Heart...? Or just my mind..?
Discussion
Bit rambling this - sorry. Not sure how to put this all down into some coherent structure! :|
About a month or so ago whilst playing football I experienced some chest pain. I stopped and after 5 minutes or so and felt ok again and finished the game. Since then I've been basically not myself and can't exactly work out what's wrong with me. The following day had some aches in my chest.. mostly left hand side but occasionally in the middle, right, and also in my back. By the end of the week I felt terrible, not myself, in pain, major chest pain when walking! - went to the walk in centre. They did an ECG, all seemed OK.. but after a listen to my chest, they thought chest infection, gave me antibiotics and, after a week, I felt better but the pains have lingered on and off. I get them when I do any kind of walking (after approx 5 mins) but also get them randomly whilst sitting, etc. I seem to be sleeping OK though and they don't hurt then?
I've also, in the last week or so had palpatations a few times (quite scary) however I've put this down to trying to cut out caffeine and then occasionally forgetting and having some.. and also regularly feel my heart thumping in my chest. If they carry on, I will be going back to the GP!
It's strange because, prior to this episode, I was in reasonably good shape. I cycled a few times a week, had been playing football once a week for a month or two.. could gladly cycle 20/30 miles no issue. Never had palpatations regardless of how much caffeine I consumed! However at the time of the problem was going through a short seperation from my girlfriend and my job has been stressing me out significantly.. and wondering if I've developed some kind of anxiety or something. I also seem to be weathering continual random illnesses - sore throats, headaches, and a permanent bunged up nose. Literally prior to all this and prior to the pain at football, I felt I was in great shape and hadn't had a cold or illness for near enough two years. What the hell has happened to me?
I haven't dared do any strenuous exercise since this all kicked off.. I've been and spent hours walking round town doing xmas shopping, and washed the cars and so forth without any problems.. but not dared go back on my bike! I keep visualising myself trying to power up a steep hill and keeling over shortly afterwards.
Should I be demanding a more thorough investigation by my GP?
I'm 29, don't smoke, rarely drink (both in the past and currently), am not overweight. Do enjoy food though!
About a month or so ago whilst playing football I experienced some chest pain. I stopped and after 5 minutes or so and felt ok again and finished the game. Since then I've been basically not myself and can't exactly work out what's wrong with me. The following day had some aches in my chest.. mostly left hand side but occasionally in the middle, right, and also in my back. By the end of the week I felt terrible, not myself, in pain, major chest pain when walking! - went to the walk in centre. They did an ECG, all seemed OK.. but after a listen to my chest, they thought chest infection, gave me antibiotics and, after a week, I felt better but the pains have lingered on and off. I get them when I do any kind of walking (after approx 5 mins) but also get them randomly whilst sitting, etc. I seem to be sleeping OK though and they don't hurt then?
I've also, in the last week or so had palpatations a few times (quite scary) however I've put this down to trying to cut out caffeine and then occasionally forgetting and having some.. and also regularly feel my heart thumping in my chest. If they carry on, I will be going back to the GP!
It's strange because, prior to this episode, I was in reasonably good shape. I cycled a few times a week, had been playing football once a week for a month or two.. could gladly cycle 20/30 miles no issue. Never had palpatations regardless of how much caffeine I consumed! However at the time of the problem was going through a short seperation from my girlfriend and my job has been stressing me out significantly.. and wondering if I've developed some kind of anxiety or something. I also seem to be weathering continual random illnesses - sore throats, headaches, and a permanent bunged up nose. Literally prior to all this and prior to the pain at football, I felt I was in great shape and hadn't had a cold or illness for near enough two years. What the hell has happened to me?
I haven't dared do any strenuous exercise since this all kicked off.. I've been and spent hours walking round town doing xmas shopping, and washed the cars and so forth without any problems.. but not dared go back on my bike! I keep visualising myself trying to power up a steep hill and keeling over shortly afterwards.
Should I be demanding a more thorough investigation by my GP?
I'm 29, don't smoke, rarely drink (both in the past and currently), am not overweight. Do enjoy food though!
Stupid-sounding question: what food do you eat regularly?
I had palpitations which were unexplainable. I do lots of exercise; eat very healthily. GP said to cut down on caffeine and get more sleep, which I did. No change. Had the 24 hour ECG. Got the all clear... Thought it might be turmeric as that was something that I'd started adding to food around the time I noticed the palpitations. Cut that out. Still no change. Then one week I forgot to buy bananas at Tesco. Palpitations didn't hit for a week. So there it is. Every time I eat even just one banana, I get these weird thuds in my chest after a couple of hours!
I had palpitations which were unexplainable. I do lots of exercise; eat very healthily. GP said to cut down on caffeine and get more sleep, which I did. No change. Had the 24 hour ECG. Got the all clear... Thought it might be turmeric as that was something that I'd started adding to food around the time I noticed the palpitations. Cut that out. Still no change. Then one week I forgot to buy bananas at Tesco. Palpitations didn't hit for a week. So there it is. Every time I eat even just one banana, I get these weird thuds in my chest after a couple of hours!
Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 14th December 23:45
in a healthy (from what you've said) 29 yr old male it's unlikely to be heart problems, but you can't rule it out. if your family has never had any heart problems then you should be safe. if you had a heart defect at birth, you'd already know about it. chest pain can be caused by many things.
how would you describe the pain? crushing, tearing, stabbing etc etc?
it doesn't seem to come on at predictable times either...?
have a look at "visceral pain referral patterns" and see what that brings up. could also be viral infection, though pain radiating to the back is an interesting one....
how would you describe the pain? crushing, tearing, stabbing etc etc?
it doesn't seem to come on at predictable times either...?
have a look at "visceral pain referral patterns" and see what that brings up. could also be viral infection, though pain radiating to the back is an interesting one....
Edited by E21_Ross on Wednesday 15th December 07:05
The pain seems to vary. At the minute it just feels like a slight weight on my chest and, if I press on the very centre of my chest (where it dips in before going down to the stomach) it does feel really quite sore.. like enough to make me flinch. Indicating it's probably muscular inflamation or something.
But I also get occasional quick stabbing pains and more general muscular aches. There's a whole variety of them. Some of them feel muscular but some feel deeper - like nothing I've ever felt before. I've also had the pain radiating down my left arm.
Also.. interestingly.. with the chest infection I'd not had a cough of any kind. However the last day or two I've coughed once or twice and the whole area at the bottom of my lungs (diaphragm?) has hurt quite sharply. In fact I coughed just once on Saturday and the pain was so serious I had to stop in my tracks for 30 seconds or so as it felt like I'd been kicked hard in my chest. It makes me wonder whether I do still have some kind of infection that I'm just not fighting off?
But I also get occasional quick stabbing pains and more general muscular aches. There's a whole variety of them. Some of them feel muscular but some feel deeper - like nothing I've ever felt before. I've also had the pain radiating down my left arm.
Also.. interestingly.. with the chest infection I'd not had a cough of any kind. However the last day or two I've coughed once or twice and the whole area at the bottom of my lungs (diaphragm?) has hurt quite sharply. In fact I coughed just once on Saturday and the pain was so serious I had to stop in my tracks for 30 seconds or so as it felt like I'd been kicked hard in my chest. It makes me wonder whether I do still have some kind of infection that I'm just not fighting off?
Edited by Chicane-UK on Wednesday 15th December 08:53
Chicane-UK said:
The pain seems to vary. At the minute it just feels like a slight weight on my chest and, if I press on the very centre of my chest (where it dips in before going down to the stomach) it does feel really quite sore.. like enough to make me flinch. Indicating it's probably muscular inflamation or something.
But I also get occasional quick stabbing pains and more general muscular aches. There's a whole variety of them. Some of them feel muscular but some feel deeper - like nothing I've ever felt before. I've also had the pain radiating down my left arm.
Also.. interestingly.. with the chest infection I'd not had a cough of any kind. However the last day or two I've coughed once or twice and the whole area at the bottom of my lungs (diaphragm?) has hurt quite sharply. In fact I coughed just once on Saturday and the pain was so serious I had to stop in my tracks for 30 seconds or so as it felt like I'd been kicked hard in my chest. It makes me wonder whether I do still have some kind of infection that I'm just not fighting off?
From what you describe here, If it were me I would be demanding a more thorough exam from my GP, or a new GP.But I also get occasional quick stabbing pains and more general muscular aches. There's a whole variety of them. Some of them feel muscular but some feel deeper - like nothing I've ever felt before. I've also had the pain radiating down my left arm.
Also.. interestingly.. with the chest infection I'd not had a cough of any kind. However the last day or two I've coughed once or twice and the whole area at the bottom of my lungs (diaphragm?) has hurt quite sharply. In fact I coughed just once on Saturday and the pain was so serious I had to stop in my tracks for 30 seconds or so as it felt like I'd been kicked hard in my chest. It makes me wonder whether I do still have some kind of infection that I'm just not fighting off?
Edited by Chicane-UK on Wednesday 15th December 08:53
the pain down the left arm is not necessarily something too serious - trigger points in pec major, lat dorsi, deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis and teres major all around the shoulder area can all refer to the arm, with varying locations of pain, particularly the posterior muscles of the shoulder which also refer pain to the back as well (which you mention).
that's not to say it's not something serious, it's to say it's not necessarily something serious.
regards a more thorough examination from GP - a longer ECG would have been nice if they only did it for a few minutes, particularly if you weren't experiencing pain at that time. a manual therapist who has experience with CV and respiratory screening exams may be a better option than the GP for the mean time... if they find something they either don't know or is serious, they'll refer you back to GP anyway, if it's myofascial or otherwise, they'll be better than GP.
that's not to say it's not something serious, it's to say it's not necessarily something serious.
regards a more thorough examination from GP - a longer ECG would have been nice if they only did it for a few minutes, particularly if you weren't experiencing pain at that time. a manual therapist who has experience with CV and respiratory screening exams may be a better option than the GP for the mean time... if they find something they either don't know or is serious, they'll refer you back to GP anyway, if it's myofascial or otherwise, they'll be better than GP.
Edited by E21_Ross on Wednesday 15th December 09:38
The GF of a work colleague recently had some problems with the sac that surrounds the heart which was inflamed. She took some anit-biotics etc.. and it seemed to get better, then one day shortly afterwards she just keeled over unconscious. Spent a week in hospital before she came round, then they decided to do a removal of the sac which is open heart surgery stuff. She's been off for about 3 months so far.
Now, I'm not saying that you've got something like that, it could be, but I am saying that you should get your arse back down the GP's and show them the messages you've posted here so it's quite clear to them what you're experiencing.
Main thing is not to worry about it though
Now, I'm not saying that you've got something like that, it could be, but I am saying that you should get your arse back down the GP's and show them the messages you've posted here so it's quite clear to them what you're experiencing.
Main thing is not to worry about it though
Piersman2 said:
The GF of a work colleague recently had some problems with the sac that surrounds the heart which was inflamed. She took some anit-biotics etc.. and it seemed to get better, then one day shortly afterwards she just keeled over unconscious. Spent a week in hospital before she came round, then they decided to do a removal of the sac which is open heart surgery stuff. She's been off for about 3 months so far.
Now, I'm not saying that you've got something like that, it could be, but I am saying that you should get your arse back down the GP's and show them the messages you've posted here so it's quite clear to them what you're experiencing.
Main thing is not to worry about it though
that's infective pericarditis. whilst this does typically refer pain to the back, it rarely radiates down the arm and the pain is often quite severe, and is usually constant for hours to days, by which time the person usually goes to A&E, not a GP.Now, I'm not saying that you've got something like that, it could be, but I am saying that you should get your arse back down the GP's and show them the messages you've posted here so it's quite clear to them what you're experiencing.
Main thing is not to worry about it though
i hope it's not this the OP has, it doesn't sound like it from what info we have, but i'm not a cardiologist, jst done some GD stuff.
edit - forgot to mention, pain disappearing upon leaning forward could potentially indicate this, as well as a couple of other things, but rules a fair amount of stuff out.
Edited by E21_Ross on Wednesday 15th December 10:21
E21_Ross said:
in a healthy (from what you've said) 29 yr old male it's unlikely to be heart problems, but you can't rule it out.
Too right. Watch the player far left of the screen (in the white) at 20 seconds in: sudden cardiac arrest.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEwirY_BsHQ&fea...
Anyway, either 1/ get your GP to refer you, 2/ get a new GP or 3/ walk into your nearest A&E asap!
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