For the last several years I have had chest pain off and on, and shortness of breath with the least exertion. I have had numerous cardiogy tests that were all normal, referred to pulmunary had several tests that were all normal, referred to a sleep study, was told all was normal. Sent back to pulmonary and cardiology who both sent me back to my family doc to let him sort it out.
Totally frustrated I gave up and tolerated the pain and shortness of breath
until lately when it has not become constant, ranging from a 3-5 pain level.
Shortness of breath, chest pain, arm, back and neck pain. Heart pounding, extreme shaking and weakness with excertion. Things as simply as bringing in the groceries. My high blood pressure has gotten worse and my heart rate which used to avg mid 60's to 80, now ranges from 40-60. Ive been on 5-6 different blood pressure meds and most of them lower my heart rate too low.
At one time it was as low as 35. I take nitro for the pain and it takes most of it away but it just comes back in 20-30 minutes. I just seen the cardiogist again today and after 3 yrs he didnt doesnt think it's cardio related, but has agreed to do a angiogram. He also put me on a holter monitor for 12 hrs. Another thing I realized today is when the nitro helps my pain it also allows me to breath much easier, but again in 20-30 minutes it goes back to having a tight chest and hard to breath. Has anyone experienced these type of symptoms and if so what was the dx.
Thanks Rani
I wish that I could tell you something for sure, but it is so hard for me to relate how I have dealt with intense angina to anyone. First, my worse times were always due to a coronary artery blockage that needed a stent. So I was really emotionally overwhelmed at the time.
My last really bad time was 16 months ago. I sucked on fast acting nitro many times per day. I don't think it ever really relieved all the pain. I don't know how long I felt better after use of the nitro. I did know that I would have to call 911. I have done this at least 5 times.
I can also breathe better after using nitro. Your diaphragm muscles loosen up and expand and contract better. The arteries within your lungs dilate. All of your arteries dilate. I get a pretty bad headache sometimes.
Try to rest until you have your angiogram. Your doctor may not think your pain is cardiac related, but he would not be the first to be wrong and allow someone to suffer the consequences of his judgment. Chest pain and shortness of breath, as you have described here, are standard symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD).
I wish you the very best of luck and remember that anxiety actually increases the pain from angina in some people. I am one. Try to relax. If you have an anti-anxiety med, take it.
Thanks Huck Finn, I do have an anxiety med, but it doesnt seem to make a lot of difference. I wonder if it's because my heart rate has been running so low I feel weak and shakey. Sometimes it's so low it's almost peaceful except for the pain, I fall asleep very easily. Well, I guess I find out on the
31st. Thanks again for your reply, Rani
I too have high blood pressure and have been on many hypertensives. I have suffered with shortness of breath for some time now. It came on suddenly and worsened over a period of time. Same as yours, with exertion, even without. Bringing in the groceries, walking, lifting..talking & brushing teeth. I have tingling & numbness in my left arm, unrelated to cardio, say both the cardio & the neuro. My GP attributed the breathlessnes to my high dose of alpha/beta blockers. The cardiologist told me that most patients do not have such problems with the beta blockers (baloney!!!) and therefore I should not be, either. The GP reluctantly discontinued the beta blockers in May. This resulted in some improvement in my breathing, which lasted about a week and a half. Then, gradually, my breathing problems started to come back. Mild at first, and then they worsened. I am on other rx drugs, a couple of which may cause bronchoconstriction.
I had the pulmonary function tests done recently and though the report is not ready yet, I was told I had asthma. I find it hard to believe. Prior to my getting sick and starting an intense antihypertensive therapy, I could run all day, was very active and never ever had a single problem with my breathing.
I am convinced that whatever is causing my shortness of breath was itself caused by or brought about by my heavy rx drug use. Of course, that's just my opinion. Something for you to ponder....
Hi Flowergirl,
I too had the pulmonary tests once 4-5 years ago and they said I did have asthma then again a couple years ago by the same gal and now she says I dont have asthma, which makes sense as the asthma meds dont do anything to improve the breathing difficulties. Acutally the only thing that improves the breathing is when I take a nitro for the chest-arm pain. It relieves the pain for about 20 minutes and I can breath very well for about 10-15 minutes.
Then I can slowly feel my chest tightening back up, like someone is choking me or my airway is restricted. I went thru music doctors about 2 years ago and go so frustrated I came home and figured it just must be my time to go
and whether it was short or drawn out. First I went to my regular doc who sent me to the cardio and had several tests done all neg, he sent me to pulmonary they did tests all neg, they sent me for a sleep study all neg, they sent me back to pulmonary, he sent me back to cardio, he sent me back to my reg doc. Nothing ever fond. Now things are worse, Im been hospitalized with an abnormal ekg, they tested again and it was normal, I just wore a holter monitor for 12 hrs but dont know the results yet. My Cardio keeps saying he doesnt think it cardio related but because this has gone on for so long, he felt an angiogram would determine if there's anything going on they havent found so far. Next tues 31st. I feel like Im being pestimistic but I really hope they find something. Now on the optimistic side that they can fix and i can start feeling better, breathing better, be relieved of this CONSTANT
chest-arm sometimes back and neck pain of the left side. Personally I feel these doc's are so over run with patients they dont have the time they would like to really study and go over a patients charts. My Cardio even told me that in different words. I guess it's part of the these clinic's plan to save money with the rising cost of health care, they overload the doctors, then they cant do their job properly. I can only hope someone obvious pops up that's not easy to over look. Well good luck to you in finding your cause of
declining health problems. Thanks for your reply, Rani
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