voicefromparis
New member
Hi, I'm new to these forums. I have had severe chest pain (well I think it's severe) intermittently for the past few years. In the last two years it had only been happening maybe twice a week for a 1 or 2 minutes @ a time before subsiding to the point where I could continue on with my day. Over the past 6 - 8 months, the frequency of the pain has increased to the point where it is easily ocurring several times a day with the pain lasting anywhere from 2 minutes to 45 minutes and rarely, sometimes over an hour. At times this pain is crippling to the point where I practically drop to the ground (sudden onset, but manageable to the point where I can usually sneak away to lay down before it becomes too overwhelming to stay upright).
I have gone to a few doctors (GP's, Resp. Docs, a few others) who all seem to have diagnosed me with Costochondritis. I'm not so sure and I'm not so happy with the diagnosis since they say there's nothing they can do and that there's nothing that they actually find wrong (diagnosis made based on symptoms).
I recently moved in with my girlfriend who has suprised me by telling me she thinks I have sleep apnea! She tells me that I stop breathing completely several times during the nite almost every night (I've always had trouble sleeping and truthfully I don't really sleep more than 4 - 6 hours a nite; figured that's just the way I am). I do often wake up somewhat out of breath during the night and sweating profusely but figured I was just having bad dreams or something. I'm wondering if this supposed sleep apnea has something to do with the chest pain that I am experiencing.
Anyways, I've got a few other health problems but nothing I've been overly concerned about (my girlfriend who is an RPN says I'm crazy not to be concerned). I've had 4 or 5 grand mal seizures within the past 5 years (undiagnosed causes) and I experience what I believe are probably some form of absence seizure from time to time when I'm stressed out or haven't been eating properly (usually, but sometimes out of the blue). I also am asthmatic (I don't like doctors a whole lot admittedly and am suspicious of this diagnosis all in all; I'm probably just out of shape).
Anyways, to make a long story short, I am concerned out of the momentary desperation I feel at times due to the sheer pain I have to endure when it hits me. I've been told that this is NOT a cardiac issue which makes me feel better (but not my girldfriend). The pain IS blunted by pain killers (tramadol, oxycocet, or lots of tylenol 3's), but I do NOT want painkillers since they fog my mind and I can't do my job very well. I would rather just be fixed, thank you very much. ER docs think I'm looking to get painkillers for recreational use or something (I could find recreational drugs easily enough on my own if I cared to thank you very much) which makes going to the ER a waste of time completely.
This pain has me at the end of my rope! I've lost enough time and money in sick days and doctor's visits that I just don't know what to do anymore. Any ideas? I'm sick of doctors telling me they can't do anything for me so I'm hoping I could push them in a particular direction. Thanks.
30 year-old male
5'7", 135 lbs
IT Administrator
Stubborn as heck, but hoping for relief
I have gone to a few doctors (GP's, Resp. Docs, a few others) who all seem to have diagnosed me with Costochondritis. I'm not so sure and I'm not so happy with the diagnosis since they say there's nothing they can do and that there's nothing that they actually find wrong (diagnosis made based on symptoms).
I recently moved in with my girlfriend who has suprised me by telling me she thinks I have sleep apnea! She tells me that I stop breathing completely several times during the nite almost every night (I've always had trouble sleeping and truthfully I don't really sleep more than 4 - 6 hours a nite; figured that's just the way I am). I do often wake up somewhat out of breath during the night and sweating profusely but figured I was just having bad dreams or something. I'm wondering if this supposed sleep apnea has something to do with the chest pain that I am experiencing.
Anyways, I've got a few other health problems but nothing I've been overly concerned about (my girlfriend who is an RPN says I'm crazy not to be concerned). I've had 4 or 5 grand mal seizures within the past 5 years (undiagnosed causes) and I experience what I believe are probably some form of absence seizure from time to time when I'm stressed out or haven't been eating properly (usually, but sometimes out of the blue). I also am asthmatic (I don't like doctors a whole lot admittedly and am suspicious of this diagnosis all in all; I'm probably just out of shape).
Anyways, to make a long story short, I am concerned out of the momentary desperation I feel at times due to the sheer pain I have to endure when it hits me. I've been told that this is NOT a cardiac issue which makes me feel better (but not my girldfriend). The pain IS blunted by pain killers (tramadol, oxycocet, or lots of tylenol 3's), but I do NOT want painkillers since they fog my mind and I can't do my job very well. I would rather just be fixed, thank you very much. ER docs think I'm looking to get painkillers for recreational use or something (I could find recreational drugs easily enough on my own if I cared to thank you very much) which makes going to the ER a waste of time completely.
This pain has me at the end of my rope! I've lost enough time and money in sick days and doctor's visits that I just don't know what to do anymore. Any ideas? I'm sick of doctors telling me they can't do anything for me so I'm hoping I could push them in a particular direction. Thanks.
30 year-old male
5'7", 135 lbs
IT Administrator
Stubborn as heck, but hoping for relief