Question:
Has anyone ever experienced this Strange pain?

It is in my chest area, which i am assuming is my new tummy whenever I take any type of strong pain killer. For example, tylenol 3 w/ codiene. It literally feels like I am having a heart attack, onset is about 30 min after taking a crushed pill (so I know it's not getting stuck) and the duration is usually anywhere from 30min to 4 hrs. I am 2.5 months post op. I asked the nurse at my Dr.'s office & she has no idea. I can take all other meds fine... just the strong pain medicine bothers me. Has anyone experienced anything like this or have a clue as to what is going on? Thanks, Steph    — sgeisendorff (posted on September 11, 2001)

September 12, 2001
I had this exact same problem with hydrocodone!!!! Then a couple of weeks later I got is ten times worse when taking Tylenol 3 w/codeine. I thought I was dying!! Severe chest pains and could not breathe. I wound up in the ER and found out that I had developed an allergy to codiene. The reason it was not as severe when I had taken the Vicodin (Hydrocodone) was because that only has synthetic codeine. It was when I took the Tylenol 3 that is all came crashing down around me.
   — KLandrum

September 12, 2001
I agree with the previous poster. Sounds like you have an allergy. I went through all kinds of tests on my heart before I found out that it was the pain meds. I was taking. For me, vicodin will get me down with chest pains and what not - depending on the dosage. I took it in the hospital and was fine. Try paying attention when you take them to see if thats when the pain comes on. Then gradually cut down the dosage and see if that is better.
   — K T.