Ok, I've read the historical posts and chests pains but would still
like a little feedback from you knowledgeable folks re. what I'm
experiencing.
I got strep throat about 3 weeks ago. Since then, I've had stabbing
pains on the left side of my chest, localized 2-3 inches below the
breast, and another couple inches toward the side. The pain is
basically at the bottom of my rib cage - upper stomach, but on the
left. The size of the painful area is an inch or so, so not radiating
or anything. I have been feeling bloated lately and have been having
some slight stomach cramps.
The pain comes most often while lieing down, but have been getting it
sitting and standing lately, as well. It usually lasts from a few
seconds to several minutes. It is not associated with breathlessness,
dizziness, sweating, or the other usual heart attack symptoms.
I am a 38 year old male and my mom had bypass surgery at the age of
66, so I thought maybe this was angina or some other heart-related
thing. So when I was lieing in bed and got that stabbing pain, I
immediately got up and ran as fast as I could up and down 4 flights of
stairs until I was completely washed out (i.e., pushed myself till I
was ready to vomit). No pain or anything, just the usual fast
heartbeat, panting and sweating that comes from such severe exertion.
It sounds like this is not angina. Any ideas what it could be? And
here is my main question - if it is a heart attack, do I get it over
and over like this, a dozen times a day? I would think a dozen heart
attacks a day would pretty much end the show.
Thanks and regards,
Laurence