Hi Girls,

I think I'm going for the gold medal here, I think I'm up to posting twice a day now! LOL! ok, well what started to happen to me yesterday, was that on my back, say where you'd think your lungs would be, started to feel "tight", and like something was "sitting" in there! Now, I had this back in Jan. too, for a day, and then it went away. That time, it felt like there was a "marble" sitting in there, in my lung! Then it would sort of shift to the other side of the lung, on the other side of the spine, and this is sort of up between your "wings", or shoulder blades. Back in Sept., this kind of thing had built up in me for 9 days, before it finally got so bad that I went to the ER, where after doing x-rays and bloodwork, the dr. decided it was anxiety, and gave me xanax. Well, that at least was a relief, and it did help! You're prob. wondering by this time, why then, would I be worried about this now again.
Well, I'm one of these people, who always thinks "well, suppose THIS TIME, it's somethnng serious"! so, now that started with me last night, but it subsided, and I fell asleep and didn't even have it during the day, UNTIL late this afternoon, when that tight feeling in my lungs, adn that feeling that something is sitting in there started up again! Now, realize, I've been dealing with these weirdo varicose veins that just decided to pop up in Jan. (they really aren't BULGING, they are flat blue dialted veins under the skin), and they do hurt and ache! (plus, both my legs ache so much sometimes, it's awful, I have to take pain killer). So, since I had that happen to me out of the blue in Jan. (for which I also made 2 trips to the ER for!..lol,.with them telling me they could "guarantee" me it wasn't DVT, and didn't even bother to do an ultrasound either!) ... well,

ok, since all these insane symptoms hit me in ONE MONTH, I began to get very panicky, and to imagine all sorts of things wrong with me, I just got my bloodwork results, and it was fine. But, that doesn't discount this weird varicose vein problem, and from what I've read (yes I know, "stay off those sites!", but to me, if I feel INFORMED, I feel like I have at least some control), if you have varicose veins, you stand a higher chance of a DVT, and from there, a piece of it could break off, and travel to your heart or lungs and then, well, you die. I read that only HALF the people with a DVT have actual symptoms before it travels to the lungs!
So naturally, now I'm sitting here, nervous about this tight lung feeling and that it feels like something is sitting in there, and then there goes my brain again, thinking that "oh God, I prob. feel a clot, that must be it"...lol...now, I know at this point, you're realizing I'm a nervous wreck ... which is true..LOL ....(plus, I had read on another site that, IF you have any symptoms AT ALL, when it reaches your lung, it'll be shortness of breath, chest pain upon deep breathing, none of which i have, AND a cough will develop - and your supposed to take note if there's any blood in the mucus that comes up, indicating lung trouble!) ... now, when I got this lung tightness yest. I didnt have a cough, but later at night when I stepped out on my porch I suddenly developed a small cough, with mucus. Naturally, I panicked! The cough lasted a littel while, and I must have fallen asleep. Now, I didn't have the lung tightness, or the cough, or the feeling that something was sitting in my lung when I got up today,.....UNTIL like I said earlier, this afternoon, when it started again. Now I tried to ignore it, telling myself it was just that "thing" again, whatever it is, and told myself it's prob. stress and anxiety. Ok, I can deal with that, but then the cough started! It's not a bad cough, it's not continuous, with lots of mucus, but it's there on and off, and it kind of feels like it's tickling down in my chest, like I need to cough. I can't really tell if it's post nasal drip (which I've had for years, but I haven't had that now for a few months), or if the cough is being caused by mucus IN MY LUNGS, or some blood clot! I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW......you are all familiar with me by now, I know I worry .... and you'd prob. never even believe me if I told you I was never like this..LOL...but, I wasn't.

The prob. in short is, since I hve these varicose veins now, that CAN cause clotting, that CAN go into the deeper veins (DVT), and from there, break off and go into my lungs or heart - natrually the "something" I feel sitting in my lung I'm thinking is a clot!
My very dear and supportive husband, keeps reassuring me, I'm fine, and that if there was a clot in my lung, I wouldn't even feel it since apparently the lungs have no nerves??????? He said, I just wouldn't be able to breathe. Yet, likeI told him, on a few medical sites I read, they DID say that you can develop a cough, and to watch it for a FEW DAYS (for blood) which tells me then that it is possible, for it to BUILD up over a few days (with the clot in there!), and the cough! So, every time I get a little mucus up, I check for blood. THIS IS SO DAMN CRAZY! I CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS!

Does anyone here have anykind of anything even SIMILAR to this? I think it may be hormonal, and I'm due for my period any day now. Like what happ. in Sept., when I couldn't breathe, and went to the ER, they determined it was indeed anxiety, ok fine.
But the cough? Yes, I live in Florida, and there are many things here that can trigger or all types of allergies and things, I know.,
but this cough seemed to coincide with the lung tightness and that feeling of something sitting in there. One piece of good news is that the "thing" sitting in there, seems to move from side to side.

OK, I know, I leave these really long, panicky posts, and I'm sorry! I just get so darn frightened with all this, and being that I've never had to deal with varicose veins, and what COULD happen because of them, the blood clotting and alll......well, I'm a nervous wreck. I just took a xanax, so hopefully I'll calm down.....LOL

Thank you ladies for your time and patience with me, I know you all must think I'm nuts ... but please know, I was never
like this IN MY LIFE! (then again, I've never been 49 before either, with hormones going balistic apparently! - plus, I've never really had anything wrong with me, so this all scares me so darn much!) .....

Thank you all for being there! MyDarling

Dear Mydarling,
I know what you are dealing with. Every little thing sends me into a panic mode and I try to put things together and always manage to come up with some terrible terminan decease. I have not dealt with the tight feeling in the lungs. What I did experince last year starting in the summer and lasting the rest of the year was this constant cough that was producing this really thick clear mucus (alot of mucus) I would run to the bathroom always looking for blood. In my search for a reason in the internet I found several places where they mention cough being one of the symptoms of peri. This past several months I do feel much better and the cough has not bother me much any more. Last year in a CT my lungs showed up clear. So..... Maybe just another peri symptom for you too. Now I have other symptoms that I am trying to deal with and trying no to freak over them. Will this ever, ever end? 40 and falling apart. Take care Mydarling and I hope you feel better soon.

Montana

Hi,

thank you for replying so quickly! You deserve a medal for reading all that...lol...well, yeah, this cough has mucus too, but not much, but naturally, I'm doing what you do, running around to see if there's any blood in it! geez! You mentioned that when you searched the internet, which I always do...that you were able to locate some sites where they have actually saidthat a cough is a symptom of peri? WOW! I can't seeem to find that on the net .... what did you type into google? I would like to read that for myself.
Well, I'm only 9 years older than you, and I too, am falling apart, piece by piece! (at least that's how it feels) I feel like pretty soon, there won't be anythng left of me! LOL

Tell me about your other symptoms, you never know, I may have them too! LOL

thanks again!!! MyDarling

MyDarling..

I have a tightness in my back, where the lungs are, but it's on either side of my spine. It seems to change sides and sometimes feels like a tight band across my back..kinda where the bottom of my ribs are. My experience has been that this is referred pain from trigger points in the abdominal muscles...it also makes for "tight" breathing and at times a pulling sensation in the throat and upper stomach. These changing hormones make our muscles tighten up and refer all kinds of sensations to different body parts. I haven't noticed much of a cough with this...but have had difficulty swallowing at times. It all comes and goes.Fun.

I understand the panic over these things...I do it too....I try to stay away from the sites...webmd and etc....all of them. They are a guaranteed panic attack for me....it's amazing how many common symptoms there are for so many diseases and situations....and of course I always choose the most horrific disease....so I haven't been to a "medical" site in a long time. I went to my doc and had a slew of bloodwork just in case.

This stuff stinks and I'm also tired of feeling like a wreck....I think I'm starting to ignore my symptoms more...or maybe I'm so used to feeling wierd that it feels normal now. I woke up this morning with weak..wobbly legs...a floating head...upper stomach pressure...chills on my arms. Don't feel like the lone ranger girl...we're all out here freaking out and trying to keep our acts together too!
Marie

I go into full panic mode when anything new shows up,and sometimes when an old symptom resurfaces-I know how you feel.I also have a prescription for xanax-.25 mg-I break them in half-so if I get real shaky I take half and can go on about my business,I try not to do this much,because I hate having to rely on pills.I am so glad there are women like you brave enough to tell how scared we get.It gives me courage GOD bless you.

Mydarling,
In search for natural remedies for my symptoms I came across this web page: www.homeoint.org/site/price/menopause.htm there it tells you what they rommend for what symptoms. They do mention tons more things that are not in the 34. They recommend something called bryonia for the cough. Also are you the one that is worried about varicose veins? they also have that in symptoms and then suggest a remedy. Also a while ago I was looking in a web sight called women to women and they also mentioned cough as being a symptom. As far as my new symptoms well this achy left arm and it is hard to pinpoint where the ache in the arm is comming from. And this terrible fatigue I wake after having a whole night of sleep and I feel like I was awake all night. My eyes are so heavy. Anyways..... I hope you have a good symptom free day. Take care of yourself Mydarling.

Montana

Montana...with your achy left arm...do you have a reoccuring pain in any other area...like maybe your side or neck or chest area? Alot of the achy arm might be from muscle tension/trigger point in neck or other areas. Have you tried massage? I have a right arm ache...on the inside of my upper arm and it comes from my neck we believe...I'm working on getting it fixed. I've also read that low progesterone will cause our bods to pull progesterone from the reserves that are stored in our peripherial nerves...thus causing them to ache. I'm testing progesterone tomorrow and if low will start it asap to see if that helps with arm pain. Dr. Lee speaks alot about nerve pain from progesterone depletion...I don't know what book..I heard him speak on a cassette months ago.marie

Mydarling

I have had such bad body obsessions for the past year eevrything felt like it was a major illness I had my whole back and neck constantly go into spasms adn would hyperventilate if I couldn't get a can open! I am currently trying to control the bad thoghts since I have been to so many doctors for so many things that I believe I am officially on theri crazy list. I also came across a greta book called THe Power of Your Subconcsious Mind and it helps me calm down if I start spinnign out of control with my thoughts Hope this helps you are not alone

MyDarling, I have been to the er so many times, it isn't funny. Last April I had the same symptoms with the tight chest etc, I couldn't catch my breathe, even called a ambulance! I was sure I was on death door! After getting check out and the Doctor telling me it was anxiety I was embarrassed! Sometime I feel I will go in sane!
Friend told me one day get a hold of your self it's just nerves> she shall walk in my shoes for a day! If anyone ask me now how I feel now, I say fine!

Big ice storm here, 5 inches of ice on our long drives way is leaving me in a panic>>> I worry I or my husband-pets will get sick, and we can not get out to seek help! My husband tried the snow blower, huh it didn't work. BUT he refuses to call for a plow. This isn't going to melt until June!

So I feel trap!

I wonder how much anxiety is contributing to your aches and pains and other symptoms. It can't be helping !

I think anxiety is a lot like depression in that it's a vicious cycle that feeds on itself ... you are set off by some event or situation, you start to feel anxious or hopeless, your anxiety or depression makes other things look bad, you become more anxious or depressed, etc .... and eventually you are in a pit that is extremely difficult to escape from.

It's important to recognize that anxiety and depression alter your perspective and interpretations of what is going on around you. Things that you would otherwise ignore or easily write off become overly important, e.g. aches and pains.

It's important to break the cycle.

MarieR,
Yes I do have alot of stifness in my neck. When I turn from side to side it sounds like a pepper grinder. One of the few times that I have been able to feel where the pain was it was from under my arm too. How interesting. I am using over the counter natural progesterone cream. So I will wait and seen.
Montana

Hi all,

wow, you guys are the best! You know, the women on this site are the friendliest, smartest, kindest group of women I've really ever met! Honestly! The support and encouragement you get here is unmatched, at least for me. I do have a very good caring husband, and he really does try his best to understand and be ther for me, but for other women to reach out and tell you you're not alone, that's BIG! Thank you all so much, it means a lot! I think it's great how all of us can share our fears, worries, and triumphs! we need this, we need to "let it out" so to speak, because, I know for myself at least, my two dr.'s aren't all that much of a help when it comes to peri, and giving me info. ... I really do end up doing my own homework...or coming here, because really, THIS PLACE is the best help!

Yeah, today, the breathing is still like that. Geez...it's not so much of a "tight" lung now, well, it still is, but now its more like I can't get a deep enough breath! I wonder if that would be considered the same thing? The same thing happened to me back in Sept., and I too felt totally embarassed when teh dr. at the ER decided to tell me (after x-rays and blood and urine tests) that it was "just" anxiety..oh yeah, "just"! Well, that's when I started with the xanax, which helped at first, but now, it's not helping as much, so now I'm taking something called Visteral, it's anoter type of anxiety relief pill .. LOL... i don't know, i had to actaully take two (it says you can take one or two if you need to), and I actually needed two! THAT SCARED ME! and to boot,,,,it didn't do all that much either, oh that's great! So now, I'll try to relax, and actaully fall asleep, and hope that when I'm sleeping, I keep breathing...LOL

THIS STINKS! MyDarling

Hi. I'm new to this site, so far have only read posts from others, but have taken a lot of comfort from it. Anyway, I've had the same problem with chest tightness from time to time. Try a magnesium supplement--it helps.

Hi Montana....there are alot of nerves that run from the base of our skull..down the neck..actually across/thru some of the upper ribs...into the arm pit and down the arm. Sometimes when our muscles tense up...they shorten and broaden...some of these muscles can squeeze the hell out of those nerves...causing pain, tingling, burning, aching, flashing like pain. Some of our muscles will actually pull up on those upper ribs, when tense and shortened, thus squeezing those nerves that run in between the upper ribs...same experience of pain.

So many factors contribute to muscle tension...the key is to eliminate that tension (duh) somehow. You could do your own little massage and search for tender spots...feel around under your arm pit...over your chest area..under the breast..up the neck..front,side, back and into your shoulders. If you find a tender spot...press down on it for the count of 15...then gently stroke it in 1" strokes in the same direction...go back to it later on and keep working those spots this way until you've noticed that they are gone.
Marie