Feeling Overwhelmed by Health Concerns
I’m a 31-year-old woman standing at 5 feet 4 inches tall. About a month back, I visited the emergency room due to experiencing a tightness in my chest along with discomfort in the region of my right bicep. They conducted several tests including an EKG, a chest X-ray, and a blood analysis, all of which returned normal results. The doctors speculated it could potentially be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux related. In the following week, I struggled with persistent nausea, and it seemed that eating would trigger discomfort in those areas. A week later, the nausea intensified, and I began to shiver unexpectedly, even though it was quite warm outside at 90 degrees. The shivering lasted for about three hours, culminating in a fever of 102 degrees that persisted through the night but subsided by morning. Now, despite some time having passed, I continue to feel this strange burning sensation in my right bicep, which at times extends down my right arm. Additionally, I experience a similar burning pain in my upper back beneath my right shoulder blade, particularly following meals. I saw my primary care physician yesterday, who recommended an ultrasound to assess my gallbladder and abdominal region, and I’m currently awaiting the results. Furthermore, since around April of this year, I've also noticed an increase in hair loss. While the mild chest and arm pains I felt after eating have slightly decreased, I remain particularly distressed about the ongoing pain in my right bicep and the burning sensation in my upper back. I'm becoming increasingly anxious, convincing myself that I might be facing a serious condition such as gastric cancer or bile duct cancer.
Answers (1)
7/28/2025, 2:01:51 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel overwhelmed with your health concerns, especially considering your recent symptoms and hospital visit. Your experiences with chest tightness, nausea, and now persistent pain and discomfort understandably raise anxiety about serious conditions. However, it's important to remember that many of your symptoms can be linked to more common and benign causes, especially since your initial tests returned normal.
Explanation
The tightness in your chest and arm discomfort could indeed relate to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), particularly if meals trigger these symptoms. The burning sensation in your right bicep and upper back can sometimes be attributed to muscle strain, nerve irritation, or referred pain related to digestive issues. The fever and shivering you experienced might indicate a temporary infection or reaction, but since you have no current fever, this seems to have resolved.
Hair loss can be distressing and may have many causes, including stress, nutritional deficiencies, or even thyroid issues.
Next Steps
-
Follow Up on Ultrasound Results: Monitor any updates from the upcoming gallbladder ultrasound. This is important as gallbladder issues can contribute to upper abdominal pain.
-
Manage Digestive Symptoms:
- Diet Changes: Consider a diet low in fats, spicy foods, and caffeine. Practicing smaller, more frequent meals might help reduce discomfort after eating.
- Over-the-Counter Medications: Antacids or medications designed to reduce stomach acid (like famotidine) may help alleviate acute GERD symptoms.
-
Track Symptoms: Keep a journal of your symptoms, including when they occur and what you’ve eaten. This can help identify triggers and provide useful information for your healthcare provider.
-
Lifestyle Adjustments:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Stress Management: Since anxiety can exacerbate physical symptoms, engaging in relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, or gentle yoga could be beneficial.
-
Monitor Hair Loss: If hair loss continues or worsens, consider discussing this with your doctor, who may recommend blood tests to check for thyroid function or nutritional deficiencies.
-
Seek Support: If anxiety about your health becomes overwhelming, consider reaching out to a mental health professional for support.
It's completely normal to feel concerned about your health, but addressing these issues step by step will empower you to manage them more effectively. Let me know if you have more questions!
Related Questions
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
Understanding Atrial Fibrillation and Thyroid Issues: Variability in Cardioversion Decisions
Hello everyone, I’m reaching out for guidance regarding my mother’s current health situation, and I’d greatly appreciate any shared experiences or thoughts. **My mother's background:** - **Age**: 55 years - **Weight**: Recently dropped to 116 kg from 118 kg in just two days, likely due to diuretics. - **Health history**: Previously an underactive thyroid, undiagnosed and untreated, now presenting as overactive. - **Medications**: Currently taking thyroid medication and a beta-blocker (Rapiblock). **Current health status:** My mother has been hospitalized since Tuesday, experiencing **atrial fibrillation with heart rates exceeding 200** beats per minute due to her thyroid's hyperactivity. - The plan for cardioversion was initially settled on Tuesday. However, the following day, the medical team advised postponing it until her thyroid levels could be stabilized, believing that her heart rate would return to normal once her thyroid condition was managed. - Her **obesity** precludes her from undergoing a transthoracic echocardiogram, and due to her thyroid concerns, she cannot handle contrast dye (this has been a consistent issue for over four years). Therefore, the only feasible option was a **transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)**, which has yet to be performed. - She has been prescribed various medications including beta-blockers and thyroid treatments in the past. - On Friday, a doctor proposed proceeding with cardioversion; however, the attending senior physician objected. - Today (Saturday), another clinician has expressed a desire to move forward with cardioversion, having initiated a new medication, as the senior physician is unavailable. - **Communication has been unclear**, as we were notified of developments by a nurse rather than the physician in charge, causing confusion and anxiety. - Currently, only a **chest X-ray** is scheduled, and the TEE remains unaddressed. **My inquiries are as follows:** 1. Is it common for medical professionals to have varying opinions and frequently revise medication or treatment plans like cardioversion? 2. Is it safe to conduct cardioversion in the absence of a TEE? I presumed that this was a standard procedure to exclude the presence of blood clots. 3. Is it usual practice to have only a chest X-ray prior to moving ahead with cardioversion? 4. How typical is it for patients or their families to not be directly informed about treatment changes and learn about them through nursing staff instead? I recognize that this cannot substitute for professional medical advice. I’m simply trying to discern whether these circumstances are typical or if we should express our concerns more assertively with the healthcare facility. Thank you for your insights!
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.
Concerns About My Toes
Age: 30, Female Currently, I am on the lookout for a reputable podiatrist in my vicinity. However, I've encountered a perplexing issue with my foot. Just last night, I noticed a growth on the side of my toe, something entirely new to me. I maintain a nutritious diet and have a demanding job that requires me to be on my feet quite often. My footwear includes brands such as Brooks Ghost Runners, Hoka Bondi 9’s, and Nike Motiva’s, and I don’t opt for restrictive socks. I also apply Vick’s Vaporub to my feet, a practice handed down from my family, and stick with simple, non-fragrant lotions like Vanicream and CeraVe SA Cream for my skin. In addition, I am curious about the my big toenail's change in color. What might be the underlying reasons for this? Also, I have these persistent dark spots on my toes that I've struggled with since my days on the runway. Despite my efforts, nothing has succeeded in lightening or diminishing their appearance. I'm just looking to determine if there might have been a factor from the past that could have contributed to these issues. I’m not sure what else to include, but I’m open to answering any questions you might have. Thank you for your attention! Best wishes from a worried soul!