First, you need not preface your posts with IANAD, nor advise me to seek professional medical attention. I know. But I’m broke, have no health insurance, and can’t afford it.
So I have this chest pain that keeps coming back. It’s either on the very bottom of my sternum or immediately to its left. It’s a sharp pain, made worse by laying down or bending over. Sometimes when it’s very bad it radiates up to my jaw. It’s accompanied by a dull ache in my upper back at the same level of the pain in my chest. Breathing makes it worse. The only relief I am able to get comes from heat therapy, but it must be very very hot. The pain usually lasts for about a week.
It’s happened maybe 5 times in the past 6 years, although it’s occuring more frequently now. The first time it got so bad I went to the ER and the doctor told me I had overexerted myself by pushing a car the week before and I had just pulled a muscle. I thought it was bullshit.
Most recently I thought it might have something to do with the futon I’m sleeping on, which is old and broken and dips in the middle. But I really can’t say. Also, this most recent attack seemed to be aggravated by the heavy lifting I was doing at my job.
I think that’s about all you need to know. I’ve heard everything from it’s my gallbladder (wrong side) to fibromyalgia. Any ideas?
IANAD, etc. I’ve had something similar, though not as bad. I’m assuming you’ve had the full workup (EKG, etc., etc.) to rule out actual heart trouble. That said, my diagnosis is heartburn. The fact that it comes on when lying down or bending over is a hint. Pay attention to the association between what you’re eating and what the symptoms are. Heavy, fatty, spicy meals may be a culprit, as well as certain kinds of foods, notably tomatoes. Try some over-the-counter heartburn remedies to see if they help. In many cases, heartburn doesn’t manifest itself as the typical burning sensation up the esophagus. It feels like something else.
Does this seem like a reasonable diagnosis, based on your age and general physical condition? I mean, you’re not 65 and a heavy smoker with a family history of cardiac trouble, right?
I need to amend my advice to say you should consider heartburn ONLY after the docs have made sure it’s not a cardiac problem – a blocked artery or whatnot. So yes, if you haven’t done so, I think a trip to the ER is standard advice. Bring something to read.
Do you smoke? Does this get worse when you smoke? If so you may be looking at angina.
Otherwise your doctor says Mylanta. (Better yet, try drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed in. If you get immediate relief, it’s gas.)
Even if someone was willing to risk your life by making a wild guess at what ails you, you haven’t given us enough information.
It could be anything from a muscle cramp to a heart attack.
How old are you? do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol? are you over weight? Have you been dieting? The list is too long to continue.
Almost every larger city has some sort of free medical services. Go look for them. If you’re too sick to do so, your waaay too sick to dignosed here!