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I have had constant chest pressure that is making it difficult to breathe for a month. What is it?

Posted , 3 users are following.

msfether
msfether

I have had a feeling of chest pressure 24/7. It never lets up, but it does vary in severity, meaning that sometimes it's really, really bad, and other times it is just bad. It is hard to breathe, too.  I can take deep breaths and everything; it's just hard to pull the air in and out. It's like there is resistance.

I am 32 years old, never smoked, don't drink, vegetarian, was exercising regularly before the chest pressure/breathing problems, normal weight, and have never had blood pressure or cholesterol problems. Heart disease runs in my family, and I was diagnosed with tachycardia and take Bystolic for it which has been working out fine for me. I also have migraines which I take Imitrex as needed for, and I was diagnosed with asthma five years ago but would only use my emergency inhaler rarely. My GP has mentioned before that I might have an autoimmune disease because my ANA was positive, but I don't know.

I have been to an ENT, cardiologist, and pulmonologist. I have gotten chest x-rays, EKGs, breathing treatments, pulmonary function test, echocardiogram, treadmill stress test, blood tests, and a camera down my nose to look at my throat.

Tests don't show anything that could be causing chest pressure/breathing trouble. I have not been stressed or anxious, though since this weird chest pressure isn't letting up, I am starting to have anxiety. The problems started a day before my period started and are worse when I am on my period, and sometimes they are worse for seemingly no reason.

Does anybody know what it could be? I am going to see my cardiologist again soon to see if there are more tests to run. I cannot function normally like this. If I walk around, I feel like I am suffocating. Again, this problem is not intermittent; it's constant. I HATE being inactive. My muscles are turning to mush. I'm missing work to go to doctor appointments, and I am new to this job, so it doesn't look good. I can't keep going on like this.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • JerryR
    JerryR msfether

    Posted

    If your pain is only or primarily during your period, it could be "endometriosis of the diaphragm," an uncommon condition. Google that.

    • msfether
      msfether JerryR

      Posted

      I will look into that. It's not really pain, just a lot of pressure. It is worse during my period, but it never goes away and is always there. Everything gets worse around my period, including my migraines and heart palpitations.

    • JerryR
      JerryR msfether

      Posted

      I googled it and they reported 4 cases - very rare. So it's probably not that. But it could be, especially if it's associated with your period.

  • youngatheart1
    youngatheart1 msfether

    Posted

    Just a thought, does it hurt on your chest and ribs when you press on them.  I have constant pressure and this is because I have costochondritis, it is painful inflammation of the area between ribs and causing a lot of pain in the chest area.  I cannot take ibuprofen so I use a wheat bag that I put in the microwave and sit with this on my chest.  I do not get problems with breathing, but do get pain if I breath in to hard.  
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