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Costo is making me crazy

Posted , 10 users are following.

cristen75330
cristen75330

I was diagnosed with costo just a few months ago, and I’m losing my mind over it! Since being diagnosed, I have experienced so many different symptoms that I feel like I spend half my time on Google just trying to make sense of them and convince myself I’m not dying. 

I started out just experiencing occasional twinges in my chest, but by now I’ve gone through full blown chest pain (on the left side), constant left arm or shoulder pain, muscle spasms in my left side/back, shooting pain in my left arm, tingling in my arms, difficulty drawing a deep breath, heart racing, heart pounding, heart skipping a beat occasionally, terrible headaches, fatigue, back pain, trouble sleeping...and every day it seems it’s something new, or a symptom increases in intensity. I’ve looked into everything from heart disease and strokes to electrolyte imbalances and magnesium deficiency, and I hate that this costo is turning me into a hypochondriac! 

I also think my doctor got my diagnosis slightly wrong- yes I have costo, but she missed the Tietze’s syndrome, which I think is what is wreaking most of the havoc with me. That, and the unending anxiety! I know what is causing all of this yet I can’t stop the anxiety and feeling worried that maybe it really is something life threatening. I didn’t notice for over a month that I had a sinus infection because I’ve been too focused on this- I just stopped breathing as I was falling asleep for a few nights before I went to the doc and got antibiotics. And now that I’ve been taking them, the new symptoms popping up are impossible to differentiate between side effects or costo/Tietze’s. 

If it was just the rib/arm/shoulder pain, I could cope. But all the other junk along with it that none of the docs I’ve seen seem concerned about is making me crazy. This is maddening! Anyone else feel mentally worn down by this?

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • James2108
    James2108 cristen75330

    Posted

    I’m on the exact same boat as you Cristen. 

    Woke up during the night and I’ve extremely sore back pain and ear ache. Was diagnosed with Tietze’s syndrome last week after almost three months of it, but this is driving me crazy as I’m constantly off work! 

  • kim27383
    kim27383 cristen75330

    Posted

    I was driven crazy for several months that after being diagnosed. I was googling every minute as well. I have swelling too so I don't think it's costochondritis I think it's Tietzes. My doctor just thinks it's musculoskeletal and hasn't given me a name. Another doc had diagnosed me with it. It's crazy how much anxiety can make it worse. Once I calmed down my symptoms also started to ease. They didn't go away but they did lessen. I hope the best for you.

    • billie38069
      billie38069 kim27383

      Posted

      My doctor tells me the same thing ive pulled muscles blah blah blah.....2 years of pulles intercostal muscles yeah right!!! I had one doctor say she thought i had costo told my regular doctor that and he said no way. Prescribed me some pills for depression and anxiety and refered me to physical therapy. So I live in pain everyday back chest arms neck cold makes it worse. The only time i feel semi normal is when its warm.
    • kim27383
      kim27383 billie38069

      Posted

      I got referred to physical therapy as well. I was going for my neck and they work in arms and chest as well but because of the cold weather I have missed some appointments and still need to go back. I'm also having this horrible hip and joint pain which I was told I have arthritis in my hip but I haven't went to a specialist. I guess it's time to see one.

  • donna_63014
    donna_63014 cristen75330

    Posted

    I feel your pain I was diagnosed a year ago and have many different symptoms from sore chest to chest pain,pains in right side and shoulder, back pain, jaw & ear pain, lots of phlegm. Heart palpitations to BP issues its settled a bit now and I m on a return to work now. I ve had everything from chest x rays to ecg, mri, heart monitor, blood work seen a rheumatologist and continuous doc app to still have no answers the mri only showed edema in soft tissue of the breasts but I was feeling better by the time I got in and now have a upper respiratory cold which all the coughing is irritating my back and chest again. I ve found the only thing that's helped me is cranial therapy which I have not been able to continue with due to lack of funds so hopefully soon I can go back. Good luck to everyone dealing with this.

    • HPE11
      HPE11 donna_63014

      Posted

      Hi donna 63014. For about 5 months ago, you wrote about your challenges with costochondritis / titzens syndrome. You mentioned that you were about to return to work again and you felt better. Are you fresh again and have you any experience with what medicine or treatment that helped you? I'm experiencing something that is quite similar to what you describe, and would like to hear if there is anything I can do to get better soon... Especially the Heart palpitations scares me a lot.

      sincerely

      HPE11

  • MeganeJaggers12
    MeganeJaggers12 cristen75330

    Posted

    I also got diagnosed with costochondritis, and have constantly been on google all day everyday. As I’m convinced I’m dying. I’ve had all of those symptoms, as I’m 17 I didn’t know if it was unusual to have this condition at my age. I’ve had pains in my arm, and twinges in my jaw and at times have been convinced I’m having heart attack by have been reassured by two paramedics and two GPthat it’s just costochondritis 
    • kim27383
      kim27383 MeganeJaggers12

      Posted

      I love how they say just costochondritis like it isn't really anything. The pain is horrible when it happens and unless they have dealt with it have no idea what we go through on a daily basis.

    • MeganeJaggers12
      MeganeJaggers12 kim27383

      Posted

      That’s exactly my thought. I don’t think they realize just how painful it is. Especially because the pain is so close to your heart. It’s driving me crazy to be honest 
  • elaine30973
    elaine30973 cristen75330

    Posted

    Hi Cristen

    I feel the same. Totally exhausted by it all and scared too. Do You have dizziness.... like you will faint? I am scared to leave the house and havnt worked for 3 weeks. In the summer when it started it was just chest and shoulder blades pain and after 3 months cleared on it own but its back with a vegeance worse than before sad

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