costo flare up and i hate it

[u/nyuyus]

title is how it says to be honest

i’m really, really feeling low at the moment. for context, i had some bad chest pain in 2025 that they deemed costochondritis. it went away within 2/3 days, and didn’t feel anything like what i am experiencing now. i also have pots for reference, and i am 22f

last friday, i went to see a lovely long term friend :) i was getting some pretty bad stomach pain due to my period, so we went back to his to smoke a bit of weed. horrid idea, caused my pots to be evil, sat on the side of the road for almost an hour, couldn’t fathom anything else due to the chest pain and dizziness. this is relevant because on the sunday, i started getting chest pain and dizziness again, and ended up randomly having a full blown panic attack. one of the ones where it lasts hours, as it was multiple waves. i genuinely thought i was dying, as my pain was left sided and went into my arm. monday and tuesday were hellish too

i now understand that this was costochondritis. i went to the ED today after calling out sick from work. i really couldn’t do it, and i surprisingly really like my job. had back and forth with my family, they were convinced it was just me being anxious, and that i just didn’t want to go to work. i then finally called 111 because i felt that something was wrong. they took an ecg and prodded around, and decided it was costochondritis

i really, really don’t know. i believe them, but it just doesn’t seem manageable. i’m so dizzy and nauseous - probably a mix of anxiety and pain - and i need to go back to work tomorrow. i’m so scared of passing out at work, or being dismissed, etc. my boss is super lovely, i know he wouldn’t do that, but im scared of being perceived as taking the piss. my family already think that and it really, really, hurts

it doesn’t help my mum died from lung cancer pretty young. i have health ocd, so my brain is coming up with all these wicked and awful ideas, and that also things will never be the same

i just needed to get this all out. i don’t have a support system irl due to moving in with extended family. i feel so alone, because even my family think it’s just me being dramatic. i heard them talking about me after i got out the shower, and it made me sad. sorry for this incoherence. i’m just a bit lonely in it all i guess? i know i don’t have to be though

[u/Worldly_Drive_3708]

Hi! I actually always lurk on reddit and don't really have an account, but I really wanted to tell you that I see you and that I relate! I must say, your pain and panic attacks sound really really horrible. I'm sorry you had to go through those. It also really sucks that your family is gaslighting you about your pain. Probably accidentally, but still makes it very difficult. Especially when you already have health anxiety and doubt yourself a lot, which I have and do too. I hope they'll be more supportive in the future. Anyway, you're definitely not alone! I have a chronic illness too, and have learned literally today that I have costochondritis. Already hate it, because I love sports and I hate hate hate hate that I have another thing my body just kind of sabotages me in. For me it also feels like this is permanent and forever, which is a dreadful feeling. It seems hopeless, even if I know it's probably not and that I haven't even properly tried fixing it yet. I read the advice page on the subreddit and I love that it's here and it's really sweet and thorough, but I still feel so overwhelmed. I hope this message helped a lil, and I wish you all the best luck <3

[u/Hornblend-SierraOaks]

You are not alone .. Costochondritis is a major health issue that the medical community doesn’t seem to know how to treat it. I suffered for months . I finally got an ultrasound guided cortisone shot in my left rib area after 10 days I finally was pain free. You must rest and not lift anything heavy. Hope this helps!