My Odd Chest Pain

[Smokin Joe]

The first incident:
Started on or about 10/25/12 low grade fever all day around 100-101.
Chest pain radiating from mid line over the heart area. Pain increased with shift in position. Pain was sharp and would shoot up the neck when ever I bent over or stood up. Pain felt like is was related or traveled via vascular i.e. my carotid artery up to the bottom of my chin and would stop there.

Went to the ER they gave 3 I/V’s full labs, ruled our PE and chest X-ray all neg. Exist diagnosis was possible pleurisy.

Follow up with my PCP the next day, stated the symptoms were classic pleurisy which was odd because he had never seen a “classic symptom case” another round of labs and X-rays all negative. Gave Percocet for pain and advised to take motrin for inflammation. Pain was a 4 or 5 and tolerable for 2 days, then on the third day pain shot up to about a 7 or 8 out of 10. Pain subsided after about 4 days on Percocet.

Fast forward 7 weeks, pain is mild and manageable with motrin, but still vaguely present. No Percocet for almost 6 weeks at this point.

The Second Incident:
January 7th, 2013 pain comes back like a freight train and is more prevalent then ever. Go back to PCP. He says “I don’t know” but at this point its not pleurisy. However he puts me on Voltaren and Prednisone and refers me to a pulmonologist

January 11th, 2013 relate all info to the pulmonologist. She orders CT-A and Echocardiogram, plus additional labs.

By this time the pain has subsided and it feels like the Voltaren and Prednisone are working. CT-A and Echcardiogram come back clean and clear, only thing showing is my venacava artery is slightly dilated compared to the others.

January 30th, 2013 I feel great, no pain, back to 100% pulmonologist says she thinks it was pericarditis but has no proof to back that up as all labs and test show no abnormalities.

The Third Incident:
February 8th, 2013 shortly after lunch on set of pain in the upper left side of my abdomen, at first if feels like gas pain but within 24 hours the pain radiates across my entire chest. And stays centrally focused on the midline of my body consistent with previous incidents. By the 10th the pain has increased to a 7 or 8 out of a 10.


February 11th, 2013 I saw the pulmonologist who examined me and said there is no way it is your heart or lungs as she had a cardiologist review everything and my heart and lungs are clear. As such she further stated she was totally out of answers and believes I needed to see a GI doc. Later that day I followed up with my PCP for a second opinion who confirmed that if it is not the heart and lungs then the next step is a scope with a GI doc.

February 12th, 2013 I saw a GI Doc who examined me and stated that any GI issue would be a real stretch but of course it had to be ruled out. I have a gallbladder ultrasound set for Thursday and a Scope set for next Tuesday.

Consistent symptoms throughout this ordeal when this (whatever it is) is aggravated or the pain is “on” have been: Mild pain on day one (like a 4 out of 10) escalating to a 8 or 9 out of 10 by the third day, Night sweets, what feels like a fever as far as feeling hot, then cold, followed on by chills at night, chest pain that even when medicated is a 4 or 5 out of 10. Unmediated feels like at 8 out of 10. It always escalates the same, with mild pain in the lower center of the chest, really bad night sweats and what feels like a low grade fever that night, next day pain will increase in area and level. Pain increase until it spans the entire chest and the pain is steady 8 out of 10. Controlling pain with Percocet 10-325 every 6 hours. After 4-5 days of pain management pain will drop off for a couple of weeks then come back hot and heavy.

Here is what I am consistently seeing, 1) Docs who have no answers 2) A pain that is not presenting in a typical fashion that would lead to a quick and or easy diagnosis. 3) I feel docs are ignoring the fever / night sweats as every time I bring it up they are dismissive of it. 4) This is a cyclical occurrence.

Would anyone here care to jump in and add your knowledge and expertise, as it seems I am stumping everyone else I am running into. I am so frustrated at this point that I would just love an answer so it can get treated and I can move on with life. I have a newborn, 5 year old, work, and a spouse that I have been neglecting due to this craziness. ETA: Pain is aggravated by deep breaths, coughing, hiccups, or burps.

And NO ADAL you CANNOT sink a needle into my heart for training purposes…. You wicked witch doctor. ☺ Sorry for the long winded post and TIA for any help.