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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Dull Pain In The Chest, Pain In Arms, Neck, Jaws, Tingling Sensation In Limbs. Cause?

Hello, I m 27, male, non smoker, occasional drinker, very thin with no immediate family history of heart disease. There is a family history of depression , and I used to take SSRIs. I ve been without medication for 4 years and have felt pretty normal. My mother has high blood pressure and neuropathy . I m not currently on a regular exercise routine, but at my job I spend most of the day on my feet and do some lifting (40 pounds or so) and I often go into attics and climb ladders. About 2 months ago I started having dull pains in the left part of my chest, under the breast bone. They lasted under a minute and occurred a couple of times a day for about a week. A few weeks later I decided I would get back into a regular exercise routine, so I went to the GP for a checkup due to the previous chest pains. After talking to the very cynical and uninterested sounding doctor, they performed blood tests for glucose and lipids, chest x-ray, and an ECG. All tests were normal except for the ECG, which came back as borderline . Because of the borderline ECG, they referred me to the cardio where I underwent a stress test and echo, both of which turned out normal according to the doctor. He wrote me a scrip for acid reflux and said I could come back without a referral. I did not take the prilosec because I knew it wasn t acid reflux. And I knew this because I started having new symptoms including: pains in my arms, neck, jaw, and groin , palps, pvcs, and a strange sensation at the top of my chest that felt like I needed to cough. I ve also noticed some minor tingling in my hands and arms, but nothing that resembles the feeling of falling asleep . These symptoms occur seemingly at random times, but I m usually completely relaxed first thing in the morning. I decided to try a different GP for a second opinion due to the lack of care I felt I was receiving. The new GP talked with me for a while (she seemed genuinely concerned), checked my pulse and listened to my heart, and concluded that she couldn t find anything wrong and wouldn t be able to form a second opinion without my test results. She provided me with a sample for acid reflux as well. I tried it for a week just to say I tried it. I didn t notice anything different. The symptoms persisted on and off. I would have a day or two where I felt normal but then they would just come right back. I started having episodes of panic (hot flashes, sense of feeling unreal, extreme sense of fear, trembling). After a second visit to the new GP, I signed for a release of medical records from the previous GP and cardio, and she wrote me a scrip for xanax concluding, for now we re going to call it anxiety . It has been 3 business days and I haven t heard back from the new GP, although I don t really know what she could conclude from my test results. I was hoping she would order a different kind of test. So this is where I am: Still getting the pains in my neck jaw and arms, pvcs, and that sensation at the top of my chest like I need to cough (actually coughing doesn t do anything). I ve had some dull pains in the mid of my back and under my ribs on the side, which may occur a couple of times a day and disappear for a week. I m frustrated and in a constant state of worry because I don t have an answer. I can t relax and do anything that I like to do. I m constantly checking my pulse (which seems to be normal even during the symptoms). I tried taking half of a xanax and it just made me feel out of it and sleepy. It didn t do anything about the physical symptoms. I apologize for the long message, but I feel like all of this information is necessary. What else could be causing these symptoms? Should I keep nagging the doctors for further testing? I ve already spent so much money and I m starting to feel like it was a waste. I want to believe it s just my emotional state, but I just don t understand how that could cause these types of symptoms. I ve never had them before. One final question: I ve never had the best diet. I worked at a pizza place on and off for about 6 years and practically lived off of pizza, chicken wings, and bread. I ve altered my diet significantly over the last year though. I take a multivitamin now, I eat eggs or healthy cereal for breakfast with 2% milk, I eat turkey or chicken sandwiches for lunch, and I usually cook turkey or ground chuck for dinner. Could there be a clog somewhere, and if so, would it show up in a blood test? Thanks for your time.
Fri, 13 Sep 2013
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Psychologist 's  Response
Dear
Welcome to HCM
We understand your concerns

I went through your problem descriptions. I suggest you not to worry too much because you do not have knowledge about medical conditions and I sincerely request you to believe the two GPs and cardiologist you consulted.

I can clearly say that it is anxiety that you are a victim of. Please donot check the symptoms of anxiety in internet. You might get proper list of symptoms, but youalso get some other informations which make you more confused.

You are worried that you have some serious heart problems which your cardiologist and other GPs could not find. Wrong. If there is a problem, they could find it. But how to find a problem if it is not present? But anxiety cam mimic so many symptoms in our body without actually having it. I have so many patients with the same symptoms. Pain, palpitaions, shortness of breath, feeling like coughing etc, and everyone of them are not satisfied with so many specialists. Means they wants the doctors to say that they have a serious heart condition and they are going to die soon. You are also in such a condition. This is called hypochondriasis. Anxiety medication and acidi reflux medication is what is required for you.

Regular exercise, balanced diet, pleasent mind, ignoring the symptoms, positive thinking etc are some other things you should do. Consult a psychologist for counseling or psychotherapy sessions. Also practice breathing exercise and meditation.

Past is past, don't lament about it. Future is uncertain and not in your hands, don't worry about it. Live today and live happy.

Hope this answers your query. Available for further clarifications.
Good luck.
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Dull Pain In The Chest, Pain In Arms, Neck, Jaws, Tingling Sensation In Limbs. Cause?

Dear Welcome to HCM We understand your concerns I went through your problem descriptions. I suggest you not to worry too much because you do not have knowledge about medical conditions and I sincerely request you to believe the two GPs and cardiologist you consulted. I can clearly say that it is anxiety that you are a victim of. Please donot check the symptoms of anxiety in internet. You might get proper list of symptoms, but youalso get some other informations which make you more confused. You are worried that you have some serious heart problems which your cardiologist and other GPs could not find. Wrong. If there is a problem, they could find it. But how to find a problem if it is not present? But anxiety cam mimic so many symptoms in our body without actually having it. I have so many patients with the same symptoms. Pain, palpitaions, shortness of breath, feeling like coughing etc, and everyone of them are not satisfied with so many specialists. Means they wants the doctors to say that they have a serious heart condition and they are going to die soon. You are also in such a condition. This is called hypochondriasis. Anxiety medication and acidi reflux medication is what is required for you. Regular exercise, balanced diet, pleasent mind, ignoring the symptoms, positive thinking etc are some other things you should do. Consult a psychologist for counseling or psychotherapy sessions. Also practice breathing exercise and meditation. Past is past, don t lament about it. Future is uncertain and not in your hands, don t worry about it. Live today and live happy. Hope this answers your query. Available for further clarifications. Good luck.