I am suffering from left chest heaviness/discomfort for the last 10 months since February 2018 on a daily basis lasting almost all hours of the day. I am a male, 42 years old, smoking many years, not known health issues – only cystitis on the bladder removed through cystoscopy last year. This left chest discomfort is mostly below the left nipple and sometimes move to the left (on the armpit) or to the right (close to center of chest). This feeling/pain makes be miserable and prevent me from every day activities including work. When happens sometimes I feel like to faint and seek emergency advise as soon as possible. Not much stress at work. AT times I do not have that feeling heavy headaches are coming. When initially started (February 2018) I went to the emergency and made all related exams (ECG, blood testing, X ray) which came back fine. After for a period of three months I went another 4 times to the emergency doing the same with same results. In addition, I have been to various professions (cardiac, gastro, pulmonologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, rheumatologist, physical therapy). All related tests including ECGs, echo, Trend mill, CT heart with dye (cardiac), CT thoracic, fluoroscopy, endoscopy, colonoscopy (gastro), various blood tests including prostate, thyroid etc., CT chest, various X rays at numerous directions, X ray neck, and physical examination by neurologist were found ok. In addition, I did physical therapy including TENS, magnetic fields, laser, and massage. However, although the results of all tests were ok I was having the same chest discomfort on a daily basis which was a bit relieved only by placing hot plaster at chest. At early June 2018, the gastro doctor has prescribed amitriptyline (at 10mg daily before sleep which later on increased to 20mg). After some time (2 weeks) chest heaviness/discomfort was reduced in frequency to the half (instead of daily it was every two to three days). However, at mid-September I realize that amitriptyline was not adding any value and thus I stopped it. A week after the chest heaviness/discomfort came back more intense every day lasting the whole day and did not go away with ibuprofen, paracetamol, etc. The only thing which a bit produce a relief was capsicum plasters placed either on the back or chest side (due to the heat the discomfort was felt taken off). I went the last three weeks again to the emergency and GP and prescribed with baclofen which I took for almost two weeks with no results at all. Then, last week, the gastro doctor advise to start again the amitriptyline (initially to 10mg). As a conclusion, after having all these exams and pills nothing has been improved and the chest heaviness/discomfort is still here all day every day. Doctors told me that is something muscular/neuro, however, when I asked them whether it is costochondritis, fibromyalgia, or rheumatic polymyalgia they told me that they do not believe. As such the matter was left open with diagnosis of atypical chest pain. Can you please help me???????
Do you still smoke? Are you taking any medication?
yes i still smoke. but even when not smoking for a day or two still the same discomfort. i am on the amitriptyline now but still with no results
Have you tried taking tablets for acid reflux?
many times even these days i am taking omeprazole before food but no result
Try esomeprazole, try really hard to cut down smoking, if you drink try cutting down. I used to smoke and drink and would need PPI tablets every day with chalk tablets. I gave up smoking a while back and recently had to give up drinking due to health problems. I didn’t need to take them every day when I gave up drinking, when I started again, I had to take them every day and still get chest pain.
After having multiple pulmonary emboli, I can’t recommend enough the importance of giving up smoking. I know it is tedious to hear, but if you ever get an illness where the only way to recover and stay alive is to give up, you will understand the importance. Your body sometimes gives you early warning signs you need to listen to.
how have you been diagnosed with pulmonary emboli? what tests needs?
I though I have done such tests e.g. X ray chest, CT chest
A chest CT with contrast. I am not suggesting you have PEs, but letting you know sometimes your body gives off signals before you get ill like a warning sign. When I drink too much I get loads of chest and stomach problems. When I last smoked, I started getting this gravelly feeling in my chest, which is why I stopped. If I had continued, I wouldn’t be here now. There could be something you could prevent if you give up now. I know it is difficult but your lungs and heart are so important and it is really scary when they go wrong.
so you think is something with lungs what I have?
I have done CT chest with contrast last May and was clear