could it be heart-attach?

Question

Ok, my bf complains of chest pains. He has been to doctors after doctors and took extensive tests but they can't figure out what is wrong with him. The thing is, the way he discribes the pain sounds to be like heart-attach but i dont know why doctors can't seem to detect it. I have been really worried about him because though this has been going on for a long time now, it has become severe the past couple of months. One thing i noticed is that whenever he seems stressed out or mad or gets turtlled (like if someone scares him or has a nightmare or something) it worsens. I am really worried about him, and he refuses to go see anymore doctors because he lost hope. Just the other day he began to tell me that he has a feeling he wont live long time, and he wanted to tell me what he'd like me to do if his day comes to an end. i couldnt handle hearing this, so i told him not to mention that kind of stuff and that he can't lose hope. im scared and i know that he is too, i dont know what to do.

Ok his symptoms are that his heart-rate increases, and his heart beats a lot more faster. he says he feels tightness around it which makes it hard for him to breath, and it is painful. the other thing i notice is that, he could be completely fine one minute and the next it starts to act up again.

oh another thing i need to mention, he has smoked for 11+ years and has just recently quitted (6 months now) and i notice that he has been experiencing these symptoms a lot more since he gave up the smoke (though he did use to fee them too when he smoked it wasn't as frequent as it is now) which i find kind of weird, because shouldnt it be the other way around?

Answer 1

Honeybee,

My gosh...of course you are worried sick. Your boyfriend has alot going on. I do believe that his constant pain and worry, is what caused him to say that he didn't feel "he would live long." Having something like his "heart" pain going undiagnosed, would cause anyone to feel that they were going to die.

You don't mention your boyfriend's age. That's also an important key to what may be going on. But I would never assume to diagnose anyone....even if I were a doctor; over the Internet.

Your boyfriend is suffering from alot of anxiety about his pain. I DO think that is totally normal. Please remember that he has gone through extensive testing and everything has come back normal.

You know, Honeybee, all kinds of things can cause pain near the heart. Muscle spasms, anxiety, gall bladder problems, stomach problems...etc. Only all of those things can be ruled out by a doctor.

There is nothing harder than to be in pain and remain undiagnosed. I speak from experience, but will spare you my details here. "My" story is not what you are looking for. You are looking for someone to listen and understand.

I DO understand that you are scared. I don't blame you one bit. You have to keep reassuring your boyfriend, that nothing the doctor's have found have indicated that he is going to leave this earth anytime soon.

This really is the time for him to contact a regular physican to take about what is worrying him. I really believe that medication to reduce his anxiety, like anti-depressants or counseling would work wonders. Counseling would help him discuss his fears with someone that understands and will listen.

If this has been going on for month's, hon, it's very doubtful that it is his heart, but really could be one of the things I mentioned above.

Please let us know how things turn out. In the meantime, if YOU need to talk, feel free to email me. I will do my best to listen.....honest!

Good luck to you

Answer 2

What are his symptoms exactly? Sweetie we can't help you if we don't know his symptoms.

ETA: Okay, since he's been to several doctors, I imagine they've already done an EKG and all the normal tests to check his heart. This is so ironic because I just watched a show on Discovery Health a few days ago about a man experiencing the same problems as your boyfriend. Almost identical. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him, everything looked normal. They couldn't find a cause for his sudden flare ups. And as time went on it got worse and worse and worse.

The culprit in that case was Lyme Disease. Has your boyfriend been bitten by a tick in the past year? Encourage him to go back to the doctor and when he goes, have him bring up the possibility of Lyme Disease. Though, unfortunately from what I understand a lot of doctors either have a hard time diagnosing Lyme Disease and they don't have any routine tests for it, but if he find a doctor who is understanding and willing to explore every possible route with him, then maybe that could be what it is.

I'm not saying that's what it is, it's just a suggestion because it sounds exactly like what I saw. So ask your boyfriend if he's been bitten by a tick, if he can't remember, think of your surroundings, do you life in a wooded area? Are you around a lot of animals (i.e. dogs, mainly outside dogs, cats, chickens, etc etc). If you do then the chances are higher that he might've been and just don't realize it.

Hey, it never hurts to explore every possibility.

Answer 3

Need more symptoms. Could be angina (temporary narrowing of the hearts blood vessels), stress is a big cause for that but doctors should have recognized that. He should go for a 'stress test'. That usually aids in diagnosing cardiac problems. Possibly something going on in a different area of the body. Sometimes pain is felt in a different location other than the problem area (such as the spleen-pain felt in upper chest and arm). Switch doctors or convice the one you have than he's not a drug seeker (common) and you're truly concerned.

Answer 4

FIRST OFF, DOCTORS ARE VERY GOOD WITH FINDING OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF HEART PROBLEMS.WITH ALL THE TEST THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIS HEART. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR BOYFRIEND HAS AN ANXIETY PROBLEM, AND MAY NEED MEDICATION. ZOLOFT IS A GOOD ONE ESPECIALLY FOR MEN IT WORKS GREAT. THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF ANXIETY, IS CHEST PAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE IS FRIGHTEN OR BECOMES UPSET, AND THE TALK OF DEATH. THIS CAN BRING ON DEPRESSION AND THAT IS WHERE THE TALK OF DEATH COMES IN. ANXIETY IS A HORRIBLE THING TO DEAL WITH DAY AFTER DAY. HAVE HE TALK TO THE DOCTORS AGAIN AND ASK IF HE HAS AN ANXIETY DISORDER. TO ME THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. I DEALT WITH TYPE OF CONDITION MYSELF FOR YEARS,AND HAVE DEALT WITH IT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL NOW THAT I TAKE ZOLOFT IT IS PRETTY MUCH GONE. THEY MAY ORDER SOMETHING LIKE ATIVAN TO GO ALONG WITH IT FOR BREAK THROUGH ATTACKS. GOOD LUCK

RESPONSE TO YOUR ADDED NOTES. QUITING SMOKING IS GREAT, BUT IT CAN INCREASE THE ANXIETY , BECAUSE AT THE START OF STOP SMOKING CAN MAKE YOU STRESSFUL AN ANXIOUS, I STILL SAY IT IS AN ANXIETY DISORDER

Answer 5

it could be anything and probably something very treatable. i am sure of that. the sad thing is he dying before they fix him which is sad. i mean hey get the right doctor and get moving. it could be aniexty. which can really mess you up with pain. it takes one pill to cure it if hes depression and it could be that only. i mean you need to send him to doctors and quit saying i am dying. hes not look positive and get moving.

Answer 6

Friend,
Don't get upset
My suggession:

1. Consult Cardiologist
2.Complete cardiac health check-up (ECG, ECHO, TMT, Blood test etc)
3. If every things are fine, please meet Stress Counseler or Psychologist

Answer 7

It sounds like it might be anxiety. Go to another doctor and ask him if it might be anxiety. If it is, then there are treatments