Question:

Last week I was having chest pains, and my wife took me to ER. Well, no heart attack, so far as could be ascertained. I was discharged with follow-ups scheduled. It happened that I saw my allergy asthma doctor the following day, and was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ick. So finally my migraines have been sort of controlled, and now I have frightening chest pains in middle of the night(like right now )^:, or whenever.  Oy. rorschandt

Response:

Oh, poor you.  I’ve had pleurisy twice and it’s seroiusly awful.  I found it to be very painful.  Do you know how you ended up with it? I hope you’re better soon. Michelle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week I was having chest pains, and my wife took me to ER. Well, no heart attack, so far as could be ascertained. I was discharged with follow-ups scheduled. It happened that I saw my allergy asthma doctor the following day, and was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ick. So finally my migraines have been sort of controlled, and now I have frightening chest pains in middle of the night(like right now )^:, or whenever.  Oy. rorschandt

Response:

sorry to hear that. i have had a hole in my lung so that isn’t fun either and i think i have had pleurisy as well, just no one likes to tell that to me i guess when you have asthma. I hope you feel better soon Melissa/WI

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week I was having chest pains, and my wife took me to ER. Well, no heart attack, so far as could be ascertained. I was discharged with follow-ups scheduled. It happened that I saw my allergy asthma doctor the following day, and was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ick. So finally my migraines have been sort of controlled, and now I have frightening chest pains in middle of the night(like right now )^:, or whenever.  Oy. rorschandt

Response:

Well, that sucks! Do they think it’s a result of your (forgot which you have) — allergy or asthma? What do you do to get rid of it? Hope it’s not another "thing" on the list. Ginnie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week I was having chest pains, and my wife took me to ER. Well, no heart attack, so far as could be ascertained. I was discharged with follow-ups scheduled. It happened that I saw my allergy asthma doctor the following day, and was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ick. So finally my migraines have been sort of controlled, and now I have frightening chest pains in middle of the night(like right now )^:, or whenever.  Oy. rorschandt

Response:

Sorry to hear about this, R.  BUT you may have helped me send a friend some really good information….. She was hospitalized a month ago with chest pain.  They did every test imaginable to see if it was her HEART….  Heart was fine, so they sent her home.  She still suffers from chest pain.  I’m going to email her some links to pleurisy … could be her answer….. Still, I’m sorry that you added that to your list…..

Apparently it is fairly easy to diagnose: Listening with a stethoscope, as the afflicted one breathes, a sandpapery sound can be heard. That is the sound of the irritated and inflamed tissues grating against one another, causing great pain. The other thing to look for is if the afflicted one holds her/his breath, the pain momentarily decreases or subsides. Of course, one must eventually exhale and inhale again… I am sorry for your friend’s (and mine) discomfort. rorschandt

Response:

Sorry to hear about this, R.  BUT you may have helped me send a friend some really good information….. She was hospitalized a month ago with chest pain.  They did every test imaginable to see if it was her HEART….  Heart was fine, so they sent her home.  She still suffers from chest pain.  I’m going to email her some links to pleurisy … could be her answer….. Still, I’m sorry that you added that to your list….. Liz

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week I was having chest pains, and my wife took me to ER. Well, no heart attack, so far as could be ascertained. I was discharged with follow-ups scheduled. It happened that I saw my allergy asthma doctor the following day, and was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ick. So finally my migraines have been sort of controlled, and now I have frightening chest pains in middle of the night(like right now )^:, or whenever.  Oy. rorschandt

Response:

I have a bunch of links for Costochondritis but some seem to be no longer working. These seem ok.

kadee, I just have to say, you are the BEST linker I’ve ever seen! You’ve given us SO many good places to look for info.   Ginnie

Response:

I have a bunch of links for Costochondritis but some seem to be no longer working. These seem ok. kadee, I just have to say, you are the BEST linker I’ve ever seen! You’ve given us SO many good places to look for info.   Ginnie

I agree…when there’s ever a new problem that we haven’t heard about, or just some reason to need a link, kadee is there helping out…and fast too!!! .stacy.

Response:

OOOO!  Michelle…. I’m going to forward your note to her, if you don’t mind!!!  Great information!  You and Rorschandt ROCK!!! Liz

I have researched Costochondritis. Not sure if this is exactly what I sometimes experience. My doctor did agree that my violent sneezing is likely the cause of the irritation. I do also have chest pain which is heart related and have had pleuritic pain  and bronchial irritation. I have a bunch of links for Costochondritis but some seem to be no longer working. These seem ok. http://www.cfs.inform.dk/Variouspain/costomm.htm http://www.exsands.com/Health/Diseases/costochondritis_tv_ex.htm http://www.1uphealth.com/health/costochondritis_info.html http://www.medicinenet.com/Costochondritis_and_Tietze_Syndrome/articl… http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic116.htm http://www.emedicine.com/aaem/topic136.htm http://www.ncemi.org/cse/cse0503.htm http://askwaltstollmd.com/archives/costochon.html Kadee

Response:

OOOO!  Michelle…. I’m going to forward your note to her, if you don’t mind!!!  Great information!  You and Rorschandt ROCK!!! Liz

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I get pain in my chest and sometimes it feels like it’s my heart. Actually we figured out that it’s inflammation within the ribs.  It was Costochondritis.  Women tend to get it more often…and I have bouts with it now and then where I totally feel like I’m going to die from a heart attack…or not being able to breath.  I can take anti-inflammatories, but typically, I let it run its course. Here’s a Q&A from a site… It feels like I am having a heart attack, what causes this? When there is that much inflammation and swelling in one area there is no room for more swelling- the nerves are over reactive and the muscles turn into tight knots – this causes the feeling of  having a heart attack.  You have all of the muscles and nerves running between the ribs themselves, then you also have your chest muscles that are tightening and swollen.  With one on top of your heart and the others on the bottom, there is going to be a heart attack feeling  ( You only have so much room).   However,  cardiac symptoms cannot be ignored, and must be ruled out first! Michelle Sorry to hear about this, R.  BUT you may have helped me send a friend some really good information….. She was hospitalized a month ago with chest pain.  They did every test imaginable to see if it was her HEART….  Heart was fine, so they sent her home.  She still suffers from chest pain.  I’m going to email her some links to pleurisy … could be her answer….. Still, I’m sorry that you added that to your list….. Liz Last week I was having chest pains, and my wife took me to ER. Well, no heart attack, so far as could be ascertained. I was discharged with follow-ups scheduled. It happened that I saw my allergy asthma doctor the following day, and was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ick. So finally my migraines have been sort of controlled, and now I have frightening chest pains in middle of the night(like right now )^:, or whenever.  Oy. rorschandt

Response:

Thanks… She and I commiserate once in a while about pain that can’t be seen.  She’s being treated like a hypochondriac now, and it makes me boil.  I’ve known her over 20 years and she’s definitely NOT that!! Liz

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry to hear about this, R.  BUT you may have helped me send a friend some really good information….. She was hospitalized a month ago with chest pain.  They did every test imaginable to see if it was her HEART….  Heart was fine, so they sent her home.  She still suffers from chest pain.  I’m going to email her some links to pleurisy … could be her answer….. Still, I’m sorry that you added that to your list….. Apparently it is fairly easy to diagnose: Listening with a stethoscope, as the afflicted one breathes, a sandpapery sound can be heard. That is the sound of the irritated and inflamed tissues grating against one another, causing great pain. The other thing to look for is if the afflicted one holds her/his breath, the pain momentarily decreases or subsides. Of course, one must eventually exhale and inhale again… I am sorry for your friend’s (and mine) discomfort. rorschandt

Response:

I get pain in my chest and sometimes it feels like it’s my heart.  Actually we figured out that it’s inflammation within the ribs.  It was Costochondritis.  Women tend to get it more often…and I have bouts with it now and then where I totally feel like I’m going to die from a heart attack…or not being able to breath.  I can take anti-inflammatories, but typically, I let it run its course. Here’s a Q&A from a site… It feels like I am having a heart attack, what causes this? When there is that much inflammation and swelling in one area there is no room for more swelling- the nerves are over reactive and the muscles turn into tight knots – this causes the feeling of  having a heart attack.  You have all of the muscles and nerves running between the ribs themselves, then you also have your chest muscles that are tightening and swollen.  With one on top of your heart and the others on the bottom, there is going to be a heart attack feeling  ( You only have so much room).   However,  cardiac symptoms cannot be ignored, and must be ruled out first! Michelle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry to hear about this, R.  BUT you may have helped me send a friend some really good information….. She was hospitalized a month ago with chest pain.  They did every test imaginable to see if it was her HEART….  Heart was fine, so they sent her home.  She still suffers from chest pain.  I’m going to email her some links to pleurisy … could be her answer….. Still, I’m sorry that you added that to your list….. Liz Last week I was having chest pains, and my wife took me to ER. Well, no heart attack, so far as could be ascertained. I was discharged with follow-ups scheduled. It happened that I saw my allergy asthma doctor the following day, and was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ick. So finally my migraines have been sort of controlled, and now I have frightening chest pains in middle of the night(like right now )^:, or whenever.  Oy. rorschandt

Response:

Well, that sucks! Do they think it’s a result of your (forgot which you have) — allergy or asthma?

I went to the allergist at my wife’s suggestion because he "advertised" about specializing in headaches as well, and that allergies can trigger headaches. The initial exam showed that I might have asthma, and that was confirmed last thursday )~: What do you do to get rid of it?

Wait. Yes, that is what you do, wait. Live with it. There is no treatment unless there are causes like infection or pneumonia, then those things are treated and then you wait. I have however, read about an herb called pleurisy root that was used by native americans to treat, get this, "pleurisy" (~: Hope it’s not another "thing" on the list.

Me too. Thank you for your kind thoughts. At least my headaches are loads better. /~: < rorschandt

Response:

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