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Chest Discomfort & Shortness of Breath for Months

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sue5250
sue5250

Hi, I'm not sure where else to turn. I've been having chest pressure / discomfort and shortness of breath for 2 months now.

Symptom notes:

The pressure sits on top of my chest (not really in one direction or another). It is constant- from the moment I wake up to when I go to bed. I feel like I can't take a deep enough breath. Sometimes when I am busy at work or am drinking alcohol, I don't notice it, but it's pretty much there all the time. It's slightly better when I lie down and I don't usually have problems going to sleep (I'm a heavy sleeper). The problem is seemingly is worse after lunch... I can't concentrate at work. I just want it to go away.

Necessary background info:

  1. I'm a healthy 25 year old woman. I'm on the low side of BMI (slightly underweight or just right), but eat healthy during the week (burgers and nachos on the weekends).
  2. I drink regularly- mostly wine after work, but occasional beers and vodka sodas on the weekends.
  3. I had a case of a bad string of UTIs (maybe just one horrible one that wouldn't go away) maybe 6 months ago, that lasted about 6-8 months.. it was not fun. I ended up doing a cystoscopy which was normal. Eventually (with the right antibiotic?) it went away.
  4. A couple of months before this started, I tried coke a few times (please hold your judgement). Literal "key bumps", not lines.. not even enough to make an impact in my opinion. This happened on maybe 4 different instances, then I had a bad experience. I couldn't sleep for a whole day and started to have a panic attack. Ruled out the drug after that.

I think that's around when this started. I thought it may be anxiety from what had happened or even acid reflux. After two weeks, I went to my primary care doctor (NOTE: I'm finding a new one. She was great, but it was a small clinic targeting lower income and she didn't have many resources besides prescribing me birth control and an occasional Z-pack). She wasn't sure- maybe a blood clot? Maybe something related to the drug? She performed an EKG (=NORMAL). She told me to either go to urgent care or the ER. So I went to urgent care who got nervous when I mentioned the drug and told me to go to the ER just to be safe. Another EKG (=NORMAL). Chest X-Ray (=NORMAL), Basic Blood Test and tested Troponin to rule out heart attack(?) and a D-Dimer test to rule out potential blood clot(?). Everything was normal (including blood pressure). Doctor said maybe my chest was still inflamed, that I probably have anxiety, and to follow up with my PCP (???).

A nurse friend of mine asked me why they didn't do a CBC and CMP blood test to test my liver? Now that has me thinking. I drink fairly often- my liver could be affected. So I was able to get in with the main hospital chain in the City who only did my blood work. Everything was fairly normal, except:

-Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, slightly high (31.5)

-CO2, slightly low (22)

-Alkaline Phosphatase, low (34)

-ALT, slight low (9)

Liver tests all appear normal, so maybe it's my kidneys. I did have that bad case of UTIs? Or maybe it's a chest/lung "injury" from the drug?

Like I said, my previous PCP doesn't have the resources and I feel bad going to a clinic that treats lower-income clients when I can afford a regular doctor (it was just my first doctor in a new city at the time). SO I'm getting in with a new PCP at the big hospital chain I mentioned, but appointment is not for another month and a half!

This has already given me so much anxiety on a daily basis. I try not to think about it and bother my mom and boyfriend about it, but I'm about to LOSE IT. Please (using your kindest words) offer me any advice you can.

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • irishcream
    irishcream sue5250

    Posted

    Hi Sue,

    First off thanks for being so honest, most people would not have mentioned the drugs. it looks like they have done a lot of testing that have come up normal. If it's been 2 months with trouble breathing , I think I would make an appointment with a lung doctor just to rule out asthma or anything else. They have the ability to look deeper. On another note, anxiety and panic can display the same symptoms. The reason I bring this up is that you say it' s better when your drinking, maybe because your relaxed. (?) Panic and anxiety symptoms are different for everyone. Did the doctor prescribe any medications for this? If so, how is that working? If not maybe you should consider trying something like that to see if it helps. Considering you have been cleared by a lung specialist. Sometimes when we zoom in on something it becomes magnified. Does this make sense? Try hard not to focus on it, its easier said than done. I am not about to lecture you on the drugs, please don't use it again and if at all possible cut back on the drinking until you can get this handled. Hope you feel better soon and check back and let us know how you are and what's going on.

  • debbie37194
    debbie37194 sue5250

    Posted

    hi sorry to hear what your going through, i have these symtoms i went through so much testing and it turned out i had a hiatel hernia where part of the stomach comes into the chest causing chest pain and shortness of breath its really common and worth getting tested with an endoscopy best of luck to you.

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