I had this weird feeling on Friday night - almost like I was aware of my heart. Not its pulse, and not in a painful way. The sensation could possible be described as feeling the wall of a bubble on the inside of my chest.
Actually, the feeling is located more toward the center of my chest, slightly higher than the bottom of the ribcage, and slightly on the left side.
It went away that night and resurfaced Saturday afternoon. It went away Saturday night and reappeared late last night, and is with me slightly this morning.
It does not affect my pulse at all - that remains normal. it does not affect my breathing at all. If I take a really deep breath and tighten my chest then I feel it a bit more (maybe it's muscle pain? i can't feel it if i just take a deep breath or if i just flex my chest - has to be both)
I happen to also be slightly gassy at this point and I'm wondering if that is related. Especially since sometimes i feel it more over my heart area, and other times over the center of my chest.
I wasn't too concerned when I first felt it because I'm 22 years old, tall and skinny, with no history of heart disease. But it IS an odd feeling...
Thanks!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Have you been lifting anything heavy in the last few days?
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Nope
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Then it seems like a good idea to see a doctor.
Edit: And not just because of potential heart issues. There are a number of other possibilities that warrant medical attention.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Is there a history of genetic heart disease in your family?
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Nope. Nothing.
I took something for gas, we'll see what it does. I'm less aware of the feeling than I was before, but it's still there.
I just started law school so I'm trying to avoid actually seeing a doctor.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
I've had a sensation like that in the past. I did a brief search and it's surprising how often "weird chest bubble" comes up. The most likely candidates seem like reflux, anxiety, or esophageal spasm.
Honestly I wouldn't worry about it.
Posted by Dogbreath (Member # 11879) on :
quote:Originally posted by Armoth: I just started law school
I've had similar "pains" before, and I'm told it's caused by high stress. So it might be the stress of starting something new?
Definitely see a doctor if it doesn't go away, though...
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
That sounds a bit like the feeling I had that came and went for many years. Doctors did all sorts of tests and never could tell me what it was. Finally it turned out to be Barrett's Esophagus.
No telling if yours is the same or not. It's probably wise to rule out heart problems. It's certainly not unheard of for young thin people to have heart disease, and all too often they only find out when they're suddenly dead. I mean, when young otherwise healthy people are found to have heart disease, the presentation is often death. Not to worry you or anything. Just get it checked.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
"It's certainly not unheard of for young thin people to have heart disease, and all too often they only find out when they're suddenly dead."
This is why I asked. We have a family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and my brother was also just diagnosed with it. When you hear about an athlete who just drops dead? Yeah, its that. I'm going in in a couple weeks for an echo. I never had anything weird show up when I was younger, but neither did my brother, so time to get double checked.
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Thanks for all the advice and concern.
the feeling faded, but I think i should still get it checked out.
Posted by dem (Member # 2512) on :
SWINE FLU!!!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Paul Goldner: "It's certainly not unheard of for young thin people to have heart disease, and all too often they only find out when they're suddenly dead."
This is why I asked. We have a family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and my brother was also just diagnosed with it. When you hear about an athlete who just drops dead? Yeah, its that. I'm going in in a couple weeks for an echo. I never had anything weird show up when I was younger, but neither did my brother, so time to get double checked.
Good luck, Paul.
Tall, slim, young + heart triggers Marfan's concerns for me (probably because I know several people with it).