Could it be anxiety?

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Dawnoflife

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For the last 6 weeks I have had a tightness or band around my chest going from almost my armpits toward the center of my chest. It hurts between my breasts by the ribcage and when I move it feels like there is something there like a tightness. It is all the time. I am 53 and had a 64 slice cat scan to check for cardio blockages 2yrs ago and it was normal, had echocardiogram 6 months ago, chest x-ray 6 mos ago and VQ test to check for clots in lungs. My cardio does not think it is my heart. Does anyone have these symptoms and what doctor should I see next. It hurts all the time and sometimes tightness in my throat. Don't know what to do. I tried valium for a few days and tylenol and does not help. Does anyone have these symptoms and can make any suggestions thanks
 
Dawn i suffered from this off and on for years and you are not going to believe what it is....its muscle spasms!!!! i went for many tests and sure enough once i started to note the things that i was doing and such and what the many Dr's had said thats what it was! i know it sounRAB too simple and you may not think thats what it is but i bet you dollars to donuts its what it is as thats exactly how you said it felt. There are only a few things you can do to make it feel a bit better...don't try to over exert yourself such as lifting heavy things or cleaning or excercising, take muscle relaxants just over the counter and lay down when you have an attack and over time it will get better. It is more or less a pinched nerve in your back and my mom and others i know had the same thing. I suffer from anxiety and stress and it has never brought it on. Also ironically being too inactive can make bring it on, sometimes it is the worst pain imaginable and makes one think they are having a heart attack! it is like someone is giving you a bear hug or crushing your chest and it very very scary! back stretches do help but do it slowly and carefully, sometimes it can be debilitating so i understand...i hope this description is what it sounRAB like to you. By the way the medical term you used i looked it up and i guess that is the term for it so yes it would be that and it can last long, remeraber as humans somethings last longer than other and if you don't do any treatments it won't heal.
 
quick question...does it feel like someone is taking a vice grip and squishing your rib bones together or your chest together? does it sometimes hurt more when you stand or get worse when you take breaths and ease if you slow your breathing? if this is what is happening i know exactly what it is!!!! let me know!:)
 
Dawn - I could relate to your issues as I have the very same issues. Though I havent seen a doctor yet, you describe me to a "T". I also have tight chest, tight back where it aches terribly, tingling, body burning etc..

Since you've had all the necessary "heart" testing you could probably rest comfortably knowing that your heart is not the problem. Hopefully you can get through these issues and find some peace. I'm trying to hold on also.
 
It hurts between my breasts in the ribcage area. When wearing a bra it hurts more by the ribcage and when I lay down and breathe it hurts more. Yes, it seem sto get worse sometimes when I breathe. Cardio said not asthma as he said no wheeze evident. Were you going to suggest it is costocondritis? I thought of that already. But read it should not last for so long.
But it does feel like a vise grip all the time across my chest. What do you think it is? Thanks
 
Hi Dawn - you asked how old I am. Too old LOL. I'm 62. A young 62 but still 62. These issues are plaging me, just the same issues yo have - that tightness like a belt is being tightened across my chest - sometimes above the breasts, sometimes below the breasts like where the bottom bra line forms, goes into my back, right, left and across and my arm muscle like under the arm near the armpit hurts a lot at times. Scary stuff.
 
Dawn one more question do you have this for a few hours at a time and then it goes away only to come back the next day? That's what I'm finding is happening to me. I had it for most of today and then by 6 ish PM it all went away and it's like I never had the issues.
 
Have you had any cardio tests? i had the 64 slice csat scan 2yrs ago which showed no calcium, an echo 6 months ago, chest x-ray 6 months ago and VQ test also to see if there was any clots in the lungs . Cardiologist said it is not my heart. I do not know what doc to see next. I have it tight across the breats almsot into the armpits and when I lean over feel it near ribs between breasts like something is there and bottom rib cage. It is tight all the time
 
NO- mine seems to be 24/7 with more or less severity during that time. I have it for 2 months now. Have you had any tests to determine what you have? What have docs said?
 
Thanks Halyley- May I ask how old you are? What tests did you have to rule other things out to know it is muscle spasms. What docs have you seen? I do not know which doc to see other than cardiologist. Maybe a rheumatologist? What can you suggest? Is your 24/7 for how long? I have mine 2 months now thanks Dawn
 
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