chest pain

[cynthiaG]

how do you know the difference between chest pain related to heart or those pains you get (other muscles around chest pain) when you take a deep breath? I know everyone gets the latter (my husband who is as healthly as a horse gets them once in a while and know of others that do). What would the HCM related chest pain feel like?

[Glen Beamish]

Re: chest pain

Cynthia, mine would be like the tightness you get with a very bad chest cold.
Sometimes it's very difficult to distinguish between that type of chest pain, Chest pain from stress or some heart burn. I don't have a problem telling muscular chest pain because it's usually more on the outside and the muscles are tender to the touch.
I can remember going to the hospital many times with stress related chest pain so I can understand your question.
I guess the most important thing is don't guess, if you're not sure then go to the hospital.

[cynthiaG]

Re: chest pain

I've gotten it before a long time ago...it doesn't last long...just feels like a pin prick kind of pain that I can only feel when I take a deep breath. My husband has gotten the same thing. We were sitting down watching t.v. a while back and he described his and it was exactly what mine felt like

[bryan]

Re: chest pain

I was just wondering if anyone has had chest pains so bad that it actually hurts to touch there arm? Ive been having chest pains since Thursday night that are so bad it feels like my arm is broken.

Bryan

[cynthiaG]

Re: chest pain

Bryan,
did you call Dr. M at NEMC? You should. Have you done anything out of the ordinary lately that would cause this?

[Deedee]

Re: chest pain

Geez Bryan, that sounds pretty severe to me. I don't know much but I think if something is hurting THAT bad, you should do something for sure.

Cynthia, I have a pain nearly all the time in my left chest where a rib sticks out. I've tried to figure out what it is for over a year but nobody seems to know. I thought it was maybe connected to my gallbladder but after having that out a few months ago, it has not gone away. Don't know if that's related to HCM or not to be honest. It's like a rock is sitting there just hurting it.

When my heart hurts, it's very much exactly and specifically my heart that has the pain in it. Doesn't really radiate much, just feels painful, like a sharp pain or sometimes like there's a rock sitting on it. That doesn't usually last more than a few days at a time for me though.

I think the main idea is that each person is quite different actually. I know that doesn't make it any easier to differentiate, I wish it did too. I'm trying to figure it out as I go along as well. Someone should work with you to find a symptom or combination that's designed just for you, but mostly I think people go by instinct.

What gets me personally to go over to the hospital is combinations of things. For instance last time I went I had a combination of heart pain, palpitations, missed beats and swollen feet for several days in a row. That sorta combination worried me, but they ran all the tests and nothing had happened or was happening. But like others are saying too - better to go and be safe than sorry.

Deedee

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: chest pain

Please keep in mind that "chest pain" is NOT always in the chest - strange but true....
The pain may be in the upper back, jaw, shoulder or arm. Women do not normally have chest pain the front of the chest...that is mostly where men feel it. Women have commonly reported more jaw, shoulder and upper back pain associated to cardiac issues.

Chest pain can come from various reasons and it is important to discuss these events with your doctor.

I have said it before and I will say it again... we are all a little different so PLEASE discuss your symptoms with your doctors.

Be well,
Lisa