Zantac... But until you figure out what is causing, try Zantac...

[DanaRae]

You know that place right between your breast. Not sure what it is called. But if you press on it it really hurts. I noticed it more then once. Maybe that has something to do with the chest pressure. I wish I could figure it out. I am sure that it will ease up. I am sure it has something to do with the weather beacause that is when it got real bad, when the weather started changing.

Thank you for letting me know that it is going on with others because that keeps me sane. somewhat anyway.

[Becca233]

You know that place right between your breast. Not sure what it is called. But if you press on it it really hurts. I noticed it more then once. Maybe that has something to do with the chest pressure. I wish I could figure it out. I am sure that it will ease up. I am sure it has something to do with the weather beacause that is when it got real bad, when the weather started changing.

Thank you for letting me know that it is going on with others because that keeps me sane. somewhat anyway.

Did you ever strain or hurt your chest. The place directly in the middle is your sternum, from that your ribs are connected via cartildge. My got really bad after I had my son, and finally figured out that I had reinjured my chest by picking him in and out of the crib. From what I have been told, if you can push on it and make it hurt then it's not your heart. You would be surprised how easy it is strain our chest. Also just another thought, check your bra, don't laugh, I had this cheap ole under wire bra and didn't even realize that it was continously pushing into my chest. I still have cheap bras, but I make sure that they fit rit...

Ask you doctor about adding (oh gosh how do you spell it) glucosman (sp way off); but that's what it sounds like, it suppose to be good for our cartildge and joints...

[DanaRae]

Did you ever strain or hurt your chest. The place directly in the middle is your sternum, from that your ribs are connected via cartildge. My got really bad after I had my son, and finally figured out that I had reinjured my chest by picking him in and out of the crib. From what I have been told, if you can push on it and make it hurt then it's not your heart. You would be surprised how easy it is strain our chest. Also just another thought, check your bra, don't laugh, I had this cheap ole under wire bra and didn't even realize that it was continously pushing into my chest. I still have cheap bras, but I make sure that they fit rit...

Ask you doctor about adding (oh gosh how do you spell it) glucosman (sp way off); but that's what it sounds like, it suppose to be good for our cartildge and joints...

I do not remember hurting it but maybe I did. I think you can buy that over the counter can't you? maybe I will give it a try and if I do press there it hurts. I am just so tired of the pressure and feeling like you can not breath. I appreciate you talking to me about it. That bothers me the most.