If it’s not one thing it’s another 🙄

[Westie2012]

If having pacemaker complications wasn’t enough along with pericarditis , an effusion I now have costochondritis Last few weeks I’ve had a bit of a cold , nothing more until Monday when I started with such a painful sore throat and mouth which meant I couldn’t take my medication as I was really struggling to even drink. Tuesday and yesterday I started getting out of breath and had a tight feeling in my chest after walking upstairs . I saw my gp yesterday who said all obs were good so that’s all good, advice to call an ambulance should I get worse . I rested for a couple of hours then as soon as I started moving around it started up but was worse so I went to the urgent care at the hospital . I’ve been given antibiotics and an inhaler. Pain hit with a vengeance around 3am as I’ve not been able to take my medication . Just wondering if anything else will come along to add to my increasing list of health conditions and medications 🤣🤣🤣 on a positive note right mow I’m feeling a bit better so I’ve managed to restart my medication and hopefully I’ll be over this latest blip soon

[Sunnie2day]

You really have been through the wars! Did they suggest a hot water bottle on your chest to help ease some of the pain? It works very nicely to relieve it - until the bottle cools.

Have you been coughing a lot or harder? That's usually what causes me a bit of bother when I'm in an acute flare (recurrent pericarditis with persistent effusion).

[Westie2012 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi Sunnie, sorry to hear you are suffering with pericarditis again , the pain from costochondritis feels almost identical to pericarditis pain , I have read that both conditions are linked with many having costochondritis after pericarditis , I gave a microwave heat pack that offers some relief . I haven’t got or had much of a cough. Take care xxx

[Retirement65]

Hi westie I was wondering how you were getting on so you’ve finally been diagnosed with costochondritis it’s been hanging around for a while hasn’t it hope now your feeling a bit better and it starts to all get a bit better for you - I’ve still got pain around my left rib and it hurts sometimes when I breathe in ? Spoke to my GP as I had asked her about ectopics so she has referred me for a 24hr ecg which I’m glad about got my appointment this morning so that’s the 19/10/21 hopefully we will finally get better soon 😀take care keep us posted x

[Westie2012 in reply to Retirement65]

Hiya, the chest X-ray my gp requested was clear which is what I expected , I’m pleased that it was ok as they said my heart looks good too as it was enlarged over Christmas . The X-ray was more to rule out anything else so I’ll discuss costochondritis diagnosis with my gp soon . When you got for your 24hr ecg ask for the sticky pads for sensitive skin as I found the stickers very irritating . I hope we are both soon much better and can enjoy life without health worries . Take care too and let’s keep each other updated xxx

[Retirement65 in reply to Westie2012]

Hi westie thanks for the tip about the pads I had a 24hr ecg about 40 years ago😂 so I wouldn’t even remember tbh what it was like anyway like I said will be glad to have that done you watch there probably won’t be any ectopics or very few not that I’m wanting them to be there but you almost guarantee they will just be as bad after you have had the test oh well will see what happens - with the costochrondritis can I ask is the pain with you round your rib and upper back by any chance? Well hope you start feeling better soon don’t forget let me know us know how you get on sending my best wishes for a speedy recovery 😊x

[Westie2012 in reply to Retirement65]

I had a 24 hr ecg that picked up a few fast heart rates and a couple of pauses , I was meant to be seen around 3 months after my first appointment after the 24hr ecg but then we had to go into lockdown . My gp saw how unwell I was getting , sometimes struggling to speak due to breathlessness and eventually I had a 7 day holter monitor that showed the heart pauses had got longer and more frequent plus fast and slow heart rates. My rib pain is mainly left side at the front and going around to my left side which makes sleep very uncomfortable . Nothing in my back yet but it is getting worse and has gradually spread from the front to my sides. I hope you get some answers from your ecg, 24 hrs isn’t very long but it’s a start . Take care and keep in contact xxx

[Retirement65 in reply to Westie2012]

Hi westie thank you for your reply it’s a strange thing isn’t it this problem we have sometimes it just jabs for seconds but stops me in my tracks will just have to see what the ecg shows not expecting much which would be typical of me😂 I’m still putting the hot cushion on my various aches and pains - I’ve got to ask you on another thing your password name (think that’s what they call it) ‘westie’ is that because you have a westie dog? By any chance -please let me know how you are doing I hope it settles a bit soon I still maintain if we could see a health professional more we would all feel a bit more settled here’s hoping take care look after yourself 😊xxx

[Westie2012 in reply to Retirement65]

Hi x yes we have a westie that’s why I chose it for my user name , overnight I couldn’t get comfy so didn’t sleep very well.

[Retirement65 in reply to Westie2012]

Had to ask we had a westie he was 18 when he died last year we were very lucky to have him that long still think I can hear him clipping behind me! Miss him - I’ve just been to b&q my aches and pains are just there all the time felt like crying in there - there is nothing worse when you cant sleep hope you have a better night and really hoping you settle soon xxx

[Westie2012 in reply to Retirement65]

I’m so sorry about your lovely boy, 18 is a really good age but it doesn’t make losing them or life easier without them , it sounds like he still visits you. Alfie is our second westie , we lost our first girl when she was only 10 after she suddenly got pyometra and we had to let her go, I miss her every day 😢 they are such characters . I hope you start to feel better soon, sometimes a good cry gets things out of our system. Look after yourself and speak again very soon, love and hugs xxx

[Retirement65 in reply to Westie2012]

Hi westie how amazing you’ve got a westie and already had one as well they are as you say such characters I had to tell my grandson that ‘Ollie’ had gone to play with some friends I just couldn’t tell him otherwise - it’s so weird you saying about a good cry I’ve had a couple of those this week I think pain or just not feeling well get you so down after a while it’s like a release isn’t it! Oh well we will battle on I would ring the GP but I know I’m not going to get through the door and I think it’s the only way if there is anything it will be picked up take care my friend thinking of you 😊xxx

[Westie2012 in reply to Retirement65]

You handled that well explaining that your Ollie had gone to play with friends , I was devasted after losing our first little dog . I was sent to a&e a few weeks ago after seeing my gp and was sent to cardiac assessment , I was feeling really unwell and I had a flashback to when I’d gone to the gp on Christmas Eve and ended up being rushed to a&e on blue lights and sirens , I was talking to a cardiac nurse about my stay in hospital at Christmas and I broke down in tears .talking about it . Since then I have felt a bit better emotionally but I am finding it difficult to not let those thoughts of very unexpected turn of events on Christmas Eve pop into my head. A good cry really helps from time to time. You’re right when you say being unwell or in pain can bring you down , there's only so much we can handle befits needing that release of built up emotion and trying to carry on with life . It isn’t easy trying to get to see a habit I must admit I have always been seen by a gp when I’ve called with symptoms that could be cardiac related so they can check me over . I hope your ecg catches your cardiac events and you can get some answers . Take care too and stay in touch xx wishing you a lovely weekend from Jude (aka westie2012) xxx

[Retirement65 in reply to Westie2012]

Hi Jude (westie) I think this Christmas we are going to think positive I promise you it won’t happen again! last time was all the unknown now you know exactly what to look out for so take confidence in that - I’m wondering if mine is costo another one of our hearties had mentioned you may have mentioned it yourself that if you press on your rib it hurts which suggests it’s more likely costochondritis when I went to a&e earlier in the year they said it wasn’t cardiac but could be muscular when I press my rib it feels a bit sore but then I think is it because I’m pressing it😂 how to send yourself daft!!! Then having palpitations brings me back to worrying is it heart related who knows need to get off the roundabout I think!!!! You too have a lovely weekend try not to worry (bit daft coming from me) Sheila (retirement65) xx

[Hidden]

Hello

Yes I had 3 heart attacks and then a triple Bypass which I am still recovering from and a few more elements not as severe as yours but still I get that feeling when will I get a rest from all this it is one thing after another so I felt for you reading your post

Despite what you are going through you still seem to be making the best of a bad situation which I admire you for and I am so glad you feel like you are turning a corner today and feeling a bit better x

[Westie2012 in reply to Hidden]

Wow you have been through a lot, I hope you are soon fully recovered . I’m trying to be upbeat about how I’m feeling and put the bad times behind me . Thank you so much for your kind words, take care of yourself xxx

[Nettekin]

Hi westie. Sorry to hear you are still suffering. I'm beginning to think you are just greedy and want all these illnesses yourself! On a serious note, I had costochondritis a couple of years ago. As it was pre heart attack I could take anti inflammatory which helped a bit. Hot and cold also helped a bit, but I think it really just got better when it was ready. Best wishes and stay out of the wars!! X

[Westie2012 in reply to Nettekin]

Hiya, thank you for your reply . I’d willingly share my health problems 🤣 just joking I wouldn’t wish them on anyone . I hope you are doing ok now , take care and hopefully this will be my last health issue due a long time however I have to see my cardiologist as I get a lot of pain and problems from my pacemaker . Oh well tomorrow is a new day xx

[Nannyjenny]

Can i ask what pacemaker complications you had as I have had them and would be good to compare notes?

[Westie2012 in reply to Nannyjenny]

I had a lead dislodge , it went through my heart wall three days after I’d had my pm. They replaced both leads them I developed pericarditis and a pericardial effusion . I wasn’t told much about the condition when I was discharged from hospital so I ended up with a further two emergency admissions to CCU . The third admission was the most traumatic as the fluid had built up around my heart to the point of being very serious , I was rushed to hospital on blues and twos and they drove so fast not stopping once , I was on for a week and narrowly avoided needing the fluid drained . It’s taken 6/7 months to be recovered from that , and now I have costochondritis . Sorry it’s a long reply , I hope you are keeping well. If you would like to share your experience then feel free to reply . I find it helps talking about my experience with others who have gone through something similar xxx

[Qualipop]

I get bouts of costo as part of fibromyalgia. I use an anti inflammatory gel like piroxicam but not sure if it would be ok for you. It's so hard to tell whether it's heart or muscular. One doc told me to press on it and if it hurts it's costo.