Hello I am a 24 y/o mother of 1 and currently 5 months pregnant. I have had small spurts of chest pain all my?

Question

life and have been told by a doc that they were panic attacks. Until recently they were seldom but recently i have been experiencing them every day. I actually went to the ER last week because I got so scared and couldn't breath and got real hot and sweaty and almost passed out. They did a EKG and chest X-RAY and a blood test ( for clots?) and all came back normal. It has never been this bad and i'm a little worried about what to do next. I am pretty healthy 135, 5'3 and 24ys/o. I did have a c-section with my 1st but no other health problems or history. I am on no meds and never have been. My dad says he also has this sort of pain sometimes he is 47. My grandparents are still alive but my greatg's did have some heart and cancer history. The pain is on the left side breast about 1 inch left of the breastbone and lasts anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes and feels like a sharp pull when i breath in or out. Especially when i breath deeply, i don't think it's anxeity all input is greatly apprecia

Answer 1

It is very reassuring that all those test back normal, so that generally means everything is okay.

It sound like it may be an anxiety attack. You say that it is not anxiety, but just the fact that you are worrying about this IS anxiety. Maybe right off hand it may seem that there is no anxiety, but you ARE undergoing stress. You are going to have a new little one. Even though this is a joyful time it is very anxiety provoking. This is called eustress.

Our mind does play terrible tricks on our body. If it continues, just ask your ob for some anxiety medication. They are not harmful to the fetus.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

Are you feeling panicky when this happens? What triggers the feelings? Anything in particular?

When I was pregnant, I had the most horrible heartburn you can imagine. I developed a hietal hernia, which allows digestive juices up into the esophagus. It felt JUST like a heart attack. Try taking maalox before you eat, or right after, and see if the symptoms change at all. It may just be your baby squishing your insides. I also found that keeping my system moving quickly helped. I'd recommend Miralax. You can't taste it or see it and it works gently and quickly.

If all of this works, you may not have a real problem, and it may go away as soon as baby's born.

If not, I'd go see a cardiologist and make him run every test in the book.

Then I'd visit the gastroenterologist and make him run tests to see if your problem comes from there.

If all physical problems are ruled out, and if you feel you have a problem with anxiety, go see the psychiatrist. It's easy to control panic attacks, if that's what it is.

TX Mom
not a dr
but lots of personal experience.

Answer 3

Have u had your thyroid checked? Its a simple blood test. I hope u have health insurance cause the blood test costs like 80 dollars. I had part of my thyroid removed a few years ago. I have to still have the other tested yearly. For years before they found anything wrong they told me I had panic attacks. I had chest pains and shortness of breath. U might have to have this blood test repeated every 6 months or every year because sometimes a thyroid problem is hard to detect unless they find a lump in your neck.

Answer 4

This sounds like an anxiety attack. I suffer from this and what you are explaining is exactly how I feel at times. I started taking medication to help about 4 months ago and they are less frequent now. Speak with your doctor, there are some medications out there with little side effects that make a world of difference.

Answer 5

You may consider getting tested for asthma, especially if you have seasonal allergies. Often times shortness of breath can seem like chest pain. Lung function tests are painless, and well worth the peace of mind that you are giving your baby everything it needs to be healthy by giving yourself enough oxygen through out your pregnancy

Answer 6

Hello my dear, i understand exactly how you feel i had the very same symptoms and had test done, this went on for about four years and i too had no other health worries . it turned out for me that it was all stress elated. My partner had similar pains only recently and once again twas stress. Best of luck with your pregnancy and try to relax.

Answer 7

Some people are against counseling, but I am all for it. These could very well be anxiety attacks. Make an appointment and discuss all your worries, disappointments, happy times, and questions. It can do wonders for a body.

Answer 8

I do have to say that it sounds like anxiety, it may very well not be though. Sometimes after i eat certain foods, i get sharp pains in that same place. Maybe monitor what you eat maybe, or insist on getting more tests run to find out whats happenin. hope this helps.

Answer 9

Your right---it is NOT anxiety. I have them and so does my daughter. I've had them since early childhood. I've asked my doctors and my daughter has asked her doctors. No one seems to have an answer for us--but it is not caused by anxiety, we have eliminated that (as you have).

Answer 10

Could it have something to do with the pregnancy?