Topic: sudden pain in chest, tightness in left shoulder going up neck.....
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Please tell me this is okay?
It feels like a heart attack symptom. I was on the phone and it was so disturbing I just wanted to get off.
Should I go to the ER?
It is just this stiffness/pain sort of on the left side, and the acidic tightness in the chest.
I had this once before and it was the first night I got sick....i went to ER and they said everything was fine.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I would get it checked out.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I just looked this up online under heart attack symptoms and it is exactly what I am having. (pasted below) I am only 25...am I okay?
Last time I knew it was a heart attack symptom and that is why I went to ER but they said I was okay. I will paste what I am talking about:
"# Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes. # Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders. "
Can you have heart attack symptoms without having a heart attack?
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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I'm not sure if you remember this, but I have these "heart attack like" symptoms nearly every day now. They began around November, when I took just a couple of doses of olive leaf extract.
My "heart attack symptoms" include: shortness of breath, chest pain (mostly on the left side near the sternum), occasional left shoulder blade, horrible left arm pain, some jaw pain, and dizziness.
Have you started any new medications, supplements or herbs? Any new antibiotics? I remember you mentioning starting LDN again. Could this be an initial herx from the LDN?
What is your heart rate? Do you have a blood pressure cuff? Can you take your BP?
I hated hearing this when I posted about these same symptoms, but I'm going to have to say it too: If you're in doubt, go to the ER.
PM me if you need to...I'll also be in chat tonight. Hang in there girl...
Posts: 710 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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quote:If you are having severe pain, crushing, squeezing, or pressure in your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or if the pain moves into your neck, left shoulder, arm, or jaw, go immediately to a hospital emergency department. Do not drive yourself. Call 911 for emergency transport.
Tick-borne diseases can infect your heart & they don't care how young/old you are.
If this describes your pain, please heed their warning.
I truly hope it's nothing, but better SAFE than sorry!!!
hugs & prayers, Ali
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I'd get to the ER, better to be safe then sorry. I've gone a few times myself with shortness of breath and chest pain. They don't fool around with it.
Please let us know....if this is not something you deal with a lot, you most definitely need to get it checked!!!
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Alright, well I know I am going against most of the advice, but I decided to just wait it out, because it seems exactly like what I experienced before, and last time it was "nothing," or at least, not a heart attack.
I know this may be dumb, but it is getting better so I think it will be okay. I am pretty sure it is due to babesia because I took artemisinin for the first time in over a month just 2 hours before this started.
Thank you for the replies! I will update again later since I'll probably be up late due to my weird schedule.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
hoosiers,
fyi there are also SILENT HEART ATTACKS! i didn't know much about them until i went to a health program at our hospital several months back.
again, better SAFE THAN SORRY and more damage being done OR A STROKE!
my MRI showed a mini-stroke from decades ago; never knew i'd had one...
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posted
Hi Hoosiers, I have very similar symptoms. I got really scared 2 days ago because it came on so suddenly and was worse than usual. Tightness, pressure in my chest and throat. It's very disturbing when it happens.
Six months ago, my LLMD immediately ran tests when I told him I was having these symptoms. EKG and blood work. My heart checked out ok.
Babesia can cause these symptoms, however, knowing this did not help 2 days ago. It scared me so much I welled up in tears.
The tricky thing is there is no way for us to tell if we are actually having a heart attack without getting checked out. Can you call your LLMD?
Do you get breathing problems when this happens to you?
Posts: 677 | From Virginia | Registered: Sep 2002
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Hoos, How are you today? Better I hope.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Hoosier--
It is most likely that you are having inflammation of the cartilage around your rib cage-
I dont remember the medical term for it but it is VERY common with Lyme and Babs--
Threw the years I have been on LN I have seen well over 100 people write the same symptoms - they go to the ER and they find nothing--
I had this chest-neck pain for 2 straight years- it will go away with treatment--Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
I would have though costochondritis, but I don't believe it causes spreading neck/left shoulder pain.
quote:Make an appointment to see your doctor if self-care measures aren't helping your pain or if your pain is worsening.
Costochondritis pain is often mistaken for heart attack pain.
The pain of a heart attack is often more widespread, while costochondritis pain is focused on a small area.
Heart attack pain usually feels as if it's coming from under your breastbone, while costochondritis pain seems to come from the breastbone itself.
Heart attack pain may worsen with physical activity or stress, while the pain of costochondritis remains constant.
Don't waste time, though, trying to distinguish between the two if you're experiencing unexplained and persistent chest pain.
Chest pain is an emergency -- seek medical attention right away.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
always better safe than sorry with symptoms similar to heart attack. if not, go home. if is your heart you will be glad u went.
that said, magnesium also important player in muscles. heart very important muscle!
best wishes. i have had cardio issues for months. finally calming down now. finishing babs tx this mo. and began bart tx few wks ago. for me- think tx bart is what did it.
best wishes
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Just wanted to let everyone know that I am okay today.
I stayed home because I think it was a babesia or lyme manifestation from the artemisinin I took.
Thank you for the concern and advice! It was strange though! Glad it's over.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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jt345
Unregistered
posted
Hi Hoos
About 3 years ago I went through the same thing.
The first time they kept me in the hospital,because they were waiting for Me to have a heartattack.
But after many tests all they foundwas that the center wall of my heart is becomming stiff. I think I am due for another cath to check and se if the condition has progressed or stayed the same.
I keep nitro with me all the time,but I have not had too use it for about 3 months.
Too be on the safe side I would go in too get checked out. But it more than not is babs. Be well. appleseed
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
I have the same symptoms occasionally,, and in fact went to the ER twice in a week when all this first started.
I saw a cardiologist who did all the workups on me, and found nothing.
My LLMD thinks it may be babs; we're waiting on the tests results, and I should know something next week.
I still get these attacks occasionally, and they seem to go into panic attacks for me.
When I start having the symptoms, though, I pop an aspirin or two, depending on the severity.
Glad you feel better, and hope you can get checked out to be sure you're okay.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
FWIW, I went to the ER twice with heart symptoms, only to have all the tests turn out negative. Now that I've been treated for a while, I have few to no heart symptoms left.
Hoosiers, if you're not getting treatment, this kind of symptom will only get worse. I hope you're doing something to treat LD and the co's.
Posts: 975 | From California | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
FWIW, I went to the ER twice with heart symptoms, only to have all the tests turn out negative. Now that I've been treated for a while, I have few to no heart symptoms left.
Hoosiers, if you're not getting treatment, this kind of symptom will only get worse. I hope you're doing something to treat LD and the co's.
Posts: 975 | From California | Registered: Apr 2007
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
My vote is for the artemesinin causing it. I don't know of anyone who didn't have some kind of problem with it. That stuff packs a punch!
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
I have gotten similar symptons. Very painful and scary when it happens. All I could manage to do is curl in a ball.
Next time try taking pepto bismal or something similar. I didn't believe it when people told me to try it. I did and with in a couple minutes I could feel relief.
My LLMD put me on a medication that is used for GERD. He said it was a muscle spasams in my eshopagus?? I only took the medication for a couple days and now it has been months and so far (knock on wood) I haven't had a return of that pain.
After my episodes it would leave me numb in areas, like the back of my neck and once even on side of my face. My LLMD told me that was okay. Still seems odd though...
Posts: 60 | From WI | Registered: Nov 2008
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