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Have Pigeon Chest, Painful, Trouble Breathing. Surgery Possible?

Posted on Fri, 7 Sep 2012

Question: I have pigeon chest and over the past year my symptoms have been getting worse. I have a pain in my chest all the time, which increases greatly with the physical training I do for the military. I struggle with my breathing while walking, which has also gotten worse over the last year. My chest is starting to poke out more and more and causing me discomfort when I sleep making it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. Is this a means to have the surgery to correct it or am I being dramatic about my symptoms?

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (59 minutes later)

Hello

Thanks for the query

I would like to know a few more things in order to come to a better conclusion

1. Do you wake up at night breathless? Do you feel breathless in lying down position?
2. Is there are swelling of feet or discomfort in the stomach?
3. Is there cough?
4. Do you have palpitations? Is it only on working or at rest as well?
5. How many flight of stairs can you climb without getting breathless? How many could you 1 year ago?
6. Please mention all the medications you are currently on

Please get back to me, I am awaiting your reply

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (1 hour later)

I feel breathless when I lay flat, so I have to stay propped up with a few pillows to sleep. If I end up flat in the night I wake up a little out of breath and need to readjust my position. There is a minor discomfort in my stomach but no swelling in my feet. No constant cough. I cough a few times randomly throughout the day, but nothing major. My heart races randomly and whenever I walk, run, climb, really any type of constant movement. I walk up two flights of stairs to my barracks room (about 19 stairs) and my heart is racing by the time I get to the top, I'm slightly dizzy and out of breath. The only medication I'm on right now is trazadone. I've taken it twice in the past six months but I do have a daily prescription for it because my doctor thought it would help me sleep. It doesn't.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (5 hours later)

Hello

Thanks for the detailed reply

The breathlessness you are facing is secondary to the heart and not the lungs. Your heart is not able to keep up when there is increased demand like in the case of climbing stairs and while lying down in flat position. Here is what you should do

1. Get help from a cardiologist, he will want to do an ECHO and an EKG to look for the changes which have occurred
2. He will want to put you on cardiac remodeling drugs like ACE/ARB and also diuretics like hydrocholorothiazide or a beta blocker to help your heart with the increased demand.

Please don't ignore the issue, get help as soon as possible.

I hope I have answered your query, if you have any further ones I will be happy to get back

I wish you good health

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (8 hours later)

Any suggestions on how to get through the discomfort/pain, the breathlessness and the fatigue for another 5 months of deployment without my command finding out theres something wrong?

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (3 hours later)

Hello

Thanks for the query

5 months is a very long time and it will make the situation worse. I strongly advice you to visit the cardiologist before that.
In the mean time I advice to do the following

1. Avoid lifting heavy weights
2. Avoid caffeine and cigarette
3. Keep a watch out for swelling of feet
4. Sleeping in upright position adds less load on the heart
5. Avoid travelling long distances
6. Low salt diet.

I am again requesting you to see your doctor sooner and not delay things any further. You need to be put on the medications I have mentioned earlier.

I hope I was of help

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar