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What Causes Chest Pain, Breathlessness And Shoulder Blade Pain After Smoking Marijuana?
Question: Hello.
My name is XXXXXXX and I am 23 years old. I am about 6'3 and pretty slim. around 175 pounds. I have a history of smoking for 7 years off and on. never more then a few a day though. I would also mix marijuana with the tobacco that I was smoking. I was only using tobacco with is for maybe 4 years. My problems all started about 6-7 months ago. I was having pretty bad chest pain and an overall feeling of being unwell. I went to the doc where he gave me an EKG and some blood tests. Both turned out fine. I still felt like crap
and had chest pain so he referred me to get a CT scan and chest x-ray ray. Didnt hear any news so everything looked fine with those. I decided to take no further action. I started to feel a little better. the chest pain went away but I would still feel bad waking up and would always be tired . I went on a vacation to Argentina for 1 month and when I returned I was feeling decent. I smoked some marijuana with my friend and I thought I was having a heart attack. heart was beating so fast and i couldn't really breathe. pain in my chest and I really considered going to the ER but money is tight so I didnt. next day I woke up and felt a little better and hoped it was just an anxiety or panic attack. I decided that day that I must quit smoking and also stop drinking or eating very unhealthy. although I was exercising and living a lot healthier I was still getting chest pains. they would come and go but would be pretty prevalent. I went to the cardiologist again and he said it was probably in my head. he said I already had a x-ray and CT and it would be a waste of money to do those tests again. he said I was too young for a stress rest and being 23 I was probably healthy . he said I could take an aniogram but that would be $10,000. obviously at 23 I don't have 10 grand to be throwing around. I felt helpless and I knew something was going on but had no answers. I decided to wait some more and see what happens. Within the last month my symptoms have been getting worse. The chest pain comes and goes. The big pain now is in my left shoulder blade. When I take a deep breath in I can feel it tighten up and as I exhale it gets a sharp stabbing like pain. There is a popping noise that I can feel in my chest sometimes when inhaling. It is painless but it is very concerning. It is a pop/crack but only one pop not crackling or anything.I also have had episodes of very bad shortness of breath where I have to really concentrate on my breathing and it feels so unnatural. I also have veen having very weird heart palpitations off and on. A few times they were painful but mostly just annoying and feeling very strange. I wake up after 8-9 hours of sleep and still feel horrible and like I can sleep all day if I don't really have to get out of bed for work. I work as a server in a restaurant for the last 4 years. I also notice my hands and feet are constantly very very cold. as though they aren't getting enough blood flow. Obviously with all these symptoms my mind is racing. I am scared of things such as COPD and lung cancer. I know I am young but my grandpa died of lung cancer so it's safe to say my mind is racing. I have another appointment with a cardiologist and I am trying to make one with a pulmonologist. The thing is they are booked for months so I wont be able to get any answers or peace of mind for some time. I am living in hell always thinking what could be happening to me and if I am going to die. I know this is long and a lot of symptoms and variables but I really need some major input. Would it be wise to get another CT and xray? What about the exposure to radiation again because I recently had them done? I was advised to try an Echocardiogram as well. I am going through one of the hardest times in my life so any and all input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, XXXXXXX
My name is XXXXXXX and I am 23 years old. I am about 6'3 and pretty slim. around 175 pounds. I have a history of smoking for 7 years off and on. never more then a few a day though. I would also mix marijuana with the tobacco that I was smoking. I was only using tobacco with is for maybe 4 years. My problems all started about 6-7 months ago. I was having pretty bad chest pain and an overall feeling of being unwell. I went to the doc where he gave me an EKG and some blood tests. Both turned out fine. I still felt like crap
and had chest pain so he referred me to get a CT scan and chest x-ray ray. Didnt hear any news so everything looked fine with those. I decided to take no further action. I started to feel a little better. the chest pain went away but I would still feel bad waking up and would always be tired . I went on a vacation to Argentina for 1 month and when I returned I was feeling decent. I smoked some marijuana with my friend and I thought I was having a heart attack. heart was beating so fast and i couldn't really breathe. pain in my chest and I really considered going to the ER but money is tight so I didnt. next day I woke up and felt a little better and hoped it was just an anxiety or panic attack. I decided that day that I must quit smoking and also stop drinking or eating very unhealthy. although I was exercising and living a lot healthier I was still getting chest pains. they would come and go but would be pretty prevalent. I went to the cardiologist again and he said it was probably in my head. he said I already had a x-ray and CT and it would be a waste of money to do those tests again. he said I was too young for a stress rest and being 23 I was probably healthy . he said I could take an aniogram but that would be $10,000. obviously at 23 I don't have 10 grand to be throwing around. I felt helpless and I knew something was going on but had no answers. I decided to wait some more and see what happens. Within the last month my symptoms have been getting worse. The chest pain comes and goes. The big pain now is in my left shoulder blade. When I take a deep breath in I can feel it tighten up and as I exhale it gets a sharp stabbing like pain. There is a popping noise that I can feel in my chest sometimes when inhaling. It is painless but it is very concerning. It is a pop/crack but only one pop not crackling or anything.I also have had episodes of very bad shortness of breath where I have to really concentrate on my breathing and it feels so unnatural. I also have veen having very weird heart palpitations off and on. A few times they were painful but mostly just annoying and feeling very strange. I wake up after 8-9 hours of sleep and still feel horrible and like I can sleep all day if I don't really have to get out of bed for work. I work as a server in a restaurant for the last 4 years. I also notice my hands and feet are constantly very very cold. as though they aren't getting enough blood flow. Obviously with all these symptoms my mind is racing. I am scared of things such as COPD and lung cancer. I know I am young but my grandpa died of lung cancer so it's safe to say my mind is racing. I have another appointment with a cardiologist and I am trying to make one with a pulmonologist. The thing is they are booked for months so I wont be able to get any answers or peace of mind for some time. I am living in hell always thinking what could be happening to me and if I am going to die. I know this is long and a lot of symptoms and variables but I really need some major input. Would it be wise to get another CT and xray? What about the exposure to radiation again because I recently had them done? I was advised to try an Echocardiogram as well. I am going through one of the hardest times in my life so any and all input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Lung function test required
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I understand your concerns.
Following is my reply:
1) First let me tell you that this is not heart attack or anything related to heart. It would have been identified by now if it was heart related issue. No need of angiogram or echocardiography.
2) This is to do with your lungs. Your lung capacity has reduced drastically over the years due to smoking. This causes damage alveoli and other small units of lungs that are responsible for exchanging carbon dioxide and bringing in oxygen to your body.
3) This lung damage results in all the symptoms/ problems you have mentioned,
4) You need to get pulmonary function test (PFT) and undego a spirometry to check , lung capacity, lung volume and other lung function parameters to assess extent of damage,
5) Please see a pulmonologist with this report. who will assess it and avice you further.This can improved gradually with lung exercise.
6) Never touch a cigarette in your life again. You have high chances of lung cancer in future as your grand father had it. Just kick the habit.
I hope my answer helped you. Let me know if you need anymore clarification.
Regards
Lung function test required
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I understand your concerns.
Following is my reply:
1) First let me tell you that this is not heart attack or anything related to heart. It would have been identified by now if it was heart related issue. No need of angiogram or echocardiography.
2) This is to do with your lungs. Your lung capacity has reduced drastically over the years due to smoking. This causes damage alveoli and other small units of lungs that are responsible for exchanging carbon dioxide and bringing in oxygen to your body.
3) This lung damage results in all the symptoms/ problems you have mentioned,
4) You need to get pulmonary function test (PFT) and undego a spirometry to check , lung capacity, lung volume and other lung function parameters to assess extent of damage,
5) Please see a pulmonologist with this report. who will assess it and avice you further.This can improved gradually with lung exercise.
6) Never touch a cigarette in your life again. You have high chances of lung cancer in future as your grand father had it. Just kick the habit.
I hope my answer helped you. Let me know if you need anymore clarification.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
does this mean I have COPD? it's hard to grasp that considering I'm so young and typically it effects people who have smoked a pack a day for years. How can I go to work and live a normal life knowing I have something like this? I can't get an app with a pulmonologist for 2 months. I can't imagine sitting around and waiting for 2 months not knowing if I'm going to be okay and feeling this way. I can't work like this. I can barely function and my anxiety is now taking over. I need help.
Brief Answer:
Start walking
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I totally understand how you feel.
It's truth that your lungs have been damaged. Everyone has different tolerance limits smoking based on their genetic susceptibility and life style.
You probably smoked much more than what your body could handle.
As of now you need to start walking slowly and improve the speed on daily basis based on how much your body cooperates. You have to try to improve your lifestyle and kick smoking till your appointment with pulmonologist is through.
Meanwhile if you are extremely uncomfortable you might need to visit ER.
Start walking
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I totally understand how you feel.
It's truth that your lungs have been damaged. Everyone has different tolerance limits smoking based on their genetic susceptibility and life style.
You probably smoked much more than what your body could handle.
As of now you need to start walking slowly and improve the speed on daily basis based on how much your body cooperates. You have to try to improve your lifestyle and kick smoking till your appointment with pulmonologist is through.
Meanwhile if you are extremely uncomfortable you might need to visit ER.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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