Horrible chest pain

[Acehood]

Since Monday morning I've had pain in the left side of my chest. It varies from a sharp pain to a strange sensation akin to a bubble being popped inside my body, depending on how I move etc. I feel shortness of breath and it hurts the more I try to breathe.

I am a smoker - smoked about 10 a day for the last 3-4 years. I have not smoked since Monday however and will try to quit for good as a result of this. Its really scared me to be honest.

I have had this before and it usually went away when I had a cigarette or sometimes would just go away after a while by itself. I saw my doctor about it and he suggested it was an inflammation of the muscle between my lung and ribcage and should sort itself out. This was over a year ago. I've had minor chest pain since but because it always went away pretty quickly I ignored it and carried on smoking.

Ibuprofen does nothing to relieve the pain. Last night I had to sleep sitting up because there was no way I could lie down without it hurting. I'm going to book another doctors appointment tomorrow but I was just wondering if anyone else has had the same issue?

[Iain328]

Acehood said:

Since Monday morning I've had pain in the left side of my chest. It varies from a sharp pain to a strange sensation akin to a bubble being popped inside my body, depending on how I move etc. I feel shortness of breath and it hurts the more I try to breathe.

I am a smoker - smoked about 10 a day for the last 3-4 years. I have not smoked since Monday however and will try to quit for good as a result of this. Its really scared me to be honest.

I have had this before and it usually went away when I had a cigarette or sometimes would just go away after a while by itself. I saw my doctor about it and he suggested it was an inflammation of the muscle between my lung and ribcage and should sort itself out. This was over a year ago. I've had minor chest pain since but because it always went away pretty quickly I ignored it and carried on smoking.

Ibuprofen does nothing to relieve the pain. Last night I had to sleep sitting up because there was no way I could lie down without it hurting. I'm going to book another doctors appointment tomorrow but I was just wondering if anyone else has had the same issue?

Have you done anything physical or even fallen in the last week or so that might have caused you to throw your back out, put a rib out of place or pull a muscle or ligament? Have you used anything like a hedge trimmer recently? Don't laugh, common cause of pulled chest muscles etc making people think they are about to have a heart attack!

[Acehood]

Iain328 said:

Have you done anything physical or even fallen in the last week or so that might have caused you to throw your back out, put a rib out of place or pull a muscle or ligament? Have you used anything like a hedge trimmer recently? Don't laugh, common cause of pulled chest muscles etc making people think they are about to have a heart attack!

Nope. I've actually done hardly anything for a couple of weeks due to losing my job.

I have however smoked a lot more which I'm almost certain is the cause of this pain.

[Fume troll]

Gaviscon?

Cheers,

FT.

[dreamer75]

Could it be costochondrytis (probably spelt completely differently!) I had that once and it was excruciatingly painful. But see a doc to get it checked out!

[Ordinary_Chap]

Go see the doc straight away to get yourself checked out.

Although it sounds like it could be a muscle strain but don't rely on internet diagnosis! Get yourself to the doc's!

[Soovy]

You have chest pains, and you HAVE A CIGARETTE TO MAKE IT GO AWAY?!

Go to the fking hospital. NOW.

[Acehood]

I went to the doctors this morning. My doctor was a bit confused by my symptoms so asked the practice nurse to do an ECG. then referred me to A&E.

I've spent all day at hospital having various tests done including one similar to the ultrasound for pregnancy. They've identified some kind of cyst on my heart. I've been sent home for the evening and have to go back tomorrow at 9am for a CT scan and then whatever treatment is needed following the results.

Not sure how serious all of this is but I guess anything to do with my heart is something to worry about. I'm far too laid back to be entirely bothered by it. I'm more annoyed that I can't navigate my stairs now without being seriously out of breath.

Edit:
Aswell as the cyst they said I have Pericarditis, which is "an inflammation of the sack surrounding the heart. This condition usually causes an accumulation of fluid around the heart and may be associated with chest pain. Although most cases are usually just a nuisance, Pericarditis can be very serious and life threatening."

Edited by Acehood on Wednesday 18th November 19:47

[Raverbaby]

Well done for going!
Hopefully you'll be giving up the ciggs for good now and you'll be on the mend soon!

[grumbledoak]

Go back tomorrow. Find out what it is. Chest pain and difficulty breathing are not good.

[Acehood]

Not smoked since Monday evening. Don't have any cravings at the moment either, probably because I'm wheezing like an asthmatic old man constantly. I will try my hardest not to smoke again, ever.

I'll be going back tomorrow morning and try to keep you updated even if it's just to give me something to do, along with some kind of record of my illness!

[dumbfunk]

I ended up in hospital with pericarditis whilst working at the Frankfurt motor show in 2007. I was 38, had never smoked and thought I was having a cocking heart attack. It was not good. Had 2 nights in their care, just about managed to drive the Griff home to the UK and 2 weeks later was fully recovery with no further symptoms.

I read everything I could and discovered it can be extremely serious so take no chances.


df



PS: If I'm ever that ill again I'm not phoning an ambulance - I'm phoning a travel agent. German hospital care was an absolute revelation after watching my father die of infection in a UK hospital.

[Acehood]

dumbfunk said:

I ended up in hospital with pericarditis whilst working at the Frankfurt motor show in 2007. I was 38, had never smoked and thought I was having a cocking heart attack. It was not good. Had 2 nights in their care, just about managed to drive the Griff home to the UK and 2 weeks later was fully recovery with no further symptoms.

I read everything I could and discovered it can be extremely serious so take no chances.


df



PS: If I'm ever that ill again I'm not phoning an ambulance - I'm phoning a travel agent. German hospital care was an absolute revelation after watching my father die of infection in a UK hospital.

Yeah I've read up on it too and found it's not something to be taken lightly.

How did they treat you? I'm still not 100% on how it's actually 'cured', or even how it is caused.

I've no experience of foreign health care but to be honest the NHS is pretty damn good for free (aside from indirect payments via taxes)

[dumbfunk]

I walked in off the street and over 2 days received 4 ECG, an X-Ray and anti-inflammatory drugs. They told me that fortunately I was pretty fit, never smoked and not overweight so I shouldn't expect to see a reoccurrence.

Regarding the level of care - I walked in off the street, was admitted directly into an incredibly clean and well equipped ward with 3 beds and spoken to in perfect English by every single person I met. As I sat on the edge of the bed the orderly asked if I would like any water. I replied "yes" and she said in a strong German accent ... "still or sparkling". Does that answer your question?

In the UK all the trained people I met were dedicated, caring and hard working. The system itself left me consumed by frustration and anger.



df

[Acehood]

dumbfunk said:

I walked in off the street and over 2 days received 4 ECG, an X-Ray and anti-inflammatory drugs. They told me that fortunately I was pretty fit, never smoked and not overweight so I shouldn't expect to see a reoccurrence.

Regarding the level of care - I walked in off the street, was admitted directly into an incredibly clean and well equipped ward with 3 beds and spoken to in perfect English by every single person I met. As I sat on the edge of the bed the orderly asked if I would like any water. I replied "yes" and she said in a strong German accent ... "still or sparkling". Does that answer your question?

In the UK all the trained people I met were dedicated, caring and hard working. The system itself left me consumed by frustration and anger.



df

Sorry I think you misunderstood my question .. I wasn't referring to how well the hospital performed but as to the actual medical treatment required to treat the condition.

I've been to hospital again today and had my CT scan done - it shows that I have a cyst approximately the same size as my heart. Got to wait 2 weeks now (at home, with some strong painkillers that seem to be working) for a surgical specialist to see me about my options.

[dumbfunk]

Sorry - I did answer but not very clearly. Luckily for me, anti-inflammatory drugs and a couple of days rest were all that were needed.

I hope your have a similarly good result. All the best.



df

[oldbanger]

My MIL had pericarditis a couple of years ago, spent the best part of a year in hospital, much of it in intensive care, until they worked out what it was (they thought it was old fashioned heart failure but it wouldn't respond to treatment).

Apparently it's often caused by a viral infection. In her case, she had to have the pericardium cut/peeled off to free her heart to beat properly, then she recovered quite quickly. She seems about 10 years younger since the op.

[toasty]

oldbanger said:

My MIL had pericarditis a couple of years ago, spent the best part of a year in hospital, much of it in intensive care, until they worked out what it was (they thought it was old fashioned heart failure but it wouldn't respond to treatment).

Apparently it's often caused by a viral infection. In her case, she had to have the pericardium cut/peeled off to free her heart to beat properly, then she recovered quite quickly. She seems about 10 years younger since the op.

I had that, woke up one morning and it felt like someone was standing on my chest. I thought it was asthma so rode down to A&E who admitted me immediately and I spent the next 3 weeks in hospital. The only drug they gave me was ibuprofen.

[eldudereno]

Just in case anyone fails to realise, this is a forum for car nuts, it's not NHS Direct!!!

We've got a thing in this country called the NHS which we all pay for so you may as well use it.

[eldudereno]

toasty said:

oldbanger said:

My MIL had pericarditis a couple of years ago, spent the best part of a year in hospital, much of it in intensive care, until they worked out what it was (they thought it was old fashioned heart failure but it wouldn't respond to treatment).

Apparently it's often caused by a viral infection. In her case, she had to have the pericardium cut/peeled off to free her heart to beat properly, then she recovered quite quickly. She seems about 10 years younger since the op.

I had that, woke up one morning and it felt like someone was standing on my chest. I thought it was asthma so rode down to A&E who admitted me immediately and I spent the next 3 weeks in hospital. The only drug they gave me was ibuprofen.

You rode down to A&E !