Expert: David Richardson - 6/28/2009

Question
I am 66 years old,175cm high and 57kg. My blood pressure is usually normal. I stopped taking valium (about 3-4 mg a day average) 30 months ago. I tapered over 6 months and had difficult time with fear and anxiety and a little agrophobia. After tapering I had about another 4months of difficulty - fear and anxiety and 'weird' feelings. Then it improved gradually over months but occasionally got mild setbacks for day or two. Three or four times these setbacks consisted of chest pain - mostly right side and not severe ... mild really but I panic a lot and am afraid of heart and dying. These previous 'attacks' lasted a day or two or three at most.
Now four weeks ago I got it again. I panicked and went to hospital where they kept me overnight and did EKG and all teh blood tests and said they found nothing abnormal. Over past four weeks I have this off and on about every second day. The pain moves around but is more on right side than left. Hard to describe the 'pain' but it is not severe ... more like mild pressure. I am prone to anxiety as my valium use will indicate. I have been taking valium off and on for twenty years for such things as flying and sleep. I usually stopped for long periods - up to one year - but before I tapered off this time I had been on regular dose of 3-4 for two years with up to 8 mg when under more pressure.
Thank you for your time and trouble.


Answer
Dear Paddy,

The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall.  If you can modify the pain, make it better or worse, by pressing on the area that hurts, then you have proven that the pain is coming from your chest wall.  Chest wall pain is a nuisance but no threat to life or health.  Your pain is almost certainly not heart and will not lead to death,

Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.

David Richardson