I'm really worried because after recovering from COVID in May, I've been having chest pain that comes and goes. At first, it eased up but then returned. I had a couple of ECGs; one was normal, but three months later, it showed an irregular heartbeat, although all other tests came back normal. My doctor thinks it might be costochondritis since the pain is really sharp and in the upper rib area. Last night things got intenseI woke up suddenly with really strong palpitations. A doctor I know recommended some medications including Thiospas 4 mg, Tramadol, and Dexa 4 mg for 3 days, to be tapered slowly. I've already taken steroids during my COVID treatment for about 9 days, and I'm really anxious about taking them again. Should I go ahead with this treatment? I need advice quickly.

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Anshul Maheshwari

General Practitioner

MBBS
5+ Yrs

Consult Now

Its understandable to be cautious after taking steroids during COVID. Given that your chest pain and irregular heartbeat are likely due to costochondritis, the suggested medications may help, but steroids like Dexa should only be taken under close medical supervision. It's important to discuss your concerns with your doctor, especially about tapering off steroids safely.

Dr. Anshul Suggests...

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Answered 04/07/2025

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I'm experiencing a fast heart rate between 130-150 beats per minute, even though I'm not feeling anxious or tense. I recently had a 2D echo, and it came back normal. Could you let me know what medicine I could take to manage this when my heart rate spikes, and what might be causing it?

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I'm experiencing some mild pain in my upper chest on both sides and also in my upper back, and sometimes even in the lower part of my chest. I went to the doctor yesterday, and he did an ECG, which came back normal. My oxygen level is 97, but I'm still feeling like I need to take a deep breath every 10 minutes or so, and Im not sure why. Could you help me figure out what's going on?

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