(sorry this is so long)

hello!


I am hoping that someone could please help me. My doctors (both family and endochronologist, as well as a pulmonary specialist I spoke with) have been of no assistance and I can't afford to go to the er (unless I absolutely have to). I've tried many sites, to little satisfaction. I browsed this site and it seems wonderful, so I joined! Everyone really seems to try and help, so I thought i'd try here.


Anyway, here is my situation...


...About a month ago, I started having trouble taking what I like to call a "refreshing breath." you know, after you take a deep breath, that extra little breath that feels oh so good. I let it go for a about a week, thinking, well, maybe i'm getting sick or something. I was also lifting heavy boxes. Finally I called my doctor. The nurse/pa at my endo (who really is quite wonderful) said my lungs were clear. Maybe it was panic attacks. I've never had any sort of anxiety or panic in my life. I've always been pretty "sane." she told me it probably started off as simply having trouble breathing and then I would start to panic. Okay, so maybe. Anyway, a few days went by and it would be okay and then get really bad. At the same time I started noticing pains right dead center and near the top of my chest. Okay, again, I understood it - I was trying so hard to take a deep breath that I was hurting myself.


Well, my breathing finally started to improve a week or so after all that but the pain is horrific! The pain is now in the upper left part of my chest and sometimes I feel pains in the same location, only in my back. I'm also breathing okay, except when the pain is too bad to take a breath. I've tried heat, to no avail. My concern is if the pain is indeed from the breathing and/or "panic attacks," or if it is from something else - maybe pleurisy. From what i've read, it could be that, too! However, my lungs were clear at the doctors, I have no cough or fever. I can't even get in touch with my family doctor to talk to him and I really am scared.


I am really scared and do not know what to do.


Can you please help? I'd really appreciate any information anyone could provide.


Thank you so much and I hope you all have a great day!


~mary ann