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[Bass1979]

Hi All

I been suffering with a new symptom, well I say new looking back think I have had it a while but it’s progressing getting worse.

Has any one heard of Costochondritis or suffered from it during peri ??

About 4-5 years ago when it was my time of the month I started with a mild left sided sternum pain and I would experience this every so many months.

After my hysterectomy 20mths ago I have notice this left sided sternum pain get gradual worse, along aside intermittent left breast pain. Last week it actually scared me I thought I was having a heart attack.
I have been tracking it a little (should prob track it more) so now I don’t have a period due to my hysterectomy (I still have my ovaries and am 45) I still ovulate so I can still potential track when my “normal cycle” would be and this pain gets 10x’s worst when it would be my time of the month.

I am on HRT not very high dose, but this pain is awful and really gets me down.

I googled (yes before people say don’t google I know) but this is what I found and it fits all my symptoms, I needed to know I was not going mad. I  just wanted to reach out and see if anyone else has any experience of this or knows anything about it.

Thanks
Any advice would be appreciated x

[CLKD]

OUCH!  MayB self refer to a physio., I believe this is what young lads get when they begin to be involved with sports.

Does pain relief help at all?  As oestrogen levels drop muscles may become lax = aches and pains. 

[Bass1979]

Hi

Yes it does help and so does hot water bottle just wish it didn’t happen.

Trying to find if someone else has experienced the same but don’t think there is

Thanks for replying.

[ElkWarning]

For about a year, I had a pain that sounds sort of similar, on the left side, rising up until it was under my breast / nearish my sternum, got worse at night, bad enough so I felt as if it was making me sometimes catch my breath.  I thought it was something to do with my heart and did go to the doctors.  From memory, I think they said it might have been acid or reflux or stress or something - basically, nothing to worry about, watch and wait.  Anyway, round about the same time I started have regular massages (every 3-4 months); and she said it was because I'd become so right dominant (desk job using a computer 'mouse stretch').  After a couple of sessions with her, it disappeared and has never come back.  I also changed jobs, so don't sit at a computer anymore.

My memory is pretty shonky, so don't take this as gospel, but I also think it started happening at around the time I began HRT and went when I stopped about nine months later.  However, I don't believe HRT was the cause, instead, there was just so much going on with me back then that I'm pretty sure I was holding my whole body in some sort of tension permanently.

Hope you get it sorted.

[Bass1979]

Thanks for the reply

So yes I do have a lot going on at the moment and I don’t know if am trying to convince my brain that it’s hormone related.

I also do get acid reflux, 2 mths ago I had Hpylori which made the acid reflux so bad I was on everything, gaviscon, antibiotics, PPI
Am now not on anything just take gaviscon now and then.

Part of me thinks it’s acid reflux, then I think have I pulled something but then I think worst cases (does not help I have health anxiety which is worse when I have a lot of stress on like I do at the moment).

Thanks for your reply appreciate it x

[Dierdre]

I had this for a couple of months last year after my bras got to tight and was digging in the breastbone especially when sitting. I bought a bigger size of pull on bras and stopped wearing a bra unless I went out. It took a few weeks to stop hurting and was quite inflamed and even tender to touch for a while.

[Evie606]

Hi All

I been suffering with a new symptom, well I say new looking back think I have had it a while but it’s progressing getting worse.

Has any one heard of Costochondritis or suffered from it during peri ??

About 4-5 years ago when it was my time of the month I started with a mild left sided sternum pain and I would experience this every so many months.

After my hysterectomy 20mths ago I have notice this left sided sternum pain get gradual worse, along aside intermittent left breast pain. Last week it actually scared me I thought I was having a heart attack.
I have been tracking it a little (should prob track it more) so now I don’t have a period due to my hysterectomy (I still have my ovaries and am 45) I still ovulate so I can still potential track when my “normal cycle” would be and this pain gets 10x’s worst when it would be my time of the month.

I am on HRT not very high dose, but this pain is awful and really gets me down.

I googled (yes before people say don’t google I know) but this is what I found and it fits all my symptoms, I needed to know I was not going mad. I  just wanted to reach out and see if anyone else has any experience of this or knows anything about it.

Thanks
Any advice would be appreciated x

Hi there,

Yes I got this a few times, started during Peri and was quite frequent before I started HRT.  It’s scary if you don’t know what it is, I had never heard of it either.

I also have Heds and think it’s possibly linked.
My main trigger was exerting myself too much.  Every time I was rearranging furniture or carrying boxes etc. I got Costo and it’s so different to a pulled muscle etc.
A short course of codeine based painkillers along with not exerting myself helped. Anything that calms the inflammation.
Have you seen your GP?  If not, I would pop along to get checked out.

E x

[Sphynx]

I’ve suffered with Costo for many years, and had symptoms from age 15, but it wasn’t diagnosed until my thirties. I’m 51 now.
I will say it flares up much less with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Deep breathing and stretches can really help you.
If you want to, you could check your back and chest for trigger points, and try massaging them yourself to also reduce the pain. Also use anti inflammatories.
Warmth helps, but you shouldn’t do it for long. Check with a physio, and look at some remedies from professionals on YouTube too.

A proper diagnosis is a good idea, as symptoms can mimic other serious conditions. Mine was diagnosed after a severe flare up, and I thought I was having a heart attack. The pain over my heart and into my shoulder was unbearable, and I couldn’t move or catch my breath.

[Dierdre]

Think I've got this again. I previously thought it was caused by a tight bra but not this time so googled. Causes are stress and tension, GERD, trauma, damp weather and unknown.
I've noticed a few aches and pains the last couple of days as the weather has changed to colder and damp with the rain. I remember it was similar weather the last time my breastbone was very tender to touch and inflamed for weeks. I do get acid reflux occasionally but I don't think that would be felt as tenderness externally?
I've been abroad quite a lot this summer so not had any aches and pains caused by rain so I'm now assuming this is another damp weather, age related problem.
Not any sharp pains but an uncomfortable ache and feels tender to touch. Had a small hot water bottle on my chest last night and ibuprofen, seems better today but the weather has also warmed up again.