Heart attack or hypocondriac? -Maybe neither

All credit for this article goes to: http://www.tietzesyndromebreakthrough.com/causes-of-tietze-syndrome.html

What causes Tietze syndrome?
The answer may surprise you, but researchers have yet to find out exactly what causes Tietze syndrome, have some good ideas, in as benign as a cough as frightening as cancer. More than one of the following conditions in combination can cause and Tietze syndrome is often difficult or even impossible to determine the exact cause. Trauma, recurrent microtrauma, or intercostal hematoma. A quick, sudden movement could cause a pool of blood, a blow-forming in the rib cartilage. Bruising (hematomas) in the cartilage joining the ribs to the breastbone (the intercostal area) have been seen in baseball players, but could be caused by something as simple as waving a rug. Recurrent episodes of microtrauma to the chest wall, martial arts, boxing, karate and other, severe vomiting and / or coughing are examples of where the chest would experience ongoing trauma but could be as simple as lifting more awkward time.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and disabling disease that occurs in approximately 2% of the population, and is seen more in women than in men. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but significantly higher levels of substance P (neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting pain signals) have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients. Inflammation costochondral margins that are commonly associated with Tietze's syndrome are the same two pressure points associated with fibromyalgia, it is important that all symptoms of a patient are taken into account when making a diagnosis of Tietze syndrome.

 Arthritis and related diseases  Rarely, patients with psoriatic arthritis reported Tietze's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis is a disease in arthritis is accompanied by red patches of inflamed skin. Other diseases associated with arthritis (ie, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis and Reiter's disease) could also produce Tietze syndrome. Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease Patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease often report costochondritis and Tietze syndrome.

Cancer An Italian study led by R. Cocco found that several patients who were diagnosed with Tietze syndrome actually had tumors. All patients had the classic signs of Tietze syndrome-costal cartilage inflammation, pain and all were treated with a standard treatment for the disease: anti-inflammatory medications and an injection of cortisol. When symptoms do not improve, patients looking for answers: three cases were later found that Hodgkin's disease and a person had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. All four patients achieved a complete recovery after the cancer was diagnosed. 

Heredity Nobody knows exactly what causes Tietze syndrome, but it certainly could be a hereditary factor. It could run in families, perhaps due to a genetic abnormality. Radiotherapy If you received radiation therapy to the breast or chest area, the possibility exists that Tietze syndrome experience at some point down the road (may be years after the therapy!).

Virus A virus that caused my Tietze syndrome could have caused yours? You can read more about my experience with the virus in this blog. Syphilis Some studies have linked to outbreaks of syphilis Tietze's syndrome. You can find one of these reports here in the British Medical Journal.

Stress There are no definitive studies that suggest that stress causes Tietze syndrome, but may worsen an underlying disease. For example, people with fibromyalgia should avoid stress, as the condition worsens.

Take the Challenge!

One thing that I've realized lately is that you really can't keep on keeping on without some sort of encouragement. Even if it's just getting online and talking with friends on facebook or joining a website like patientslikeme.com where you can interface with others who've been there, who are sick and looking for information and encouragement. It means the world to them and it helps you immensely. I've been attending church a lot more this past year and actually joined a young adult group where there are people who are healthy but also others with the same illness as me :) It's amazing to just sit and talk and pray and understand each other. Takes off loads of stress. Try it! I challenge you to spend at least fifteen minutes speaking to someone or writing back and forth to someone each day. It'll make a world of difference, I PROMISE :)

Hallucinatory Dreams

Alright so I'm NOT crazy.... at least not about this! I've had crazy nightmares ever since I was a little kid and always just thought I was weird for waking up thinking I was awake and actually still dreaming or waking up and having an anxiety attack becasue I couldn't tell which life was actually real. This article helps a lot, as do the comments at the end.
Hallucinatory Dream

Anyway Go and read it and tell me if you think all of us are nuts. Sincerely, Rena Can't Sleep

patient self care dwindles

. Great blog about impatient patients

http://www.invisibledisabilities.org/coping-with-invisible-disabilities/perseverance-illness-pain/

New flarek

I've dropped ten pounds, canka sores all through my mouth, can't sleep more than four hours, extreme muscle spasms and breaking out in acne. Hello fibromyalgia flare Up, I hate you just an fyi

Plea

I'm laying here in agony
and I'm praying God for you to see.
I know you're there
and yet I can't help feel it's unfair.
Why do I have to go through this tonight?
I'm so sick of being in pain without gain
Without anything changing for the better.
I want to be excited for rain not worried about pain.
I don't want to have worries about coming weather.
Will I always get worse?
I hate this invisible curse
Like you're crushing me as I lay in your hand.
I'm trying Lord, but I'm still crying Lord
and the pain has a burn like a brand.
When it makes me deformed
and there's no beauty in me.
When the pain's firmly etched in my face,
Will I still cling to your arm?
Will you protect me from this harm?
This love can't ever be replaced easily.
Cause I'd crumble with ease
Trying so hard to please.
Oh don't leave me alone on this night.
As the moon hides away
Whisper joy and peace for new days
And help me continue to write

Fly Away

The sun is shining and the skies are clear,
but inside I'm fighting. Battling fear.
Cause I know that it's there. Right under my skin.
Ready to pop up and I never knew when.
Like a ghost in the night it's stolen my dreams.
It feeds on the anguish, devouring my screams.
Nobody sees it. No one can tell.
I may look like I'm healthy, It's my own secret hell.
How incredibly ironic, such a sting of irony.
I'm terrified of pain. But the pain's a part of me.
It's always there riding up on my shoulder.
Keeping the sun off my face, making me colder.
A phantom that plagues me that I can't comprehend.
I can't see a future where I'm fast on the mend.
I'm begging for healing. Praying for aid.
Asking for Help, hoping I won't continue to fade.
I'm laughing and smiling like the world's quite alright.
But I'm terrified of the shadows, the whispers at night.
When I look in the mirror there's no me to see.
Just a facade, a cheap imitation that's liked much more than me
Everyone loves her. Thinks that she's grand.
While I'm behind the mask screaming, I don't understand!
Why is this happening? I want my life back!
Why suffer for a lifetime? Why not a quick heart attack?
I'm whining Lord and I hope that i'm not a regret.
I'm trying so hard to be patient, to try not to fret.
So please hold me gently. Soothe this troubled mind.
If you could make me unconscious  it'd be ever so kind.
Just let me drift awhile. Let me find some relief.
Help me hold onto my sanity, strengthen my belief.
That way when everything fails and everyone's gone.
I'll have you to cling to. You to help me hold on.
As the medicine dulls me and I start to drift away.
I thank you for this journey and another new day.
You're my bastion of strength and you sing me to sleep.
Watch over me Lord. Bring me back from the deep.