Persistent Chest Pain

Hi!

Newbie here, first post...

For over a year now, i've suffered from persistent chest pain. I don't feel it 24hrs a day, but several times a day i'll get sort of a throbbing slightly to the left of the center of my chest, right under my breast. Accompanying these pains is shortness of breath and dizziness, and often numbness or tingling in my limbs (most often my left arm, but sometimes my other arm and both legs). I see spots, and feel like i’m going to pass out. I’ve been self-medicating w/ alcohol (dumb, I know – but it’s the only way I can get “back to normal” – and at the moment I have no insurance and thus, no way of seeing a doctor).

This all started after a trip to the hospital after a bad experience w/ methamphetamine (i’m not a heavy drug user – I haven’t touched that stuff in months, and even then, it was a minuscule amount). There, they took x-rays of my heart and said that I was fine, and I was sent home. About three months later, after suffering these “attacks” daily, I went to see a doctor. He basically laughed me off and prescribed me some strong ibuprofen, attributing it to muscles. The spells have gone on every since.

A friend of mine who works in the medical field often laughs at me and says it’s simply anxiety. But that’s sort of a catch-22, isn’t it? Does my chest hurt because I have anxiety? Or do I have anxiety because my chest hurts?

Anyhow, i’ve been to clinics and hospitals recently due to my alcoholism, and they’ve all checked me out and found nothing wrong with me. However, even once i’ve sobered up for several days, the spells continue.

Well, forgive me for rambling on. Any thoughts on my condition would be greatly appreciated…

-jeremy