Question: I am a female who turned 50. About a month ago, I started having severe pain in my right side. The pain radiated to the right lower back. I went to my Dr., thinking it was my gallbladder. All tests came back negative.

Last week the SAME pain MOVED from the right side to the center of my chest (sternum) and has established itself there. NOW, I especially cannot take XXXXXXX BREATHS without excruciating pain. I have a lot of burping and gas, and an irritation in my throat like that of allergies. This is accompanied by occasional coughing. I have ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER symptoms or problems. I am not a smoker or a drinker. NOBODY seems to know what this pain is, or what is causing it. A recent sonogram indicated nothing. I have subsequently lined up several tests that will be made available to me in the next two (2) weeks or so, including CT Scan, MRI, Bone Density, Endoscopy, and a Breast Examination.

This morning, I was awakened by an inability to breathe. When I tried to sit up, I had this LONG NEEDLE like STABBING PAIN going straight from the sternum to the very center, between my lungs. Each heartbeat seems like a punch when trying to breathe deeply. I took 2 (two) aspirins for pain, which helped for awhile. Now I'm back with EXACTLY the same level of pain.

A few months ago, I experienced an episode at approximately 11 p.m. involving labored breathing and elevated blood pressure. I could not lower my left arm because of a paralyzing pain. I had the sensation of something traveling down my left lung. It seemed like a blood clot attempting to pass downward. My husband summoned EMS paramedics. They did an EKG and checked vital signs upon arrival. There were no abnormalities of any kind revealed by their tests. Subsequent medical consultation and examination detected nothing.