Twice, while sleeping it has felt like my chest was turning and turning tighter and tighter , like screwing a jar lid on tighter and tighter and it was painful. My breathing also became labored. It was very scary, of course. I would have called EMS and gone to hospital the first time, but I had just had a stress test done, two weeks prior, beginning of March, and results were heart muscle good, no clogged arteries. I have also had two echocardiograms done, the last in August 2016. I have Costochronditis, variable causes I am told. I do have arthritis in the cartilage of my rib cage from air bag hitting me in the chest in 2014. At the time I was told just contusion on breast bone, though they did a contrast dye CT bec x-ray indicated might be fracture, but the CT did not show fracture. I have Chronic Bronchitis, though never smoked- auto immune disease in my case, as I already have one. I developed Asthma after issues caused by airbag. I have had some swelling in feet for some time. Used to wear size 6 shoe & began wearing size 6 1/2 some time ago. Thought at the time might be some off & on water retention Ended up in ER labor day weekend Sept 2016 due to very dramatic increase in swelling of lower limbs & feet & could not wear shoes at all & had been becoming more and more short of breath (which at the time I at first thought might be getting acute bronchitis. Thought I might have blood clots. Schedule echo of lower legs. Good. While at ER did contrast dye CT of lungs to look for possible blood clots there. None. Found Ascending Thoracic Aneurysm of the Aorta. ER had me keep legs elevated continuously until saw my Family Doctor who happen to be out of town for length of time mandatory seminars. Follow up with Family Doctor. Was told that Contrast CT also showed that my breast bone had actually been fractured due to calcium deposits were found. (Why it didn t show up the first time when they had thought it might be fractured after looking at x-ray-unknown,) Since around Sept 2016 my chest hurts more frequently and for longer periods of time from the airbag episode causing arthritis. Scheduled to see a Vascular Specialist in Indy by Family Doctor. In the mean time went to see Pulmonologist. Was told lungs were clear. Due to my lower legs & feet swelling & shortness of breath w / clear legs said it might be my heart. Managed to get me an apt ASAP with Cardiologist. Was told I also have a leaking Mitral Heart Valve. Saw Vascular Doctor in Indy for Aneurysm, who also referred me to another Vascular Doctor who deals with veins and swelling of various limbs, who wanted to rule out possible valves in veins of legs, as a cause of the swelling. Since ER visit Labor Day Sept 2016 my shoe size jumped to size 7, then size 7 1/2 in less than a months time. Was told I had Lymphedema. (Have never had any Lymph Nodes removed. Did a test. Was told two possible causes. 1) Some people are not born with enough Lymphatic Fluid. It manifest itself in late teens or in 50 s by settling in the legs, bec it cannot work itself back up. Or 2) It is related to my heart and only time and the Heart Doctor would be able to know. I have GERD & take two tablets a day for it. Started out with one tablet a day and that worked. But eventually after a pretty descent amount of time symptoms returned - extreme nausea 24/7 & throwing up, very minor, noticeable acid reflux. Told to take one two times a day and that took care of that. I also have Chronic Ulcerative Colitis, Migraines, Post Traumatic Stress. I happened to see my Pulmonologist and told him about the increasingly tightening jar lid problem in my chest with Hard to Breathe. He said I could try using my rescue inhaler and see if that helps. I have also since seen my Family Doctor and mentioned the increasingly tightening jar lid feeling with Labored Breathing to him. He said try taking a dose of liquid Antacid when it happens, even though he knows I am already taking something for GERD (he was the first Doctor to diagnose GERD both times). The problem has not happened again since the first two times it happened in order to try either solution. I am trying to understand what is going on with my chest when this happens. At this point I don t get the connection to either Asthma or Acid Reflux. I had told my Family Doctor that when ever I bend over to put support hose, socks & shoes on and try to cut my toenails I end up with Acid Reflux and it is almost impossible to cut my toe nails because of it and that fact they all grow in crazy directions though my shoes are big enough now to allow room for swelling. His recommendation of taking the liquid Antacid was specific to conversation dealing with the chest. I don t have money in my acct to pay or a way to pay. I also do not recall reading anything about paying. This also isn t WebMD where I started. I m sorry I didn t realize exactly what this was. I have lost my job bec of all this and I don t have money for this. I am applying for Disability.