Pain/Tightness/Pressure Below Sternum?!?

[Shea]

I've had this on and off for about three years (so I'm assuming it's not life-threatening, even though it feels like it sometimes!). And I've been to several doctors and had a plethora of medical tests - all normal. In addition to all my other weird symptoms (foggy-head, vibrations, tingling, neck stiffness, hot flashes, etc.), almost every day I have a pain/pressure/tightness feeling in my chest, located beneath the sternum, like in the center of my breasts but down a couple inches. I keep thinking it's my diaphragm or something wrong with a bone in that area or a vital organ. It often feels like I can't get a deep breath and very suffocating. Sometimes, it's so severe that the sensation runs all the way up my neck to behind my ears! Feels like someone is strangling me. Yet, all my tests came back flawless?!? Well, I do not FEEL flawless! 

Please help me... Does anyone else suffer through this? Have you found anything that helps? Do you think there really is something wrong or is it just anxiety?

P.S. One test that I took (GI series, barium swallow - yuck!) did show that I have "mild to moderate GERD/acid reflux," but the GI doctor said that it wouldn't be causing myself symptoms. I have no burning or heartburn at all, and it doesn't just happen after I eat - it happens on and off whenever! I did try Zantac (acid reflux OTC med) for two weeks, just to see if it would help. It did not. It seems to feel a little better when I massage the area, stretch, lie down flat or lean forward. What the HECK IS THIS???

[Xalatimo]

You're right its been 3 years and if it is anything at all it is probably something minor.  Did you ever get an x-ray

[Shea]

You're right its been 3 years and if it is anything at all it is probably something minor.  Did you ever get an x-ray

An X-ray? Um ... yeah, 13 of them. LOL Had two chest X-rays and multiple X-rays of my back/lumbar/thoracic/cervical, from all different angles. X-rays in addition to:

blood work (multiple times)
EKG (twice)
GI series (barium swallow)
brain MRI
Ab ultrasound
stress test
echocardiogram

...and I think that's it. LOL

[niteriders1]

I have had the same problems as you. I went through barium swallow,endoscopy,colonoscopy,ultrasounds,x-rays,blood test, ekg's,holter monitor and a stress test. They  found acid reflex/gerd and they also found diverticulosis. I am taking nexium for my stomach troubles but i still have the chest pains which everything came back fine and the doctor's said it's just plain anxiety.

[Shea]

I have had the same problems as you. I went through barium swallow,endoscopy,colonoscopy,ultrasounds,x-rays,blood test, ekg's,holter monitor and a stress test. They  found acid reflex/gerd and they also found diverticulosis. I am taking nexium for my stomach troubles but i still have the chest pains which everything came back fine and the doctor's said it's just plain anxiety.

Thanks so much for your post. They told me I had "GERD" as well when I had the barium swallow test. I put quotes around "GERD" because I don't believe it's that big of a deal as they make it seem. The reason: The pharmaceutical companies are making billions by selling GERD drugs. Ten, 20 years ago, no one had GERD.  It's a fad diagnosis. If you look at the history of medicine, you'll see that this happens all the time. Years ago, it was all about hysterectomies. A female has a slight problem or a cramp, "oh you need to have a hysterectomy!" Now, they're all regretting it and have to take hormones because of it - which, in turn, cause a whole other bout of side effects. Sure, everyone has a little acid reflux from time to time, but medication isn't always necessary - although the doctors will try to make one think otherwise. What they don't tell you is that most acid reflux can be combated with dietary/lifestyle changes. But, no, you have a barium swallow and oh my god guess what? You have (gasp) GERD! You need medication! No.

This is not to say that there aren't cases of serious GERD/acid reflux out there. I'm not saying that at all. I'm merely pointing out the fact that doctors blow things way out of proportion and are often too quick to whip out their prescription pad.

At any rate, they told me my barium swallow test show "mild to moderate GERD" and I was prescribed Aciphex. Took it for a few weeks. No difference whatsoever. And that was the end of that.

[Pan]

Funny thing this Shea.

As you are aware all my physical anxiety sensations have been totally centered on neurological issues/sensations for the last year.  About 6 weeks ago these stopped dead totally out of the blue and have been replaced with a tight chest...it is like a feeling of pressure on my chest and like a constant dull ache deep in there, this feeling can also radiate right across the chest or can be located in a specific spot.  I am also having problems with my breathing and seem to find it hard to get a deep and satifying breath, I am also now wheezy and coughing more than usual.

Along with this I am also getting acid reflux and also stomach issues which involve constant 24/7 low level nausea and also what feel like hunger pains with a gurgling belly...this persists even after I have eaten.  My appetite is fine.

So yes, anxiety can cause all this.  What is really weird for me is that there is a huge psychological reason as to why my symptoms should shift and I literally went overnight from twitching and buzzing to all this new stuff.  My GP has assured me that everything I am experiencing (and therefore you) is classic anxiety and the way it has presented is also a classic case of physical stress coupled with somatisation disorder.

Funny old thing this anxiety, it will often change it's disguise to keep you on your toes

edit: and don't get me started on the farting and burping, is driving Mrs Pan potty!

[Shea]

Funny thing this Shea.

As you are aware all my physical anxiety sensations have been totally centered on neurological issues/sensations for the last year.  About 6 weeks ago these stopped dead totally out of the blue and have been replaced with a tight chest...it is like a feeling of pressure on my chest and like a constant dull ache deep in there, this feeling can also radiate right across the chest or can be located in a specific spot.  I am also having problems with my breathing and seem to find it hard to get a deep and satifying breath, I am also now wheezy and coughing more than usual.

Along with this I am also getting acid reflux and also stomach issues which involve constant 24/7 low level nausea and also what feel like hunger pains with a gurgling belly...this persists even after I have eaten.  My appetite is fine.

So yes, anxiety can cause all this.  What is really weird for me is that there is a huge psychological reason as to why my symptoms should shift and I literally went overnight from twitching and buzzing to all this new stuff.  My GP has assured me that everything I am experiencing (and therefore you) is classic anxiety and the way it has presented is also a classic case of physical stress coupled with somatisation disorder.

Funny old thing this anxiety, it will often change it's disguise to keep you on your toes

edit: and don't get me started on the farting and burping, is driving Mrs Pan potty!

Oh, I hear ya! Yes, anxiety can definitely change its disguise and keep us on our toes. Absolutely! I'm finding that out more and more. But lately, I've taken on a new attitude. So, now when I have anxiety symptoms, instead of thinking brain tumor ... heart disease ... cancer ... etc. I'm more like, "Eh ... OK, whatever." And then I emerge myself into a task (anything) that keeps me busy and distracted.

That said, I will add that I've been getting headaches a lot lately - like almost every single day. They're not terribly bad headaches, more of a low-grade, constant dull neck ache that radiates into my brain stem area (low back area of the head). I've never been one to suffer from headaches, so this is something entirely new to me. And it's annoying as hell and a little worrisome (I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at all concerned). I keep telling myself it's probably allergy/tension/stress related ... but there's that little itty-bitty teensey-weensey voice that isn't gone 100 percent yet that's whispering: "You have a small brain tumor. So small that when you had your MRI two years ago, it didn't show up."

I wonder if it was caused by something horrible like that if Advil and massage would still help? The reason I'm asking is because those two things give me relief. I'd have even more relief if I knew that those two things wouldn't help if the headaches were caused by a brain tumor ... 'cause then I'd know I don't have one.

ARGH! Anxiety, I HATE you.

[Pan]

Funny thing this Shea.

As you are aware all my physical anxiety sensations have been totally centered on neurological issues/sensations for the last year.  About 6 weeks ago these stopped dead totally out of the blue and have been replaced with a tight chest...it is like a feeling of pressure on my chest and like a constant dull ache deep in there, this feeling can also radiate right across the chest or can be located in a specific spot.  I am also having problems with my breathing and seem to find it hard to get a deep and satifying breath, I am also now wheezy and coughing more than usual.

Along with this I am also getting acid reflux and also stomach issues which involve constant 24/7 low level nausea and also what feel like hunger pains with a gurgling belly...this persists even after I have eaten.  My appetite is fine.

So yes, anxiety can cause all this.  What is really weird for me is that there is a huge psychological reason as to why my symptoms should shift and I literally went overnight from twitching and buzzing to all this new stuff.  My GP has assured me that everything I am experiencing (and therefore you) is classic anxiety and the way it has presented is also a classic case of physical stress coupled with somatisation disorder.

Funny old thing this anxiety, it will often change it's disguise to keep you on your toes

edit: and don't get me started on the farting and burping, is driving Mrs Pan potty!

Oh, I hear ya! Yes, anxiety can definitely change its disguise and keep us on our toes. Absolutely! I'm finding that out more and more. But lately, I've taken on a new attitude. So, now when I have anxiety symptoms, instead of thinking brain tumor ... heart disease ... cancer ... etc. I'm more like, "Eh ... OK, whatever." And then I emerge myself into a task (anything) that keeps me busy and distracted.

That said, I will add that I've been getting headaches a lot lately - like almost every single day. They're not terribly bad headaches, more of a low-grade, constant dull neck ache that radiates into my brain stem area (low back area of the head). I've never been one to suffer from headaches, so this is something entirely new to me. And it's annoying as hell and a little worrisome (I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at all concerned). I keep telling myself it's probably allergy/tension/stress related ... but there's that little itty-bitty teensey-weensey voice that isn't gone 100 percent yet that's whispering: "You have a small brain tumor. So small that when you had your MRI two years ago, it didn't show up."

I wonder if it was caused by something horrible like that if Advil and massage would still help? The reason I'm asking is because those two things give me relief. I'd have even more relief if I knew that those two things wouldn't help if the headaches were caused by a brain tumor ... 'cause then I'd know I don't have one.

ARGH! Anxiety, I HATE you.

I think that is the key Shea.

My thoughts are that chronic physical anxiety becomes a habit that is both mental and physical.  Over a period of time I believe that for various issues are minds come to the conclusion that they would rather keep up the weird and wonderful physical sensations rather than giving us insight into the real nature of our condition.

With this in mind, it would be totally pointless for our minds to generate sensations they do not worry us, this is why symptom shifting is such a key aspect of anxiety disorders.  Anxiety can only survive and then flourish in a fearful mind and body and if we react to specific sensations with fear then our minds latch onto this and realise that it is having the desired effect.

You see so many people who suffer from symptom shifting and also shifting from worrying about one disease to another, there are reasons for this and it is classic anxiety ridden behaviours.

[Shea]

Funny thing this Shea.

As you are aware all my physical anxiety sensations have been totally centered on neurological issues/sensations for the last year.  About 6 weeks ago these stopped dead totally out of the blue and have been replaced with a tight chest...it is like a feeling of pressure on my chest and like a constant dull ache deep in there, this feeling can also radiate right across the chest or can be located in a specific spot.  I am also having problems with my breathing and seem to find it hard to get a deep and satifying breath, I am also now wheezy and coughing more than usual.

Along with this I am also getting acid reflux and also stomach issues which involve constant 24/7 low level nausea and also what feel like hunger pains with a gurgling belly...this persists even after I have eaten.  My appetite is fine.

So yes, anxiety can cause all this.  What is really weird for me is that there is a huge psychological reason as to why my symptoms should shift and I literally went overnight from twitching and buzzing to all this new stuff.  My GP has assured me that everything I am experiencing (and therefore you) is classic anxiety and the way it has presented is also a classic case of physical stress coupled with somatisation disorder.

Funny old thing this anxiety, it will often change it's disguise to keep you on your toes

edit: and don't get me started on the farting and burping, is driving Mrs Pan potty!

Oh, I hear ya! Yes, anxiety can definitely change its disguise and keep us on our toes. Absolutely! I'm finding that out more and more. But lately, I've taken on a new attitude. So, now when I have anxiety symptoms, instead of thinking brain tumor ... heart disease ... cancer ... etc. I'm more like, "Eh ... OK, whatever." And then I emerge myself into a task (anything) that keeps me busy and distracted.

That said, I will add that I've been getting headaches a lot lately - like almost every single day. They're not terribly bad headaches, more of a low-grade, constant dull neck ache that radiates into my brain stem area (low back area of the head). I've never been one to suffer from headaches, so this is something entirely new to me. And it's annoying as hell and a little worrisome (I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at all concerned). I keep telling myself it's probably allergy/tension/stress related ... but there's that little itty-bitty teensey-weensey voice that isn't gone 100 percent yet that's whispering: "You have a small brain tumor. So small that when you had your MRI two years ago, it didn't show up."

I wonder if it was caused by something horrible like that if Advil and massage would still help? The reason I'm asking is because those two things give me relief. I'd have even more relief if I knew that those two things wouldn't help if the headaches were caused by a brain tumor ... 'cause then I'd know I don't have one.

ARGH! Anxiety, I HATE you.

I think that is the key Shea.

My thoughts are that chronic physical anxiety becomes a habit that is both mental and physical.  Over a period of time I believe that for various issues are minds come to the conclusion that they would rather keep up the weird and wonderful physical sensations rather than giving us insight into the real nature of our condition.

With this in mind, it would be totally pointless for our minds to generate sensations they do not worry us, this is why symptom shifting is such a key aspect of anxiety disorders.  Anxiety can only survive and then flourish in a fearful mind and body and if we react to specific sensations with fear then our minds latch onto this and realise that it is having the desired effect.

You see so many people who suffer from symptom shifting and also shifting from worrying about one disease to another, there are reasons for this and it is classic anxiety ridden behaviours.

Oh, yes. Great post. Very well said. You make a lot of sense. I totally agree.

However...

For me, it's the not knowing that kills me. And people say, "But you do know. You've been told all your tests are fine and it's probably anxiety." Key word: probably. That's what bothers me and, frankly, scares the crap out of me. I feel like the doctors can't find anything wrong - and we know how doctors and tests miss stuff all the time (it's not uncommon) - so they just say "it's probably anxiety" because they don't have a concrete diagnosis to give me.

So, I go 'round and 'round in circles with myself. And especially when I have these weird sudden headaches and I have trouble focusing my vision sometimes ... well, yeah, that's scary.

[Xalatimo]

But when does it end?  You could also get into a fatal car accident.  A runaway bull could charge into your house.  You could get struck by lightning.  Do we really have any guarantees in this world?  The doctors very well -could- have missed something, but is it really worth it to worry about it?  How come you don't worry about all the other scenarios?  You having anything other than anxiety is just as rare, especially after the amount of testing you've had.  I bet laboratory rats don't even go through this much testing.  It's like having your life on hold waiting for the winning lottery ticket one day; ain't gonna happen. 

The bottom line is that most likely you''ll never be able to get an answer with 100% certainty.  Unfortunately that's life.  Much of recovering from anxiety has to do with being able to accept this.  You're doing a much better job of this lately.  Of course, you're never going to know for sure.  Diagnosing anxiety is not an exact science.  You just have to get fed up with worrying and assume it is.  After three years if it was anything bad, you would have known.  You probably love your parents, yes?  Would a doctor be able to prove this with 100% certainty?  So does that mean you don't love them?  There are some things you just have to accept despite not being given any concrete evidence.   The problem is that unless you come to this realization, your anxiety will just keep creating more and more symptoms and you're going to be stuck in the same loop forever.  Take your headache for example.  You have a headache for a couple days and you're starting to think brain tumor.  You should be able to quickly realize that this is just anxiety clouding your views and discard these thoughts.  Maybe you aren't sleeping well lately.  Maybe you have a lot of tension.  Allergies?  Haven't been eating properly? 

Eventually I was able to get to the point where I just stopped giving a damn if it was a brain tumor or not.  Resting in peace is a lot better than worrying about having a brain tumor all my life -- that's how I look at it.   But I do think you're doing a lot better lately.  Everyone has minor setbacks from time to time -- try not to get too caught up in this brain tumor scare.  Remember, you have anxiety.  Always keep that in mind.  You don't have a brain tumor you have a condition that makes you think you have one.  This is what you have to assume because you can't worry about things of that nature and still have peace of mind, otherwise you'd have to sandbag your house, go outside wearing a bulletproof vest, etc.  Not good.  Life is to be enjoyed.  Every second we live should be focused on the present and what we have not what might go wrong.  Good luck Shea.  You've been making progress -- keep it up.

[Noahs Mom]

Maybe around your upper abdomen, lower chest is where you "carry" your anxiety...  I have been seeing a physiatrist, physical therapist and a chiro because for so long I've carried "stress" from the anxiety in different muscle groups.  When they say anxiety is the cause of your pain, it doesn't always mean that it doesn't exist... it means that you may be inadvertantly tightening that area. 

Maybe treat yourself to a massage?  Hot Stones can do wonders!!

[Pan]

Maybe around your upper abdomen, lower chest is where you "carry" your anxiety...  I have been seeing a physiatrist, physical therapist and a chiro because for so long I've carried "stress" from the anxiety in different muscle groups.  When they say anxiety is the cause of your pain, it doesn't always mean that it doesn't exist... it means that you may be inadvertantly tightening that area. 

Maybe treat yourself to a massage?  Hot Stones can do wonders!!

...along those lines, it is widely accepted that when emotional pain and angst is somatised it often causes symptoms and sensations in the body in areas that the sufferer subconciouslly links with these emotions.  An interesting area regarding this is something called Organ Language, this basically means if we say "I can't stomach life anymore" then this thought and language can actually physically effect the stomach or if you feel you "need to get something off your chest" this can have the same effect.  When you look at how people have actually fallen foul of this and the full effect it can actually have on someone physically it is startling.

[CHERUB444]

A few months ago, I had searched & read this topic because I was having severe pain & pressure in my upper abdomin, under the sternum area. Somedays I could hardly walk, as any movement would create such pain/tightening/pressure in that area.  Even just touching the area was painful. I also had strong & painful symptoms of Angina.
I, too, ended up having every test done to find out the cause but to no avail UNTIL it was discovered that it was all caused by a bad side effect/reaction to statins (i.e.: Lipator) which I had started taking for high cholesterol.
It was explained that the heart and surrounding areas are muscles which can be effected by the  well known side effects of "unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness." Mind you, it takes 3-4 weeks for statins to leave your system. We tested it and I stopped taking the statins.  Pain continued up to a bit over 3 weeks - then, one day it was completely gone! To be sure it was the statins, the doctor had me try taking Lipator again then within 24 hours, I was doubled over in pain with the same symptoms. I did not take anymore and 3 weeks later, all pain was gone again. 

I wanted to come back here to let anyone with these symptoms know what my experience was in case it may pertain to others because during my searching for answers, I never read this possibility or result. 
If you take statins for high cholesterol and have similar unexplained symptoms, you may want to consider stopping them for a month -IF ITS OK WITH YOUR DOCTOR - and see if the pain goes away. It did for me. Good luck.

[tmicrowave]

hey i have this im pretty sure
so i feel better having read that someone else has it
what i get its a nasty achy tightness yes right in the middle, kind of on both sides
tests came back fine
if it happens while im talking, and my anxiety keeps increasing- so will the tightness, and it will feel like i can hardly breathe but like the second i relax it goes away
i try alot of things to get it to go away when its there
meditation and just breathing exercises
crying ALWAYS gets rid of it
so its some kind of like stress / anxiety thing i guess
its hard to believe that you can have that feeling right there in your chest and its not serious
i try my BEST to ignore it but uhm
yeah when i push my chest out, it hurts
is it the same for you?
i'd love to hear if this is the same thing
i hate it

[Shea]

A few months ago, I had searched & read this topic because I was having severe pain & pressure in my upper abdomin, under the sternum area. Somedays I could hardly walk, as any movement would create such pain/tightening/pressure in that area.  Even just touching the area was painful. I also had strong & painful symptoms of Angina.
I, too, ended up having every test done to find out the cause but to no avail UNTIL it was discovered that it was all caused by a bad side effect/reaction to statins (i.e.: Lipator) which I had started taking for high cholesterol.
It was explained that the heart and surrounding areas are muscles which can be effected by the  well known side effects of "unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness." Mind you, it takes 3-4 weeks for statins to leave your system. We tested it and I stopped taking the statins.  Pain continued up to a bit over 3 weeks - then, one day it was completely gone! To be sure it was the statins, the doctor had me try taking Lipator again then within 24 hours, I was doubled over in pain with the same symptoms. I did not take anymore and 3 weeks later, all pain was gone again. 

I wanted to come back here to let anyone with these symptoms know what my experience was in case it may pertain to others because during my searching for answers, I never read this possibility or result. 
If you take statins for high cholesterol and have similar unexplained symptoms, you may want to consider stopping them for a month -IF ITS OK WITH YOUR DOCTOR - and see if the pain goes away. It did for me. Good luck.

I don't take any medications, but thank you for sharing this with us. This is one reason why I don't take meds - too many side effects, most of them still unknown. We'll find out several years from now, as usual.

[tmicrowave]

shea- i dont take any meds either! i bet we experience similar pain
it put me in the ER ONCE
only to find nothing
OF COURSE
i guess it does make me feel a lil better tho -take care

[Shea]

shea- i dont take any meds either! i bet we experience similar pain
it put me in the ER ONCE
only to find nothing
OF COURSE
i guess it does make me feel a lil better tho -take care

No, I was just replying to the person who was warning us of the side effects of those meds. I was just letting him/her know that wasn't my case, since I don't take meds.

[tmicrowave]

oh yeah sorry. i have NO idea what i was thinking, i musta been confused.

[Shea]

oh yeah sorry. i have NO idea what i was thinking, i musta been confused.

No worries. Still nice that you posted and alerted people who are taking the meds you mentioned.

[Myn Anthony]

I've had this on and off for about three years (so I'm assuming it's not life-threatening, even though it feels like it sometimes!). And I've been to several doctors and had a plethora of medical tests - all normal. In addition to all my other weird symptoms (foggy-head, vibrations, tingling, neck stiffness, hot flashes, etc.), almost every day I have a pain/pressure/tightness feeling in my chest, located beneath the sternum, like in the center of my breasts but down a couple inches. I keep thinking it's my diaphragm or something wrong with a bone in that area or a vital organ. It often feels like I can't get a deep breath and very suffocating. Sometimes, it's so severe that the sensation runs all the way up my neck to behind my ears! Feels like someone is strangling me. Yet, all my tests came back flawless?!? Well, I do not FEEL flawless! 

Please help me... Does anyone else suffer through this? Have you found anything that helps? Do you think there really is something wrong or is it just anxiety?

P.S. One test that I took (GI series, barium swallow - yuck!) did show that I have "mild to moderate GERD/acid reflux," but the GI doctor said that it wouldn't be causing myself symptoms. I have no burning or heartburn at all, and it doesn't just happen after I eat - it happens on and off whenever! I did try Zantac (acid reflux OTC med) for two weeks, just to see if it would help. It did not. It seems to feel a little better when I massage the area, stretch, lie down flat or lean forward. What the HECK IS THIS???

Hi, Shea.   I know you posted this several years ago, but I was wondering if you've had any more luck verifying the cause?  Everything I bolded in your post applies to me.  I've gotten these "attacks" after a great deal of physical stress for a few years now, but just in the past few days they've been so bad I went to the ER twice, and they were not caused by any apparent stress.  It really does feel like you're dying, especially because I also get really faint -- I almost passed out twice.  Like you, the ER docs couldn't find a cause, and my regular doctor is sending me to a GI specialist (I haven't gone yet).

The thing is, I'm only posting because I found this thread in a Google search for "pain below sternum".  I didn't even notice right away that the forum is for anxiety.  I've never had anxiety or panic attacks.  My symptoms only flared up after extreme physical stress, not emotional.  A lot of things people have posted make a lot of sense...for someone with known anxiety.  I was wondering if anyone knows whether these symptoms could be caused by physical stress, instead of emotional stress?

See, I also have chronic Lyme disease, so I suppose it's possible that the disease is causing everything.  But I've had it for 10 years, and this latest string of attacks (3 in the past few days) came out of nowhere.  My Lyme is hard enough to handle...as it is, I can't go to college, get a job, or even drive a car.  I can barely do everyday things around the house...and if I had to deal with this new set of symptoms regularly... Crap, I just don't know.   If anyone could shed any light on anything I've said, I'd really appreciate it.

[chris4540]

Costochondritis

[wbharding]

Oh, seriously, reading this thread, the pain in my chest has actually subsuded tremendously.  I have been living in New york City for the past year, and I honestly figured it was something stress related, but knowing that I am not the only person who suffers the exact same symptoms is a relief.  My pain is right at the sternum, sometimes spreading out a little bit on either side, and it can radiate up to my left ear when it is at its worst.  But, if I get my mind off of whatever task I was doing, or get involved with a task of sorts, then the pain will mysteriously vanish, only to rear its ugly head again later.