nasty turn
 

Hi friends..
shjort note..
been in hosp icu last 10 days just had angio.. no blockages.. chest pains still off the wall..
I AM ALIVE and blessed for that but cant imagine having this pain to forever.. need answers and relief.. they think that no blockages means mothings wropng

Sandel hurting in BC

Sorry For Your Pain.
Chest Pain Can Be A Sign Of Stress And/or Epigastric Problems. Do You Have A Pcp To Figure Things Out With?

severe muscle spasms??

some with TOS have felt as if a having heart attack at times.

My upperbody muscles were in severe spasms at one point - I thought I was having an attack or something very weird for 2 days- but my pulse/heartbeat was totally normal and the worst of the feelings began to fade but the tightness lingered until i came across the chiro i am still going to now 2.5 yrs later.

just a thought
 

Hi Sandra,

I had chest pain for some time a few years back.
Being a cardiac nurse I had some thoughts of my own...there is a different type of angina common in women.

It's Prinzmetals angina - caused by coronary artery spasms occuring at rest. If you catch it at just the right time it shows on an EKG. But that is a rare one to catch. It happened to me mostly when I had been active and sat down to rest, but it can happen at any time really. I have a friend with it also.

Do a search on it (aka Variant angina) and you'll know if it is what you have. The EKG - if I remember right, which is rare now-a-days, the t wave is elevated insead of depressed.

Very hard to tell from esophageal spasms. I was given a beta blocker, Inderal , which made me much worse as it can CAUSE vasospasms, so I took calcium channel blockers & nitro patches...it can cause death due to the artery spasm occluding the coronary artery.
Hope

i hope you

Dear Sandra,

I am so sorry. I do not have any ideas for you. You are in my heart and prayers.

Hang in their,
Hugs, Roz

Hi
 

hang in there Sandra-hopefully this will pass....

Debbie

Thanks..
 

I have had chest pains since july this year

On dec 18th I thought I was having a heartattack pain and shortness of breath were off the wall, called ambulance and was rushed to hospital.. they were gonna let me out.. till they did ecg # 2 then they found abnormalitys (you may be right Kate) and kept me in.. heart pain continued over 10 days in ICU then the sent me to Victoria for angiogram.. my docs and nurses insisted they would know CRPS there.. yah right, not so lucky me. I got the head of cardiology there as a surgeon for procedure.

Right arms still very sore from angiogram.. hope it will be alright..
they refused to take precautions,, said 'well thats not gonna happen' when I told him what precautions were nessary (while I was on the table for angio) when he came in the room a few moments before and I told him (reminded.. it was all over my chart) he said whats CRPS?.. I knew I was in trouble.. I found out afterwards they did not even sedate me as they do according to all info I have read or seen on hospital video's.. it was extremely painful nightmare for me.. and they thought I was being "hysterical cryin and carring on" was heard by me as 2 nurses talked later.

I have had nightmares both nights since, it was very painful and i felt the 'snake' go through my drain pipe, they had to pull it in and out like a pipecleaner and I heard them say they might have to go through the other artery (at the hip) but then got it into the heart.. I felt it all and was trapped in a nightmare of pain and almost violation feelings.

Sory I dont mean to scare anyone but was how i felt and still dream it bad.

Thank you all for your well wishes.. I just pray it dosnt stay in this arm as we know it can.. and I hope I/we can find some answers soon this is just so nasty bad I cant do much without the pain comin... (yes when I rest mostly)

Kate you just may have the answer or a big part of it.. Off to research! thank you all an Jo.. I do think that is part of it too as I has pain nonstop in there for 2-3 days after turning wrong in my hospital bed, I could tell i did something to make it worse then too.

Big hugs.. real soft now,
Sandra

Hi Sandra,
 

I had servere chest pains for about 6 years. I spent time in the hospital also for it. They diagnosed me with angina and I'd had a stroke and heart attack while on Vioxx. They had me on heart meds which I couldn't take so I threw them away.

They soon found that I had costocondritis and I also have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome which causes chest pain. I had 4 inches of muscle taken out from under my arm in 04 and it seemed to help but I still deal with the chest pains when I take certain meds and eat the wrong foods or do the wrong arm movements. I've asked many times why these things causes this pain and no one can tell me. They also chalked it up to Esopogeal spasms.

I was wondering if you might have Fibromyalgia also. It can also cause chest pains.

For some reasons when we have several things going on the Drs. can't seperate what's causing what so they start grasping at straws.

Hope you start seeing some relief soon.
Ada

That is just horrible how they treated you!!!
especially after you telling them about your condition.
just makes me want to scream.....

Can you stall on paying for that??
in case there is complicating factors from it?

so sorry -
that just proves how uppity drs and staff can get - thinking they know it all and not listening to an informed patient! {my vent}

I do hope you come through this with out any lingering problems and that the nightmare of the treatment by them will fade.

spasms
 

Both Ada & I mentioned esophageal spasms.
They truly feel EXACTLYlike a heart attack. Right over the sternum and can radiate to the jaw or arm.

Did you check info on Variant angina?

http://www.mayoclinic,com/health/variant-angina/AN01244

Please, please get a copy of those medical records and if you can let us know
if there were any EKG changes. AND if so, what are those changes?

This may not disappear and how can you treat it without a diagnosis?

I have exactly what Ada spoke of - Thoracic Outlet and fibro too.
Both can cause chest pains with NO EKG changes. I had the elevated T-wave on my thallium stress test.

Please don't ignore this. I've seen people turned away from ER's because of no EKG changes and they went home & had heart attacks.
We've given you some things to think about & read up on.
Doctors are human like us and miss things.
Keep doing trying relaxation exercises even tho they did not help me, they help some.

I will say prayers for you and that God will work thru the doctors to find a diagnosis,
Have they examined the GI route? Endoscopy?

What was the outcome of the angio?
It is just that Ada & I both know how much this hurts. I had to sit so still and not move - I would breathe so shallow because I thot I was having a heart attack.

Ada's right, chostochondritis is a common diagnosis for this (not dangerous)and anti inflammatories help, however can cause an inflammed stomach lining - therefore add more to the mystery.
We care for you & don't want anything to happen to you.
Thanks all you people for your prayers for Sandra.
Hope

Yes thank you..
 

hi there..

I have only 3 points on a fibro point system.. out of 18 done 3 seperate times, though that would explain alot if not most of my problems.

I do have pain at rest and an abnormal ecg reading or two between normal ones taken at hosp.. I will get a copy of those and ask my doc if they show the specific readings I have been reading about (thanks!!) It sure sounds like a combination Varient angina and some kind of spasming both are infact spasms.. one muscular one arterial eh.

I have had the full workups and had everthing scanned UGI normal other organs normal (though they are all acting up) these all done over the summer season.

nitro makes me very sick angiogram was to me anything but normal but I got an all clear for arteries and ventricals. I also could not take a full breath felt constricted.. blood oxygen levels dropped I think because I could not draw in fully or even much when it was happening.

I had an abnormal chemical stress test a MIBI scan 2 months ago.. small ichemic episode or area.. not getting enouph blood or oxygen GP told me .. I asked the nasty doc that had done angio an he said that it must be wrong.. very abruptly.

I think that covers it but probibly not.

Thank you thank you,
sandra

Dang!!
 

That doctor sounds just like the one that hurt me!!!! The guy cussed me out when I told him that my leg was hurting like h#!! :(
He kept saying "I have done over 900 angio's and none of them have ever went wrong! I dont make mistakes!".

I sure hope it doesnt get worse on you because of their freakin stubbornness :mad:
They all act like gods or something.

I have been having trouble with my heart also, and they couldnt find anything wrong with me either. Finally they found that the nervous system that controls the heart, and breathing, fight or flight reactions, and all that stuff which cannot be controlled by the conscious mind was out of control. They told me that the RSD was interfering with the nervous system.

They gave me ativan to see if it would help, and boy did it ever. Now this new doctor I have is trying to take me off of it, but every time I miss a dose it isnt long before I start having troubles. He says it is because im addicted to the drug, but I say it is the same feelings and pain that first got me on the drug. I will not stop fighting these jerks!

It is getting to the point where im afraid of all doctors. Every time they mess with me I get worse, and it never goes back to the way it was before they messed with me. It wouldnt be soooo bad if I wasnt already getting worse with no help from them. :Sigh:

I hope you get to the bottom of what is wrong with ya, and I will be praying for you. Dont let them bully you around, remain firm, and be a pain in the ***** if you have to because they will hurt you if you cave in and let them do it the wrong way.

Big hugs

Hi S,
You may want to take a quick look at what I wrote on the "fact & Fiction"t started by Vicc,
Hope

sandel, i am so sorry to hear that you have been in icu for the past week or so.....

i sure hope they can get your pain down............and get to the root of the troubles......at least no blockage is encouraging.....

take care and rest up..........stay positive.......things HAVE to get better.................

Update..
 

Hi there thanks for your replys..

So on day 11 after the angio was done, a large lump apeared on my wrist where the catheter went in.. went back to doc and he put me on antibiotics redness around arm and as I say a large lump (*******) around and over like a firm boil..

Six days later not gone.. spread awelling around wrist, pain up following the veigns along inner arms.. I say arms plural cause the other is echoing the same pain, fingers cramping and sharp jabs in my palms. Right wrist is very sore and dosnt bend all the way back or sideways by the thumb.

Doc says dont use it and spent alot of time checking for pulses and such.. my fingernail color is good and hand does not get cold..

He sent me for a dopplar ultrasound on the lump area.. but hospital refused cause they didnt have a specialist to do the ultrasound because of it being an angio complication they need a heart doc to do it aparently... they will phone me with apt time.

I will look into the Q thing Hope and get the ECG results soon. I asked my doc about varient angina and he implyed they checked, but I have requested a normal ECG and an abnormal ECG of mine done in hospital to compare them myself.

Things seem to keep going wrong.. like a downward spiral, I have to stay optomistic.

My chest pain is exaberated by use of my cane, the more I lean/rely on it the more my chest hurts.. I was using 2 before my hospital stay but now I cant with my rt arm screwed up..

My doc thinks I should look at motorised chairs, i can'r believe my life has come to this.. I am not yeat 45 and was so fit.. :Sigh:
*enouph self pity sandra says to herself*

Chest pain has eased some though still there.. just another RSD thing methinks.

Hope things are going well for you all.
super soft hugs,
sandra

Dr didn't say to use warmth or anything for the lump?
If the redness travels up a vein in a line it could be blood poisoning.

My sis in law had a blood clot in her forearm at Christmas time- she used a heat pad, percoset and they had to inject blood thinners for a week.

Hi Sandra,
I loved what Jo said about using heat. I believe the blood could go more to the area.

If I was you, I would 100% make sure you do not have a infection as well. Hospitals in themselves can have a high infections rate. I have heard 25%.

In my case I have some kind of horrid cirulation problem going on.

Iv's are real rough for me too.

Big Hugs, Roz

good idea thanks..
 

The heat sounds good the tub realy helps that too, my dorky doc had the ( ) to tentativly sugest ice.. I couldn't beleive it. I set him straight i did. dork!

I hope you are feeling better soon Roz, is it me or do we all flare more and develope changes during winter?

Wonder if there are statistics somewhere. hmm..

have a plesantly sleepful night all,
Sandra

good morning Sandra:

just wanted to let you know that every time, and every place i have ever had an iv i get the lump you are talking about. (arms, hands, even foot) in my case a clot forms. i have a "condition" where my blood clots too easily. (factor 5 leiden, protein S activity, and something else, {sorry, brain fog} my mother has been tested for the same thing and comes up negative, however she gets the same lumps/clots whenever she has an i.v.
maybe your doctor could check your clotting factor. moist heat on the area, and 80mg aspirin would probably help.

hope you get some relief soon.

:grouphug: 's and prayers

Hi Sandra,
At the cabin it snowed some and my pain levels were higher. So weather I believe can play a role.

One thing I try to do is keep every limb as warm as possiable. I am back in Temecula it's about a hour north of San Diego in CA. Now in Malibu I heard people had ice a couple days ago on their windshild in the morning. So we must be having a very rough winter.

When I was healthy. I used to go to the Carribean in December. It is so beautiful their. The weather in the winter is like summer. I would watch the specials and book a cruise for around 300 dollars.

Big Huge Hugs, Roz

hi there..
 

Ohh a cruise sounds so good Roz.. I have a friend with fibro that just went to dominica republic and she says her pain was gone the whole trip and that it returned aprx 1 hr before landing in western canada on the return trip.

The hospital misplaced the doplar ultrasound form aparently.. good thing it's not an emergency.. they scheduled me for late monday when I called today to see why they hadnt called with an apointment yesterday AM as they were suposto.

The lump is not as big as it was.. I think it enlarges or ingorges when I push up using my palm (pressure?) looks bruised too right after I do it.. the bruised look gets worse throughout the day, but it is smaller and almost normal colored in the AM.

So I am just trying not to use that arm much but using it as normal as possible at the same time so that the stiffness does not set in.

Take care :grouphug: and thank you all for your well wishes, I am starting to feel more myself again, I just need to keep my stress down as I feel it directly effects my heart as it's happenin.

sandra

Hi Sandra,

You're sure going through it, aren't you? I'll be praying too.

It sounds like "Hopeliveshere" hit on one thing you have. I agree with Ada, too, that when we have more than one thing then doc's get "confused", understandably, and just try to find ONE thing to name. It's the way they're trained.

I'm sorry about the mean/rude cardio doc you had! We've all been through at least one "nasty" doc attitude!

I'll be praying for you too!

Gentle hugs,

Denise

nother update same disaster.. lol
 

I was sent to see a vascular surgeon about the radial artery mess.. another ulreasound was done in specialists office (nice ubderstandin doc) he did things bracing both sides of my wrists etc.. the Radial artery is totaly blocked from the angeogram.. its a good thing I also have an in same hand the ulnar artery, this explaines why I get so much pain when I wrest my wrist on the outside wrist base.. and why it is that hand usualy puffed up every morning and the acheing I have had so much worse in both arms than was there before the procedure.

The vascular surgeon is also a dr who does blocks and deals with RSD ansethetic procedures aparently... he looked at my right arm hand and wrist lots and he said that he is going to sugest/recomend that I get a satelite upper block through my rt neak.. As this inciting event had just happened and it may help at this point for these symptoms before they increase.

he said he would write my doc an extensive letter of what he see's and suggests..

hugs,
Sandra

Chest pains - fibromyalgia can mimic heart conditions
 

Just a quick note of info. I had chest pains several times. Fortunately I have Janet Travell's book on Fibro. - which I have. I looked up the chapter on the chest Sure enought - fibro can mimic heart problems. Trigger Point Injections were a "God Send". No heart problems. Just needed the TPI's.
Much relief - haven't had them in many years now.
Also, there is an article by Devlyn Starlyn about Fibro. patients and surgery. She recommends procaine injections at the site of the incisions prior to surgery and to lessen the risk of scar tissue and trigger point pain developing and causing further problems. Just trying to help. I know what it is to suffer with chronic pain of fibro and RSD.
Sydney