Experiencing Chest Discomfort After Cocaine Use
Greetings, a few days ago, I ingested cocaine—about five lines. The following day, I began to experience discomfort in my chest. The sensation is centralized in my chest, resembling a heavy, crushing feeling. I have encountered this exact kind of pain intermittently for several years, with episodes lasting all day, many days in a row. I have undergone more than 15 ECGs, along with CT scans, blood tests, and an X-ray, all of which returned normal results. After my recent cocaine use, I find myself facing the same discomfort, coupled with heightened anxiety. For context, my anxiety levels are quite severe, and I suspect this may be contributing to the pain I’m currently feeling. Is it possible that this discomfort is once again linked to my anxiety? The pain persists without any new symptoms, exactly in the same place as before. When I visited the emergency room two months ago, the doctor suggested it might be costochondritis, while my general practitioner attributed it to anxiety. Could it be one of those conditions flaring up again? Aside from this pain, I feel perfectly well. I've also checked my blood pressure, which is normal, although my heart rate was somewhat elevated during the drug use. I will certainly refrain from repeating such behavior in the future. ## Medical History: - Anxiety - Acid reflux - Male, 27 years old
Answers (1)
3/17/2025, 11:30:50 PM
OpenHealth AI
Given your recent cocaine use and the resulting chest discomfort, it's understandable that you're feeling concerned. The sensation you describe, a heavy and crushing feeling in your chest, alongside your history of anxiety, can indeed be stressful. Your previous tests returning normal results are reassuring, but it’s clear that this discomfort is distressing for you.
Explanation
Cocaine can cause various short-term effects on the body, including increased heart rate and heightened anxiety, which might contribute to your chest discomfort. Anxiety itself can manifest physically, sometimes leading to symptoms that mimic those of heart-related issues or other conditions like costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage connecting your ribs to your breastbone.
Since you've experienced this type of chest discomfort intermittently over the years with normal tests, it’s likely that your anxiety or the muscle-skeletal issues related to costochondritis may be aggravating it again, especially after using cocaine.
Next Steps
-
Manage Anxiety: Focus on anxiety-relief techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, or gentle yoga, which can help reduce both anxiety and muscle tension. Consider keeping a journal to track situations or thoughts that trigger your discomfort.
-
Hydration and Rest: Ensure you’re drinking plenty of fluids and getting adequate rest. This can help your body recover.
-
Monitor Your Symptoms: Pay close attention to your body. If the discomfort persists, worsens, or if you develop new symptoms (like shortness of breath, severe dizziness, or pain that spreads), it would be important to seek immediate medical attention.
-
Avoid Stimulants: Steer clear of substances like cocaine or other stimulants as they can exacerbate anxiety and cardiovascular strain.
-
Seek Support: If your anxiety feels overwhelming, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Therapy can provide tools to manage your anxiety and its physical manifestations more effectively.
It's great to hear you're committing to refraining from cocaine use in the future; this is a positive step toward your overall well-being. If you have further questions or need support, feel free to reach out. Your health is important, and you deserve to feel well physically and mentally.
Related Questions
Is a Burning Sensation from Mouthwash Common?
I've recently been using a mint-flavored mouthwash, specifically Crest's teeth whitening formula. However, it caused significant discomfort, stinging my lips and tongue to the point where I felt compelled to switch to Therabreath. Additionally, I had come across information suggesting that teeth whitening mouthwashes might harm your enamel. Therabreath also contains fluoride and mint, and while it still causes some burning, it's noticeably more tolerable than the previous brand. For a long time, I assumed this burning sensation was simply a normal part of using mouthwash, as I have experienced similar discomfort during dental visits throughout my life. To manage the sting from Therabreath, I've found that spitting it out before the pain becomes too intense has been a helpful strategy since it's not quite as severe. At this point, I am uncertain if my reaction is specific to mint or another ingredient present in the mouthwash. I have always disliked using mouthwash due to the discomfort it brings, but Therabreath is just tolerable enough that I keep using it. I'm turning to Reddit for advice first, as I would prefer not to visit my doctor only to be told that this sensation is typical and thus wasting her time. Being autistic, I sometimes find certain sensory experiences overwhelming, and it’s possible that I could just be particularly sensitive in this case.
Addressing My Sleep Concerns: Seeking Guidance
I am a 20-year-old female, standing at 5 feet tall and weighing 179 pounds, residing in the United States. Throughout my life, I have encountered more challenges with sleep than many of my peers. In my younger years, I was known to sleepwalk and talk in my sleep quite often. Additionally, I experience particularly intense nightmares. Lately, I've noticed alarming symptoms such as waking up with a racing heart. On occasions when I don't awaken, I've had instances of bedwetting. In an attempt to alleviate this, I've begun to refrain from drinking anything for four hours prior to sleep. Despite these efforts, I find this situation concerning, especially considering my history of sleepwalking and talking during the night. Could this be a reaction to stress, or do you think I should seek professional medical advice?
Experiencing Unexpected Breathlessness One Month After Gallbladder Surgery – Should I Worry?
A 26-year-old woman, weighing 44 kilograms and standing at 5 feet 4 inches, does not smoke or drink. A month has passed since I underwent laparoscopic gallbladder removal, and while my recovery has generally been smooth, I've faced some bouts of fatigue. However, today I encountered something alarming: I felt a sudden shortness of breath after ascending a flight of stairs, which struck me as unusual. Later, while trying on outfits for an upcoming event, the same thing happened again—I became breathless. After some online research, I stumbled upon information regarding pulmonary embolism, which left me feeling quite frightened. Could this be a serious issue? Should I consider consulting my surgeon for further advice?
Experiencing Intense Night Sweats?
I’m a 22-year-old female, weighing 120 pounds and standing at 5’4”. I've had a history of post-viral illness, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and major depressive disorder (MDD). Throughout my life, I've dealt with intermittent night sweats, but it has escalated recently—in the last month or two, I've been experiencing them nightly. I've tried switching out my bedding, adjusting the temperature in my bedroom, and a few other strategies, yet I still wake up drenched, as if I’ve been sprayed with water. My clothes are soaked, my hair feels greasy and wet, and it leaves me feeling quite uncomfortable. To avoid ruining yet another pair of pajamas, I often opt to sleep without any clothes for the remainder of the night. Because of my other health issues, I undergo blood tests fairly frequently—about three to four times a year—and my physician hasn’t indicated any alarming results besides addressing those tests specifically. What could be causing this? It’s incredibly frustrating to wake up at 3 a.m. every night feeling like this.
Struggles with Sleep Due to Flu/COVID
Caution: This message may not be well-articulated as I am running on little to no sleep. I’m an 18-year-old male, currently weighing around 175 pounds, down from 185 before falling ill. For the past four days, I have been dealing with what I suspect is either the flu or COVID-19. I’ve been taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and both daytime and nighttime cold and flu medications. Generally, these have worked for me, save for one incident where I vomited the flu medicine shortly after taking it. Fortunately, I managed to have my lunch, a small bowl of honey yogurt, without issues. My main symptoms include heavy congestion, a sore throat, persistent headaches, and overwhelming fatigue. However, I face a significant challenge: I cannot fall asleep at night. Yesterday, I tried staying awake throughout the day, believing it might help me rest at night, but I ended up unable to sleep then as well. I feel utterly drained, and even simple activities like walking are a struggle. Yet, when I try to rest, sleep eludes me completely.