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Chest Pain Anyone?

I sometimes have chest pain around my heart that feels like a stabbing pain, lasting only a few seconds, and happens a few times an hour and for several hours. It doesn't happen every day but maybe once or twice a week. This has been happening for about two years, with a few months where it didn't happen at all. I had an EKG and echocardiogram which showed that I have a leaky valve and the beginnings of an aortic anyeurism. They cardiologist told me my results were normal. They said I could come back in a year for a check up "if I wanted to". I don't consider that normal. I wouldn't even have known the results of the echo had I not gone to the patient portal and looked at the findings myself. This is only one incident of many in the last 2 or 3 years in which a doctor or nurse missed important things. My blood pressure and cholesterol levels were dangerously high for at least a year and no one said anything about it. When I saw my records on the portal and saw they were so high I had to ask for medicine. I know that having uncontrolled high blood pressure for a long time can cause some serious harm. That was the first time I had used the patient portal and looked at my records. Now I do it every time I see the doctor or have a test because they make mistakes and miss things often- it's scary. It's important to be involved in your own medical care because you just can't trust your life to anyone else.
Anyway, I am having those chest pains now and I was just curious to know if anyone else experiences random chest pain that comes and goes?

While on the subject of my chest, does anyone ever have pain around their breast implants? Could my immune system be attacking the implants? They have been there for about 10 years.

  1. Hi, !

    Based on the experiences you shared, I think you're wise to stay on top of your medical records and follow up with your physicians. Your medical team may be missing some things, for some reason.

    I can't explain your intermittant chest pains, but I can tell you that people with Lupus sometimes experience costochondritis, which is an inflammation of cartilage in the chest area. You can read more about it here and see if it sounds like what you may be experiencing -- https://lupus.net/living/costochondritis. And, perhaps, there may be inflammation in regards to your implants as well. But, please keep in mind that I am not your doctor and you should always seek the advice of a medical professional that knows your medical history.

    I would keep following up on your symptoms (and maybe seek a second opinion, if you think this situation warrants it). You deserve to have your symptoms and your concerns properly addressed.

    Best, Erin, Team Member.

    1. So glad you are on top of looking at results and advocating for yourself. it's most important that we stay vigilant in getting the proper help we need.
      The only times I have had chest pains is when I had costochondritis. provided a great link to get more information on that. The only other time I had a issue like that is when I had double pnuemonia and pleurisy. I would definitely talk to your doctor again and ask to have a nurse present or bring someone with you to get answers and another ear.

      I knew a woman who stated her implants were creating flares. She had to get them removed. I read a study many moons ago where they looked at 24k women with implants and how it created autoimmune responses. I'll have to look for it and get back to you.

      ~Racquel~ team member

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