Chest pain... Please read, so scared :(

[soccerash21]

Hi all,

So the past few weeks I've been getting these random pains in my chest area. It's always on the left side, and it's always around my breast area. It's hard to describe, but it sort of is like a sharp but dull ache- if that even makes sense. So of course, I'm going crazy thinking that I need to go to the hospital. It happened last week, but last night I ate at a mexican reataurant that I've eaten at a million times and haven't had issues. But I'm trying to remember if last week I ate there too around the time I had the chest pains- can't remember. I've had heartburn nefore but it felt different and was located more in my chest area rather than around my breast. And Inate the food around 8 last night and it's now 530- so could it even be from that since it was so long ago?? And my anxiety is crazy. Every time I go to the dr and they tale my blood pressure, it's always high. They always seem concerned, but I say i have really bad health anxiety and that seems to be that. But now i'm worried that it isn't high due to that and that i have something serious wrong with me. I'm 26, no family history of any medical problems, and try to be as healthy as possible. I workout 3-4 xs a week but I don't always make the best choices when it comes to food. So in a nutshell, i'm terrified and think i'm having a heart attack or something bad:( I don't have insurance, so I can't even go to a doctor. And nowy anxiety is taking over and is making the pain more frequent. Or at least I'm praying its anxiety :/ could this all just be heartburn? Thanks a bunch

[Harmony]

This is, in all likelihood, just your anxiety.  I had the exact same thing going on last Spring (actually still get it) I had EKG's, 2 chest x-rays and an echocardiogram!  All that wasted health care, testing and stress and everything was completely normal.

It's always a good thing to get a doctor to check you out if this persists, but my guess is anxiety.  Try some relaxation activities and distractions and see if you notice change.

Take care :)

[Jw1724]

I get these pains often, under my left breast... sharp but aching and sometimes stays for awhile.

It has to be anxiety. If you have had this happen multiple times, without shortness of breath, without falling to the floor, without long-term issues because of it... it's anxiety!

[marc]

At age 26, the chance of you having a heart attack is remote.

[gigglesalc25]

I too have an ache the last few days in the right side of my chest.....docs have told me two things it's from a tendon i hurt in the front of my neck so its radiating down or it can be my anxiety, sounds like good answers don't it? Now only if I could believe it! Good Luck and I hope you feel better.....from what I hear anxiety can do all kinds of things to your body!

[daviezmom]

Well I was getting ready to post a thread about this exact same issue! So we're suffering from the same symptoms right now! I'm freaking out about a heart attack as well. I've had this problem before and have had all kinds of tests done, all came back fine. So that's what's kept me from rushing to the doctor this time,  although I'm tempted.

[Vasallus]

Believe me, I've been in this boat before, and I still deal with it from time to time. What we need to start trying to convince ourselves is this: OUR HEART IS STRONG. Seriously, it is one of the most powerful muscles in the body. It can take a beating and keep on beating. Haha see what I did there?

I believe a lot of health anxiety comes from self-confidence issues, but it's aimed instead at our bodies. We have a fear that our organs, skin, etc. just might be weaker than other people's, and therefore these symptoms are going to kill us. If you've been to the doctor, and everything checks out, rest assured that diet, exercise, plenty of sleep, positive reinforcement, and medication (for some people) are the best avenues to strength your body and your heart.

Do I still have chest pains? Yes I do, but every time I have them, I remind myself that these pains are the equivalent of shooting a tank with a paintball gun. My heart is a tank, and it's going to keep trucking along as long as I take care of it!

[soccerash21]

Hey guys!

Thank you all so so much for all of your responses!! I went out yesterday and occupied myself to see if it would go away, and surprise! It did! There were a few times where I still felt it, but for the most part it was gone and I've barely felt it today. It really is crazy what anxiety can do to you and all of the random pains that it can make happen. I hope all of you who said you were experiencing the same thing are feeling better today!! Thank you all again!!

[msgb98]

Google or look up Costochondritis.
I have these similar pains often when I have really been under stress. It is very very frightening.
 Sometimes it is so bad that wearing a bra is just something I can not do. I go for a camisole then.
After seeing your doctor, something such as an antil inflamatory would be best.

[Wishingforcalm2]

I don't think it's anxiety causing the pain - but it's the anxiety that makes you freak out about it, that's for sure.  I had this problem for over a year....exact same symptoms you describe.  I went to the ER multiple times convinced I was having a heart attack, I had multiple EKG's etc and constant regular dr visits with this pain.  Finally I got a cardiologist and he gave me a stress test.  Also, he did some sort of ultrasound on my heart.  As I was laying on the table hooked up to all sorts of machines that were monitoring my heart and he had the ultrasound want on my chest literally looking inside my chest, I got the pain!  I said "that's it! it's hurting right now....I feel that pain constantly and it's so scary." And he just shrugged and said, "that's not your heart. your heart is perfect."  And that was it.  I've had the same pain a million times since then...and I just say to myself, "it's not your heart, calm down."  I mean....the dr was watching, looking at and monitoring my heart at the exact moment it happened, and he couldn't have cared less.  Even the most expert health anxiety sufferers (I nominate myself for that!) would find it hard to doubt that kind of evidence.

It's not your heart - I'm sure you're fine.  That area has huge numbers of muscles, tendons, etc....things get pulled, pinched tweaked and the pain (that, if it were in our leg or somewhere else wouldn't really bother us at all) just flips us out because it's on the same side of our body as the heart. 
I hope you feel better :)

[archalen]

Hey there, I'm about your age and have been suffering from general anxiety for about two years.  I've also had what you could call very dull aches or burning sensations in my chest area as a symptom of my anxiety.  I have an interesting...technique to share to get it to go away over time.

What happens with anxiety and even a normal (if a bit high) level of stress is you usually build up tension in your core/ torso area (which seems to agitate your lungs), and a lot of us don't even realize it.  Only about a year and a half into my anxiety did I realize this.  Now I'm no expert, but what seems to be happening is the tension is causing either minor stomach issues which create a kind of acid reflux symptom, or maybe internal organs in your chest area (such as your lungs) become slightly agitated due to the tension- either way, its nothing to worry about, even those who don't suffer from anxiety like we do get these symptoms from time to time when life is stressful, they just don't pay as much attention to them.

Anyway, here's the interesting part, you can let go of this tension.  It takes a little courage, but a big part of overcoming the anxiety and the tension you're feeling is surrendering yourself.  Now, the easier part is surrendering yourself physically, the more advanced technique is emotionally, but the first is a good start.

So what you do is you stand up straight- you're feeling a slight agitation in your chest like a little itch you can't scratch, now slowly let go of any tension you feel in your torso.  What you'll probably notice if you're holding a lot of stress is your heart starts to beat a little faster and harder, which is a good thing, just imagine your body is letting all that stress out of the stressed wells in your torso (which seems to actually be whats happening).  When I do this, I feel very bloated in my belly, especially if I ate while I had stress, but by letting go whatever gas/bloating built up, the symptom eventually goes away.  Since its a little uncomfortable to stand up straight and do this, I recommend mixing it with a stretch (yoga) position that also helps let go of the tension.  An easy stretch to do is to stand up straight, then spread your legs apart slightly (you can bend your knees), then bend over and put your hands on the floor.

So alternate the pose with standing up straight and letting go of the tension in your torso- don't worry if the agitation doesn't go away immediately- remember, you've been building up this stress for a while, it's going to take a few minutes to let go of all of it.

If you want to prevent this from happening, tune in to the way your breathing every once in a while.  If you're stressed your probably kind of sucking in your stomach instead of letting the torso push out and naturally rise in and out fully.  This seems to be what causes that tension build up