Wrongly diagnosed - could you be too?

Dear All,

Just recounting my experience with costochondritis.

I presented to my doctor a couple of months ago with chest pain, and was diagnosed as having costochondritis, and advised to take painkillers for a week. I hate masking pain, I'd rather feel what's going on, so i didn't take any painkillers. The doc said that costoC is very common, not to worry, but to come back if the pain got worse.

The pain continues, and a couple of days later it was SO BAD, and i felt so scared, that i went to the hospital emergency room. I felt as if there was a 100 ton weight on my chest, and I had trouble breathing. I felt that something BAD was happening. I had all the tests: ECG, BP, x-ray, blood tests, and some more, that night. The doc dealing with me then said he didn't know what was wrong with me, but that since all the tests were normal, he wasn't worried. He told me it was probably costochondritis too. I had taken some kind of strong painkiller in the hospital, and I was given more of that. I was told to take regular painkillers for up to 2wks, but to make sure to come back if the painkillers didn't mask the pain, or if it changed at all.

By the following night, the pain hadn't subsided at all, despite further painkillers, so i went back to the emergency room. There I met a doctor who diagnosed me as having a PANIC ATTACK. He said that ALL THE CHEST PAIN was in my head. That it was coming from stress. That I was a young woman with anxiety issues and that I needed to learn how to deal with them.

I have never been told this before. I am 23 years old. And remember, this diagnosis came after 2 previous docs (and a lot of money spent on that) telling me I had costochondritis.

The 3rd doc said, that when the pain reoccured, to say to myself, "I AM NOT GOING TO END UP WITH A DOCTOR AGAIN." He advised me to do things that I enjoy; yoga, cinema, whatever. To relax. That night i used a re-breather, basically a fancy paper bag that you breathe through; it corrects the 02/ CO2 balance in the body that goes askew when someone is panicking and shallow breathing (which i was).

I used the rebreather again at home a few times, and still have it on hand. I have had pain since, the exact same as the pain i first experienced, which was diagnosed as costochondritis, BUT when i tell myself that I AM FINE, it goes away, gradually.

That was all about 2 months ago, and i have not been to a doc since. Or taken any painkillers. I know now that i did not have costochondritis, but that i was very stressed, and this was causing me chest pain. I know now to watch for when i feel stressed, or anxious, and to nip it in the bud, so to speak.

Perhaps someone out there was misdiagnosed similarly. To all those with true costochondritis, I send you all blessings and prayers. I know how scary chest pain is. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Blessings and light to you all.

Love. Tweet