Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Breathing Difficulty With Pain And Vibrating Sensation In The Chest?
Question: I am a 23 year old male, skinny, eat properly and about 4 weeks ago I woke up and I was having trouble breathing, I could not catch a full breath. I am constantly taking deep breaths and it does not go away. I also find when i eat it gets a lot worse, i cant eat junk food at all or it gets really bad. It has been 4 weeks now and it has not changed. It is a job for me to get to sleep because it gets worse when I lie down. Along with that I get pains in my chest, heart area, with flutters sometimes, pains often and a feeling like my heart is vibrating or spazzing a lot, and it really scares me. I have been to the emergency 3 times but they just prescribe me things that don't work and they don't do any tests. Asthma is ruled out. I really need to know some things it can be or some things I can do to get checked out. I cant get along with any of my daily activities and I fear to have to start work soon because its so far from a hospital. I really cant deal with this too much longer
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms could be related to gastro-esophageal reflux or hiatal hernia.
The fact that your symptoms are triggered by lying down and eating junk food is another argument in favor of this diagnosis.
Have you ever tried taking Omeprazole or Zantac? Do these drugs improve your situation? This would be another fact to indicate gastro-esophageal reflux or a hiatal hernia.
But anxiety can not be excluded either, considering the fact that you have been taking Ritalin, which can trigger all this clinical scenario.
The fact that you have been smoking for 8 years, predisposes you to lung disorders similar to asthma too. I would like to know if you have ever performed pulmonary function tests.
Coming to this point, it is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis between the above mentioned possible causes. For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests:
- a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound to examine your heart
- a chest X Ray study and pulmonary function tests (if you have not performed these tests yet)
- a fibrogastroscopy to investigate for reflux or hiatal hernia
- complete blood count, PCR, ESR for inflammation
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance.
An ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring would also help examine your heart rhythm trends during the day and exclude possible cardiac arhythmia, which could mimic this clinical scenario.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
If all these tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of this clinical scenario.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms could be related to gastro-esophageal reflux or hiatal hernia.
The fact that your symptoms are triggered by lying down and eating junk food is another argument in favor of this diagnosis.
Have you ever tried taking Omeprazole or Zantac? Do these drugs improve your situation? This would be another fact to indicate gastro-esophageal reflux or a hiatal hernia.
But anxiety can not be excluded either, considering the fact that you have been taking Ritalin, which can trigger all this clinical scenario.
The fact that you have been smoking for 8 years, predisposes you to lung disorders similar to asthma too. I would like to know if you have ever performed pulmonary function tests.
Coming to this point, it is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis between the above mentioned possible causes. For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests:
- a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound to examine your heart
- a chest X Ray study and pulmonary function tests (if you have not performed these tests yet)
- a fibrogastroscopy to investigate for reflux or hiatal hernia
- complete blood count, PCR, ESR for inflammation
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance.
An ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring would also help examine your heart rhythm trends during the day and exclude possible cardiac arhythmia, which could mimic this clinical scenario.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
If all these tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of this clinical scenario.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have never taken these drugs but I will suggest it to my doctor in a couple days along with your response and see what he says, it just might do the trick. I have not done any pulmonary tests yet. I have had an x ray done , results will be seen in 2 days. The two main symptoms I am concerned about though is the breathing were I cannot get a full breath 24/7 and the vibrations( bubbly feeling) in my heart that happens quite often. When I see my doctor is it possible for me to consult back to you?
also.. I have no acid coming up what so ever so can it still be reflux?
also.. I have no acid coming up what so ever so can it still be reflux?
Brief Answer:
I remain at your disposal whenever you need!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear,
I remain at your disposal whenever you need at any time!
I would be happy to review all your performed tests for another professional opinion!
I would strongly recommend you to perform the above mentioned tests. Trying taking Omeprazole is another options, which will help distinguish if your symptoms are related to gastro-esophageal reflux or hiatal hernia. In such case fibrogastroscopy would be necessary.
If our thread is closed by the system, you can ask a question directed to me (for ex.: question for Dr. Ilir Sharka) and I will be able to answer to your question.
You can also upload all your test reports here, so I can be able to review them for a more professional opinion.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
I remain at your disposal whenever you need!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear,
I remain at your disposal whenever you need at any time!
I would be happy to review all your performed tests for another professional opinion!
I would strongly recommend you to perform the above mentioned tests. Trying taking Omeprazole is another options, which will help distinguish if your symptoms are related to gastro-esophageal reflux or hiatal hernia. In such case fibrogastroscopy would be necessary.
If our thread is closed by the system, you can ask a question directed to me (for ex.: question for Dr. Ilir Sharka) and I will be able to answer to your question.
You can also upload all your test reports here, so I can be able to review them for a more professional opinion.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
ok perfect, thank you so much. I will get some tests done and uploaded and some new details and get back to you.
Brief Answer:
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been helpful to you!
Let me know about everything!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been helpful to you!
Let me know about everything!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
