worried

hall234200 · Post by **hall234200** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:13 pm

I have been haveing chest pain and the feeling that something is in my chest for 2 weeks now. I've been to the ER twice and my regular doc today. In these 2 weeks i have had 3 ekg, 1 bloodwork and 3 chest xrays. They all came out normal. I cant stop worrying, l'm scared i'm going to fall over of a heart attack at any second. Has anyone ever had chest pain this long? I would appreciate a response. I'm only 26 but i'm so scared i cant stand it.

Stressed in MN · Post by **Stressed in MN** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:26 pm

I know exactly how you feel! I have been having chest pains and pressure for over 3 years. If all the tests come back normal, you can be assured that this is a panic attack. I don't know if you've ever had them, but they are scary and debilitating. It definitely feels like you are having a heart attack or stroke. Just know that you are not alone, and that you will be alright. Take some deep breaths and try and focus on something else.

hall234200 · Post by **hall234200** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:17 pm

Thanks for replying. I dont think that it is panic attacks because it does it when i'm calm.

Flyer99 · Post by **Flyer99** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:43 pm

When we are very anxious and/or stressed, our muscles contract. When we are relaxed, the muscles relax as well. The chest area has many, many muscles and just like our necks, stomachs, etc get tight when we are stressed, so does the chest area. You have had many tests that have come back perfectly fine. I'm not a doctor, but I have had similar feelings and they are all stress/anxiety related and go away when I can calm down. Relax, breathe properly, perhaps try relaxation or meditation and you'll be just fine. You mentioned that this happens when you are calm... however I bet that you have some underlying anxiety or stress that you are unaware of that is manifesting itself in muscle tension. Good luck!

newrunner · Post by **newrunner** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:14 am

Hi -

I'm sorry that you are so freaked out. I remember having MS or heart attacks numerous times-- So many times, that when I get stressed and my left shoulder/pectoral feels tight, I will say "my heart attack muscle" is aching. I had to laugh about it because it got silly.

If you've had chest pain for 2 weeks, it's probably not a heart attack. I don't think the symptoms last that long without getting dire. You know that already, but it is scary.

Have you ever heard of trigger points in your muscles? It's like little knots in there and they refer pain. Like Flyer99 said, there are tons of chest muscles and neck muscles and when they are clenched, they Hurt! Can you put a tennis ball against the wall and put your chest on the ball and roll the ball gently back and forth? That massages the muscles and feels tender even on those who aren't worried about it. And run your index finger down the side of your neck (with your head gently tipped in the opposite direction) and massage your SCM muscle. Also, take your fingers and kind of pinch the big cords of your neck in the front- like on either side of your adam's apple- and hold it for about 10 seconds or until the pain releases. It REALLY helps alot to release tension in your neck. That one in particular helped me with referred sensation to my chest/heart area.

I got a workbook about Trigger Points and it explains how to help yourself. It's about the size of a sheet of paper and it's blue and about 1 inch think. Very helpful.

I hope you feel better soon. You did good to get it checked out. Now, you have to believe the results.

hall234200 · Post by **hall234200** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:12 am

Thanks for all the replys. Thats what my therapist thinks that it is. Can a ekg tell if any thing is going on with your heart?

Flyer99 · Post by **Flyer99** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:21 pm

Oh yes, an EKG tells not only what is going on with your heart at the time, but also if anything has happened to it in the past. A treadmill test is great as well. You may suggest to your doctor having one of those just for your peace of mind.

AlaskanAmber · Post by **AlaskanAmber** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:26 pm

Hey hall,
If you go to the "FIND" button up top on the right, and enter chest pain', you'll find a ton of other people with symptoms such as yours and what we did to overcome it.
I get weird pains in my chest too. Everything from super sharp almost glass like pain, to what feels like a chopstick going through my chest near my heart, and more tingling, radiates down my arm, in my face. After multiple EKG's, stress test, halter moniter,blood work, and ultrasound of the heart, guess what??
Stress and acid reflux.

I hope this helps reassure you. See whatyou find. =) much peace and prayers.

Hope77 · Post by **Hope77** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:13 am

I have had the same thing for the past week. It might be costochronditis. It is an inflamation in your chest muscles due to stress. Very scary and annoying because it could be so many other things like pneumonia or heart attack which of course it usually isn't.