I'm 24
5'1"
145 lbs.
I do not smoke
Exercise somewhat regularly (on and off)
I have a history of asthma
A few days ago, I noticed I get short of breath after some stairs, or if I have a story to tell, I get short winded and my sternum hurt when I breathed.
I went to the doctor thinking I had one of my very infrequent (once every few years) asthma attack.
The doctor listened to my lungs and heard nothing. He listened to my breathing, and there was no wheezing. He said my resting heart rate was high (90) and my blood pressure was a little high (137/73). Not abnormally high, but higher than he would expect for me.
He told me he didn't think it was asthma but gave me a breathing treatment with Albuterol anyways and said if it didn't work after a day, to come back in.
He thought the sternum pain was not associated.
The breathing treatment did not help. My sternum pain has now equalized in the same spots on my back. It hurts to breath. Deep breaths cause pain in those spots. If I hold my breath for 5 seconds I get light headed. I've never passed out before but I think I get close.
I'm not quite sure what to think. The doctor said to come back for x-rays or a lung specialist. What is my possible diagnosis?
5'1"
145 lbs.
I do not smoke
Exercise somewhat regularly (on and off)
I have a history of asthma
A few days ago, I noticed I get short of breath after some stairs, or if I have a story to tell, I get short winded and my sternum hurt when I breathed.
I went to the doctor thinking I had one of my very infrequent (once every few years) asthma attack.
The doctor listened to my lungs and heard nothing. He listened to my breathing, and there was no wheezing. He said my resting heart rate was high (90) and my blood pressure was a little high (137/73). Not abnormally high, but higher than he would expect for me.
He told me he didn't think it was asthma but gave me a breathing treatment with Albuterol anyways and said if it didn't work after a day, to come back in.
He thought the sternum pain was not associated.
The breathing treatment did not help. My sternum pain has now equalized in the same spots on my back. It hurts to breath. Deep breaths cause pain in those spots. If I hold my breath for 5 seconds I get light headed. I've never passed out before but I think I get close.
I'm not quite sure what to think. The doctor said to come back for x-rays or a lung specialist. What is my possible diagnosis?
It could possibly be Costocondritis (Inflammation of the rib cage)
I am replying to this post that was put up in 2006 and would like to find out what happened with this person. Please help me with this.
Out of curiosity, why is it that you want to know? I would be glad to help you answer questions if you're experiencing symptoms similar to this. Is that the case?
I am having the same symptoms, bluedog. I wonder if you can offer me any assistance.
I am having the EXACT same symptoms....anyone out there have any Ideas????
Sounds to me like you guys are having panic attacks
they are not having panic attacks.
Trust me. I have had Sternum pain, Rib pain, back pain, I HAVE asthma, a touch of Copd. and i've HAd panic attacks, Panic attacks are Caused when Doctors do NOT want to take ur pain seriously.
finally after 3 yrs of going to Doctors i got xray, on my back - which showed a injury i had 22 yrs ago - on my t8 (to the left of my spine)
the pain Is located on the LEFt side of my sternum, hurts to the touch , pierces thru my back like sumone has stabbbed a spear thru me, also hurts to breathe in, and have used 4 of my rescue inhalers a month, have gone to Phys. therapy, gone to massages, taken flexeril, heating pads, changed the way i sleep, gone swimming, tried working out, Vicodin, Percocet, u name it, i have done it.
Well i was told this is as good as its gonna get. My back injury is coming back to haunt me. I am going to get a Cat scan on my lungs, another Chest Xray, rib xray, as the Rib pain is now unbearable.. and I'm going to go to a pain specialist..
If anyone ever tried to tell u your just having panic attacks, or Costochondrtitis like they told me, LEAVe and find a new doctor. One that LISTENS.. dont take no for an answer, u have health insurance USE it for its purpose. dont ever let anyone tell u its anxiety, but anxiety DOES feel like a heart attack, when my father died, i had an anxiety attack, and too many docs would rather toss pills dpwn ur throat that actually pay attention.
if u have Back pain, chest pain, rib pain, breathing issues, its RELATED... the ribs connect to ur sternum, which protects your lungs, when they are inflamed your back hurts, causing more pain.
Trust me. I have had Sternum pain, Rib pain, back pain, I HAVE asthma, a touch of Copd. and i've HAd panic attacks, Panic attacks are Caused when Doctors do NOT want to take ur pain seriously.
finally after 3 yrs of going to Doctors i got xray, on my back - which showed a injury i had 22 yrs ago - on my t8 (to the left of my spine)
the pain Is located on the LEFt side of my sternum, hurts to the touch , pierces thru my back like sumone has stabbbed a spear thru me, also hurts to breathe in, and have used 4 of my rescue inhalers a month, have gone to Phys. therapy, gone to massages, taken flexeril, heating pads, changed the way i sleep, gone swimming, tried working out, Vicodin, Percocet, u name it, i have done it.
Well i was told this is as good as its gonna get. My back injury is coming back to haunt me. I am going to get a Cat scan on my lungs, another Chest Xray, rib xray, as the Rib pain is now unbearable.. and I'm going to go to a pain specialist..
If anyone ever tried to tell u your just having panic attacks, or Costochondrtitis like they told me, LEAVe and find a new doctor. One that LISTENS.. dont take no for an answer, u have health insurance USE it for its purpose. dont ever let anyone tell u its anxiety, but anxiety DOES feel like a heart attack, when my father died, i had an anxiety attack, and too many docs would rather toss pills dpwn ur throat that actually pay attention.
if u have Back pain, chest pain, rib pain, breathing issues, its RELATED... the ribs connect to ur sternum, which protects your lungs, when they are inflamed your back hurts, causing more pain.
Read up on osteomalacia
Can I suggest that you google 'osteomalacia' and 'sternum pain' and then read up how that could be the result of being vitamin D deficient.
May I also suggest that you google Professor Michael Holick and osteomalacia and vitamin D - he has numerous articles about this online and also there are videos about this on youtube.
I had the same thing and was put on asthma steroids but they did nothing until I realised that I had not gone out in the sun for about 10 to 15 years without putting sunscreen on - sunscreen prevents creation of vitamin D.
When I began taking high doses of vitamin D my sternum pain reduced dramatically within a fortnight and over the following months it subsided considerably. I am now 2 months into taking vitamin D and I also still take my asthma steroids but I think the asthma steroids are now working - there have been numerous studies published in recent weeks showing studies that people with asthma responded better to asthma steroids when they had high levels of vitamin D in their blood.
Doctors who do not have asthma just know the mechanics of asthma but they have never experienced it. Contrary to belief, your airways can narrow and tighten but still allow you to walk, to run even and think that you do not have asthma but, as it happens gradually over time, you forget what it used to feel like to feel well. This can result in tightness in the chest which affects the sternum, ribs and back as the muscles around your airways progressively but slowly tighten over time. In time this begins to feel like aches and pains and you feel sore in your back which is actually your lungs being inflamed and sore and/or your muscles around your airways being sore, inflamed and tight.
Asthma rates have tripled in the past decade - conincidentally since we all began becoming afraid of going up in the sun without sunscreen and hence stopping vitamin D creation in the body. Don't get burnt, get some vitamin D and seriously face up to the possibility that you do indeed now have asthma.
Obviously, do not take my work for it - find a good doc and don't get sunburnt but do some serious research on vitamin d and asthma and osteomalacia and sternum.chest/rib/back pain.
For years I was in denial about having asthma but put up with pain and soreness in my sternum, in my ribs and in my upper back. I was on asthma steroids but they did not do much and when I began taking vitamin D the steroids began to work and the pain gradually lessened and my ribs/chest/sternum began to move freely - my chest and sternum had become immobile and I lived with the pain but now it is moving and is flexible.
Btw, when your chest is inflexible, when your airways are narrow due to tight muscles around them, when your lungs are inflammed you tend to shallow breath which leads to lower CO2 in the body which leads to light-headedness and to panic attacks - for years I suffered with awful panic attacks, light-headedness, etc, but then a mix of asthma steroids and vitamin D has transformed my life and continues to do so.
You don't lose your manhood when you admit to having asthma.
I am not a doctor and have no medical qualifications, take the above advice with a pinch of salt, do your own research and always follow the advice of your own doctor.
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
May I also suggest that you google Professor Michael Holick and osteomalacia and vitamin D - he has numerous articles about this online and also there are videos about this on youtube.
I had the same thing and was put on asthma steroids but they did nothing until I realised that I had not gone out in the sun for about 10 to 15 years without putting sunscreen on - sunscreen prevents creation of vitamin D.
When I began taking high doses of vitamin D my sternum pain reduced dramatically within a fortnight and over the following months it subsided considerably. I am now 2 months into taking vitamin D and I also still take my asthma steroids but I think the asthma steroids are now working - there have been numerous studies published in recent weeks showing studies that people with asthma responded better to asthma steroids when they had high levels of vitamin D in their blood.
Doctors who do not have asthma just know the mechanics of asthma but they have never experienced it. Contrary to belief, your airways can narrow and tighten but still allow you to walk, to run even and think that you do not have asthma but, as it happens gradually over time, you forget what it used to feel like to feel well. This can result in tightness in the chest which affects the sternum, ribs and back as the muscles around your airways progressively but slowly tighten over time. In time this begins to feel like aches and pains and you feel sore in your back which is actually your lungs being inflamed and sore and/or your muscles around your airways being sore, inflamed and tight.
Asthma rates have tripled in the past decade - conincidentally since we all began becoming afraid of going up in the sun without sunscreen and hence stopping vitamin D creation in the body. Don't get burnt, get some vitamin D and seriously face up to the possibility that you do indeed now have asthma.
Obviously, do not take my work for it - find a good doc and don't get sunburnt but do some serious research on vitamin d and asthma and osteomalacia and sternum.chest/rib/back pain.
For years I was in denial about having asthma but put up with pain and soreness in my sternum, in my ribs and in my upper back. I was on asthma steroids but they did not do much and when I began taking vitamin D the steroids began to work and the pain gradually lessened and my ribs/chest/sternum began to move freely - my chest and sternum had become immobile and I lived with the pain but now it is moving and is flexible.
Btw, when your chest is inflexible, when your airways are narrow due to tight muscles around them, when your lungs are inflammed you tend to shallow breath which leads to lower CO2 in the body which leads to light-headedness and to panic attacks - for years I suffered with awful panic attacks, light-headedness, etc, but then a mix of asthma steroids and vitamin D has transformed my life and continues to do so.
You don't lose your manhood when you admit to having asthma.
I am not a doctor and have no medical qualifications, take the above advice with a pinch of salt, do your own research and always follow the advice of your own doctor.
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
I did post some links to some non-profit medical information sites which gives information on osteomalacia, asthma and vitamin d but the moderators have removed them claiming that I was trying to sell something when I was not - simply trying to point people in the right direction for information and help.
Quite sad really that this site chooses to remove links that merely contain information and can help people.
As I said in my first post, google osteomalacia, vitamin d and sternum pain, chest pain and also asthma and hopefully you will find the information yourselves. Best of luck.
Quite sad really that this site chooses to remove links that merely contain information and can help people.
As I said in my first post, google osteomalacia, vitamin d and sternum pain, chest pain and also asthma and hopefully you will find the information yourselves. Best of luck.
Sitting here at 53 with many years worth of sternum pain, back pain, irritable bowel, neuropathy, fibro. Treated for years for anxiety, panic syndrome and depression.
So when did this start? At age 38. Up until this time I had never known what it felt like to have anxiety. I didn't know what it was. I was born and raised in California and always worked outdoors. Then at about 35 I moved to Seatle. Not exactly the sunshine capital of the world. I took a inside job. Inside of a year I was starting to feel stressed out allot. Then I moved and took another inside job. When I wasn't at work I was inside messing around with my computer. Basicaly no sunlight worth mentioning for 3 years. Then the anxiety started, then the Insomnia, then the Panic.
It is now 15 years latter and I have piled up physical ailments like a sewer cleaner in Pakistan.
I just found out this week I am very low on Vitamin D. All the Doctors, the test, the disabilities and if this comes down to now getting out in the sunlight enough I don't know whether to be mad about the 15 years of misery or thrilled I finally nailed down the issue.
Of course I might have gotten a bit of a clue when I moved from Maine where I was barely getting light to Arizona and started walking outside everyday for a hour and the anxiety and panic and most of the pain went away for a year and then came back after moving again and becoming a in-door person again. It took about 2 years after coming in from the regular sunlight to bring it all back and much more.
/sigh
So when did this start? At age 38. Up until this time I had never known what it felt like to have anxiety. I didn't know what it was. I was born and raised in California and always worked outdoors. Then at about 35 I moved to Seatle. Not exactly the sunshine capital of the world. I took a inside job. Inside of a year I was starting to feel stressed out allot. Then I moved and took another inside job. When I wasn't at work I was inside messing around with my computer. Basicaly no sunlight worth mentioning for 3 years. Then the anxiety started, then the Insomnia, then the Panic.
It is now 15 years latter and I have piled up physical ailments like a sewer cleaner in Pakistan.
I just found out this week I am very low on Vitamin D. All the Doctors, the test, the disabilities and if this comes down to now getting out in the sunlight enough I don't know whether to be mad about the 15 years of misery or thrilled I finally nailed down the issue.
Of course I might have gotten a bit of a clue when I moved from Maine where I was barely getting light to Arizona and started walking outside everyday for a hour and the anxiety and panic and most of the pain went away for a year and then came back after moving again and becoming a in-door person again. It took about 2 years after coming in from the regular sunlight to bring it all back and much more.
/sigh
its sounds very umch like you have lyme disease. you said you were from maine, and lyme rampant in maine. ive been suffering from lyme for ten years and babesiosis. the hall mark symptoms of babesisosis which is another tick borne disease is chest pain. anxiety, shortness of breath, myalgias, and many random symtoms are common w/ lyme and babesiois. you just described a text book case. there is not an accurate test for lyme disease yet kdespite what ur doctor tells you. the best and most accurate test is from igenix. order the test online and take it to your dr. once you have it diagnosed there is treatment that will help you. i have it chronic and it wont go away, but it gets better with help from my lyme dr. good luck and do your research
oops this applys to evryone that has just described ongoing chest pain with random symptoms, especially the person that mentioned fibremyalgia. if your anywherre in the northeast your chances of having it is good. ttrust me, once i found out i had it i had my husband get tested along w/ my sister and brother in law, and well tested positive. lyme is not understood yet and the medical community shuns it for that reason, but if you talk to a lyme treating dr they will tell you its at pandemic levels. without an accurate test and so many random symptoms its very difficult to treat. if ur dr tells you that the western blot test is more than thirty percent accurate or he/she does not believe in longterm antibiotic therapy, run and find a lyme literate doctor. although theres no cure for late stage chronic lyme there is help.
Guest wrote:
This is similar to what I experienced, both with the back pain around T8, the pain on the left side of the sternum. In the past few years, I've gotten a sore chest/sternum when my asthma got bad. Earlier last month, my sternum was so sore that doing a an exercise (lat pulldowns), where the bar contacts the chest lightly, became too painful.
I figured out how to fix it though. I too had hit my inhalers, went to Advair. Prednisone plus claritin plus Singulair didn't provide much relief. So, before going to a nebulizer again, I decided to pop three claritins (loratidine) one day.
AND THAT WORKED. It burned through the asthma and the sternum pain went away. I've been taking a loratidine every night for like the past month. It's helped very significantly with my breathing difficulties at night. I think the key was a sufficiently large dosage to block a large number of histamine receptors.
So - my conclusion - histamine is a big cause of asthma. It's close to the root cause in the asthma event chain. For me at least. It's not perfect, but it does a lot of good.
And here's one more note. Several years ago, when I had surgery, I was giving Percocets. My asthma had been been minor for years, then the year before, it had gotten bad and I went on Advair. When I was on Percocets, my asthma dropped back to how it been for years - quite mild. One puff of corticosteroid inhaler before bed and one puff of albuterol in the morning was all that was necessary to maintain it. Opioids do something to stop asthma even closer to the root cause than histamine, for me. But, for me, they cause basically, drunkeness, and I have to use my brain in my work.
I have a prescription for singulair. I haven't taken multiple singulairs in one day. I might try taking two and see what that does.
they are not having panic attacks.
Trust me. I have had Sternum pain, Rib pain, back pain, I HAVE asthma, a touch of Copd. and i've HAd panic attacks, Panic attacks are Caused when Doctors do NOT want to take ur pain seriously.
finally after 3 yrs of going to Doctors i got xray, on my back - which showed a injury i had 22 yrs ago - on my t8 (to the left of my spine)
the pain Is located on the LEFt side of my sternum, hurts to the touch , pierces thru my back like sumone has stabbbed a spear thru me, also hurts to breathe in, and have used 4 of my rescue inhalers a month, have gone to Phys. therapy, gone to massages, taken flexeril, heating pads, changed the way i sleep, gone swimming, tried working out, Vicodin, Percocet, u name it, i have done it.
Well i was told this is as good as its gonna get. My back injury is coming back to haunt me. I am going to get a Cat scan on my lungs, another Chest Xray, rib xray, as the Rib pain is now unbearable.. and I'm going to go to a pain specialist..
If anyone ever tried to tell u your just having panic attacks, or Costochondrtitis like they told me, LEAVe and find a new doctor. One that LISTENS.. dont take no for an answer, u have health insurance USE it for its purpose. dont ever let anyone tell u its anxiety, but anxiety DOES feel like a heart attack, when my father died, i had an anxiety attack, and too many docs would rather toss pills dpwn ur throat that actually pay attention.
if u have Back pain, chest pain, rib pain, breathing issues, its RELATED... the ribs connect to ur sternum, which protects your lungs, when they are inflamed your back hurts, causing more pain.
This is similar to what I experienced, both with the back pain around T8, the pain on the left side of the sternum. In the past few years, I've gotten a sore chest/sternum when my asthma got bad. Earlier last month, my sternum was so sore that doing a an exercise (lat pulldowns), where the bar contacts the chest lightly, became too painful.
I figured out how to fix it though. I too had hit my inhalers, went to Advair. Prednisone plus claritin plus Singulair didn't provide much relief. So, before going to a nebulizer again, I decided to pop three claritins (loratidine) one day.
AND THAT WORKED. It burned through the asthma and the sternum pain went away. I've been taking a loratidine every night for like the past month. It's helped very significantly with my breathing difficulties at night. I think the key was a sufficiently large dosage to block a large number of histamine receptors.
So - my conclusion - histamine is a big cause of asthma. It's close to the root cause in the asthma event chain. For me at least. It's not perfect, but it does a lot of good.
And here's one more note. Several years ago, when I had surgery, I was giving Percocets. My asthma had been been minor for years, then the year before, it had gotten bad and I went on Advair. When I was on Percocets, my asthma dropped back to how it been for years - quite mild. One puff of corticosteroid inhaler before bed and one puff of albuterol in the morning was all that was necessary to maintain it. Opioids do something to stop asthma even closer to the root cause than histamine, for me. But, for me, they cause basically, drunkeness, and I have to use my brain in my work.
I have a prescription for singulair. I haven't taken multiple singulairs in one day. I might try taking two and see what that does.