Costochronditis or something else?

[Turtle90]

I have being having chest pains for about 3/4 months on and off now. Have being doctors had 2 ECG's, 2 Chest Xrays, ultrasound on bladder, prostate and kidneys, several blood tests and everything is coming back fine and have being told I am suffering Anxiety.

I started sertraline about 7 weeks ago 50mg but the chest pains have still being coming and going and feel like my left and right rib is bruised. If I push there It feels bruised anyway. I have being using ibuprofen gel, deep freeze or deep heat deoends what mood im in through out this time. But last night I couldn't take a deep breath without my left chest having a pain sensation so I went bed.

I have being back to the dr again today and after worrying it was a Pulminory Embolism the dr run some basic tests called the wells test (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturstion levels, checked ankles, asked if I had coughed blood or blood in stools, checked medical history made sure I hadnt no surgery in the last 4 weeks) and i scored 0 was told it wasnt this and to stop googling again.

He has told me he thinks it is costochronditis and to take omeprazole to protect my stomach as I am taking Sertraline and to take ibuprofen tablets over the weekend. I have taken 400mg ibuprofen and am due a 2nd ibuprofen 400mg before bed but the pain is still there.

I also still suffering lightheadeness which has being something else I have suffered for months now but again has being put down to anxiety.

Does this sound famikiar to anyone else? Could it be anxiety and costochronditis I dont believe so I belive there is a problem woth my lungs and/or heart but after the xrays, ecg, blood tests I am told nope they are fine. I am 28 (29 in 2 weeks), and this is really stopping my life now. I have children and have struggled over Christmas to say the least, spent half of Christmas Day asleep and have had/got a cold which I dont think is helping nothing. One last thing i have put almost a stone on since starting the sertraline and am now tapping on 18 stone for someone my height (just under 6ft) my bmi is now in the 30's and classed as obese so thats got me more down and it seems even when i hardly eat over a couole days my weight increases. I am told this is the sertraline and it will balance itself out

[Hidden]

It sounds like muscle tightness in the back/shoulders effecting your chest. I’ve had it before where I can’t take a deep breath as it feels like stabbing. Late 2016/ early 2017 I developed constant aching in my sternum. I also got a lot of indigestion and burping. I had an ultrasound on my sternum as it felt like a lump and they were considering doing an endoscopy. I was told by the doctor that it was costochondritis and a friend recommended a good physio. She said my body was out of line, worked on my legs, then worked on my shoulders; she said the right one was sitting higher. From that first appointment it was instant relief. I then had 1-2 follow up appointments.

[Turtle90 in reply to Hidden]

I will actually ask my doctor about physio on Monday when I see him again I have heard a few people say that physio helps with these pains and have also noticed I get pins and needles extremely quickly which also points tona trapped nerve somewhere

[tamka38]

Is the zoloft working for u

[Turtle90 in reply to tamka38]

Ill be honest I felt like they were but the last few days I feel back to square one and still clearly suffering "anxiety" the doctor said they want me to go to 100mg in the new year.

In the same breath they haven't made me no worse (first couple weeks had a couple nights where I woke up feeling rubbish) but nothing since other than this increased appetite which I think alot of my weight has come from and also some nights I sweat in bed.

Doctor had said today that having a cold can add to the anxiety so may explain why I an feeling back to square one.

[tamka38 in reply to Turtle90]

I have night sweats every night and my appetite is the roof I have been eating a

Lot and I notice I wake up at 3-4 am each morning I don’t know if zoloft working at all

I force myself to get out the house more

And I was experiencing throbbing and pulsating at the back of my head and my

Legs shaking I really hope this the one for

Me because I want to start over wishing u the best of luck and hope you feel better soon

[Turtle90 in reply to tamka38]

Hi Tamka, hows you feeling now? I have now had my dosage upped to 100mg a day, apparently 100mg is a better dossage but the side effects can kick in. I am on day 5 of the increased dosage, still having night sweats, appetite is increased still but where I have a cold/sore throat Ibam trying to eat alot more oranges, clementines etc and have being back to the doctors today as I had blood in my saliva and have now being given amoxicillin aswell

[lin62-65ze]

Having just read your account I honestly believe all your ills stem from your severe anxiety. You say you are now overweight which is also worrying you. I am not on Sertraline myself my son is. Might I suggest you do daily gentle exercise, this will help with your anxiety and eventually lose weight. Am I to presume you do not work? Trust me sitting at home alone with your thoughts is very bad for you, once you try to maybe walk for 10 mins then gradually increase to longer you will start to feel heaps better. My son has severe anxiety plus bi polar. He manages to work but has off days, he swears the gym helps, if he cannot go due to work commitments his anxiety worsens. He has taken Sertraline for 5years, plus his other medication for bi polar. I too suffer anxiety and take Pregablin, let's hope we can conquer this one day. Try to think positive and remember you are not alone. Helen x

[Turtle90 in reply to lin62-65ze]

Thankyou for replying and sorry for the delay, absolutely agree the weight gain is making things worse but the doctor really doesnt seem bothered and recons it will balance out shortly when body adjusts to the meds and also supposedly we humans at this time of year will put more weight on (even though this hasnt being the case for the rest of my life)

I haven't worked for several months now and thats also making me more depresssed, I have started walking and doing more things but honestly it doesnt seem to be helping. I have being back to the doctors twice already this week, Monday because the chest/rib pain was still around and I had someone say It may have being a Pulminory embolism so I wanted/needed to see someone. Sertaline was upped to 100mg a day and was prescribed omeprazole 20mg amd told to take ibuprofen to help with chest/rib pain. Things were ok other than having a cold/sore throat until this morning when I had blood in my saliva again (had this a couple months ago) so I have being back to the drs and now being given amoxicillin aswell but now i feel like utter rubbish

[lin62-65ze in reply to Turtle90]

Poor you. This time of year is difficult and depressing too. I honestly feel that once you are over your current illness you need to see if you can join a group with others similar to you. It's obvious you need support and encouragement. They say that more is on offer for mental Ill patients! If you cannot find anything I will help you - providing you live in the UK. Being out of work doesn't help either as your mind is not occupied, try CBT. My experience is try to rise above your concerns, don't let them govern you. Get well soon and try out some of these suggestions. I am confident you will achieve it and you have my encouragement. Any problems keep in touch xx

[Nevertheless]

I had had the rib pain and tightness of chest . Some yoga or other aerobic exercise would do you good. You could suggest they give you an inhaler. I have asthma and use an inhaler and it helps that feeling. If they think it’s anxiety tell them to give you meds like xanax . Skip all that useless stuff

[Turtle90 in reply to Nevertheless]

I shall ask about an inhaler but I dont think this is asthma but maybbe wrong, what tests would I need for this?

I have got 2mg diazepam (xanax) and told to take as and when needed but am trying not to take to often

[Nevertheless]

Don’t forget exercise and do you have a job? Does the body wonders and arnica cream works good too for the rib pain plus one of those rubber exercise bands with the handles works good to work that area. There is a video on youtube that is exercise for chostrochondritis. See if you can find it. You just take the rubber exercise and put it on your handle of a door and stretch. Hope you find it and Gob bless you from Trudy Love