1st May 2009 00:51am
For the past few months my chest has started playing up. Not just a tiny bit, but about 5-6 times a week. The things that keep happening are quick sharp shooting pains (that feel like a fencing sword being stabbed into me) around the pectal area, sharp pain when breathing, lack of breathing, pain in the front of a shoulder with very a painful squeeze feeling after breathing in and also I cannot laugh while lying down as the whole of my heart area feels like it's clenching. Oh and also a horrid "pushed down" feeling in the middle of my chest when I breath. So quite a handful of things... other things happen too, but can't be bothered to write them all down.
Now the main cause of it is a body deformality (yay - I'm deformed... what I've always wanted 
). The deformality is called Pectus Excavatum - or as other people mistakenly call it Pigeon Chest (which is incorrect as a pigeons chest goes outwards, so that would be Pectus Carinatum). So basically my chest dips inwards between my nips and is kinda pushing / crushing my heart and lungs - which also does have some effect on my stamina (as I can't get the full lung capacity of what other people can due to it having not as much space).
I've had Pectus Excavatum for years and years and as you may have guessed, I'm not one for doing stuff that involves my chest being exposed, like swimming. Though after it giving me quite a lot of grief, I'm going to see the doctor in the morning and see what he says - though as it's the UK, he'll probably just turn around and say "Oh, it's fine, there's nothing wrong with it, go home and do whatever you do and forget about it". If however he does say that, then I'm going to tell him that I'm not happy with it - which you cannot blame me as I doubt anyone else would like to be in this type of pain so many times a week - and that I want something sorting out about it. Knowing the doctors in this country, who usually don't have the foggiest about anything other than a cough or cold always seem to check Google when I mention it to them as they don't understand what it means. It's not hard... "pectus" is obviously your pectal region (breast area) and "excavatum", just think of excavating - you dig some kind of pit... so two and two together comes out with a pit in your pectal region, or they could just look at my chest.
Now if the doctor does actually think something should be done... then more than likely he'll refer me over to see someone at a hospital - as surgery is one of the options of getting it sorted, though I'm a tad bit sketchy of the NHS. However I've started feeling giddy over it all after watching someones videos about his operation that took place in October 2008... he was hooked up on everything... and had needles and god knows what here there and everywhere... oh also he had a catheter, a vomit tray and also a pain button - which when pressed gives him some stuff via the epidural. It's all freaky... but oh well... lets see what the doctor says tomorrow.
11 Comment(s) -:- Permalink
1st May 2009 18:13
Hi Dale
I stumbled across your blog today as I Googled "Pectus Excavatum". My son is almost 5 and has inherited thia condition from his Father. I did take him to the GP a couple of years ago and she said "It's cosmetic-go home and don't worry about it!" If my son's Father is anything to go by then my son will end up as self conscious and inactive as his Dad. I fear he may even spral into the same self destructive patterns that his Father has as a result of body issu insecurities. OBVIOUSLY I want to do all I can to minimise this for him and have therefore been looking at the current treatments for him.We are based in Surrey-UK and I believe the Nuss Procedure isn't done on the NHS yet?
I would like to keep up with you and your experience if you will allow me and hope that it will help me to help my son with Pectus Excavatum.
Thankyou so much for writing here.
Kindest Regards
Emma By Emma
1st May 2009 22:09
Hello Emma,
Thanks for coming here and reading my article. :)
Well I did go to the doctors today, which I will be writing an update in a few minutes to it however the doctors in this country are not brilliant.
I only think the method that's like using polyfiller on your chest, but doesn't actually correct the ribs, it just flattens the chest area, is the only one at the moment available in the UK. However with mine, it's the pain from it going inwards and shortness of breathe that's the annoyance.
I will keep you updated on everything Emma and once again thank you for commenting on this article.
4th May 2009 22:00
Hi, interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I'll certainly be coming back to your blog.
28th Jun 2009 4:08
Hi Emma
Stumbled across this website when researching my sons op for pectus excavatum - we live in hampshire and he is due to go into Southampton on Tuesday to have his op on the NHS = he is 15 and his condition is getting worse as his chest has got more deformed through puberty == if you need more info then we can chat
Pauline By pauline
12th Dec 2009 2:16
i`m your permanent reader now
20th Dec 2009 14:49
I used to have terrible pains in my chest when I was a kid, but I worked and worked on my posture with the idea that I would make my pectus form to me, rather than the other way around. I am now 35 and have not had pain in my chest since I was a teen. In the last 2 or 3 years, I've made a serious effort to correct my pectus excavatum. More of my story and photos here: http://pectuscorrectus.blogspot.com/ P.S. Great blog! I'll be looking forward to your next post.
2nd Jan 2010 14:36
Hi Dale. My little boy Luke has quite a pronounced deformity that has yet to cause him any symptoms. I was just wondering if when you were a kid did you have any of these pains. I alway said that I would get him sorted if it caused him any physical problems but he is quite a confident boy and he doesnt seem bothered by it's appearnce and will happily go swimming. I would be grateful for a response as it would be helpful to know what Luke has in store for him in years to come.
Cheers
kathy By kathy
2nd Jan 2010 15:01
Hello Kathy,
Thanks for your comment.
I, personally, had no problems when I was a youngster (I'm 22 now) and have only been mainly getting pains for the past 1-2 years... however I have been very concious of it since I was about 15/16 years old. Also when you say "Little Boy" regarding Luke, I take it he's under 7?
2nd Jan 2010 15:22
Yes Dale he is only 6. Runs around and rides his bike with no problems he doesnt get out of breath and my Gp (like your experience) was next to useless focusing on the cosmetic side of things rather than the physical. One gp I took him too for a chest infection noticed it and got me worried as he said as he gets older he will have spinal deformities as well so I'm getting a lot of conflicting advice and information. As it stands at the moment I will wait until it causes him stress as I dont believe in fixing things that arnt broken. Your blog is very helpful and a useful support network. so thanks for getting back to me and I will keep up to date with your page.
Cheers, Kathy By Kathy hayhurst
20th Jan 2010 4:38
Nice to read your comments on Pectus Excavatum. Our son is 17 and we are on the brink of deciding whether or not to have the surgery done this spring. We are concerned about him being able to compete in basketball next year. It is his passion and would be his senior year. He has not experience any pain from his deformity but does have reduced cardio ability. Does anyone know if having the nuss bar prohibits flexibilty? Our pediatric cardiologist really wants him to get the surgery done now, but we can't see what waiting one year could hurt. Any thoughts? By fbwaldo
4th Mar 2010 0:01
Hi, I'm 18 and have the same problem mentioned all through here. I tried the doctor asking if theres anything that become and as I expected, I got told it was just cosmetic and that in a couple years, it would begin to go. This was about 4 years ago now and since then, it's got no better, and just like you I have confidence issues and would never take my shirt off in front of other people. I don't get the pain like you mention so I'm undecided on wether I should just learn to live with it. Regardless I want this fixed surgically before I go to university this year but I'm unsure how much the NHS is able to help if at all. How successful have you been so far? Does it look like surgery will be provided for you? Thanks in advance. By Alex
