Still Unhappy Camper, but Better

[Madalot]

Here are a few hints if you choose to wait. Costochondritis is an inflammation within the chest wall and you can elicit tenderness by pushing on it. No tenderness on pushing means something else...something internal.

Oh, am I ever tender. Just leaning against a chair or couch is NOT pleasant. My husband was being as gentle as he could rubbing the Icy/Hot on it, but even the slightest touch is painful.

The pain is tolerable during the day now (since yesterday). My back aches and my side & chest hurt some, but it's not as severe as it was last week. It's bad laying down trying to sleep.

The way things are right now, I am waiting to see my PCP tomorrow. If things turn sour before that, I have a Life Alert system so I've got an avenue to get help when alone (which is a lot, thus the Life Alert).

I really feel it is muscular or something like costochondritis. But I agree I need to see a doctor to be sure. Tomorrow morning.

[jamiswolf]

Oh, am I ever tender. Just leaning against a chair or couch is NOT pleasant. My husband was being as gentle as he could rubbing the Icy/Hot on it, but even the slightest touch is painful.

Sounds miserable...but actually is good news. Doesn't really sound cardiac. But we as innocent bystanders must err on the side of caution...so I'd be happier if you had an ekg and cardiac enzymes now. But only you and hubby can make this decision. Hang in there my dear...
J

[idamtnboy]

Madalot, get to an ER NOW!!!

Here is one of the things I learned 3 years ago when I had chest pains that subsequently turned out to be caused by partial blockages in heart arteries, leading to having a stent placed. Pain caused from a blocked artery can manifest itself in many ways! The old saw about left side arm and shoulder pain being the most sure sign is bull crap.

FOR WOMEN, blocked artery pain is VERY COMMONLY manifested as BACK pain. That's why SO MANY WOMEN DIE from heart attacks. They miss the significance of the back pain. Yes, I am SHOUTING!

GO, NOW!

[chunkyfrog]

+1000!
Go!

[Lazer1234]

IF it is the heart, and it is a partially blocked artery, then the pain comes from lack of oxygen from the heart muscle. It means that the heart muscle cells die, the more hours to go, the greater will be the damage to the heart. Do you get more experienced chest pain when you move, arms and legs? Go to the emergency room.

[Julie]

My sis-in-law had a rib break a few years ago without any real provocation. Yes, her husband had exerted a little pressure (hug) but nothing at all to speak of... and she's not otherwise a particular osteoporosis candidate (big, nonsmoker, active). You never know...

[NateS]

Dear Madalot,

My personal experience about 10 years ago makes me agree with the overwhelming majority here that you should be in the emergency room. My pain was minimal compared to what you describe, and when they did an angio they found blockage so great that I was immediately scheduled for an emergency triple bypass. Stenting was an insufficient remedy. Why wait for a possibly imminent heart attack?

We want you to stay around! Go to the ER!

Best wishes, Nate

[MidnightOwl]

Hi Madalot,

While I agree with the others that you should go now I also know that if if was me I probably wouldn't. (Have I mentioned that I'm sometimes more stubborn than smart? ) Thinking of you. Please keep us posted - and be willing to change your mind if things change.

Midnightowl

[chunkyfrog]

Last time I went to the ER, I thought I was having a stroke.
It turned out to be an anxiety attack.
That was a lot better than not going and having it be a stroke.
I can live with being wrong, dead is not something I'm ready for.

[idamtnboy]

Hi Madalot,

While I agree with the others that you should go now I also know that if if was me I probably wouldn't. (Have I mentioned that I'm sometimes more stubborn than smart? ) Thinking of you. Please keep us posted - and be willing to change your mind if things change.

Midnightowl

From what others have told me, one of the effects of a heart attack in progress is it can really screw up your thinking. Don't know why, maybe the enzymes that are produced during an attack. That's one reason so many don't get their chest pain checked out. A guy at work several years ago related how, in the middle of the night, he stood at the kitchen sink debating if he should go to ER, just a few blocks away. He was concerned that if it was heart burn he would have to pay a $50 copay for a non-emergency visit. There was no copay for a real emergency. He went. He was in fact having a heart attack. I don't recall how many bypasses they did, but it was at least a couple.

[jaybeem]

You don't by any chance have a rash or blisters do you? Pain usually precedes blisters, but shingles hurts like that.

[Stormynights]

I am so glad I took the GO TO THE DOCTOR advice I got here. Yes I was shouting. If I had waited until I thought I needed to go I wouldn't be here.

[hueyville]

madalot,
I feel for you and your husband. But what is going to mess up his schedule more... A trip to verify no heart issue or an easily treated when caught early issue opposed to putting it off one more day and it becomes a full blown heart attack? Half a day at the heart center to find something easily treated will be much less taxing on him than sitting in the emergency room after you possibly throw serious symptoms.

I went to my doc recently and he said it sounded like I had a leaky heart valve and needed an echocardiogram to see wbat was up. Due to family history I started going to the heart center every 5 years for a full checkup. Filled out the form asking about health and med changes since last visit. Tech did the echo and sent me back to work. Total time out of my schedule was about 2 hours. Before end of work day got a call from heart doctors PA who said was a leak but not due to defect. 3 different docs had written scripts that had blood thinning properties. Combined they were not good. They had already contacted all docs, changed 2 of them and already sent info to pharmacy.

I picked up meds on way home and all was good. Heart center PA called next day to be sure I had changed meds. I said I bad and askex if it was really a deal. She said I was on a fast track to a stroke as thin as blood was. So because my spine doc is always anal about using his stethescope he quite likely kept me from not being able to feed myself or even dying. So get yourself checked out. 2 hours of missed work quite likely kept me from missing the next 10 to 20 years.

[hobbs]

For what it is worth; my wife spent five weeks with very bad neck, shoulder and back pain. Pain killers, muscle relaxants and massages did little to help. Three weeks ago she had (3) deteriorated disks replaced in her neck and feels better now than any time in the last 20+ years. YMMV.
SEE A DOCTOR.

[idamtnboy]

For what it is worth; my wife spent five weeks with very bad neck, shoulder and back pain. Pain killers, muscle relaxants and massages did little to help. Three weeks ago she had (3) deteriorated disks replaced in her neck and feels better now than any time in the last 20+ years. YMMV.
SEE A DOCTOR.

Almost 30 years ago my wife was suffering from lower back pain. Trips to chiro and meds didn't help. We had an appointment with a back surgeon scheduled when one morning she started throwing up blood. Son took her to ER where it was found she had a bleeding ulcer in her stomach. The ulcer had been contacting her pancreas and that was the source of the back pain. You just never know.