I am an 18 year old girl who ALSO has precordial catch syndrome [made an account just to post this]. I first noticed it in the first grade and it happens to me normally once every few months. I have been keeping track of this thing for years. My mom thought it was heartburn or some but its most definitely not. I went to the doctor and i'm "perfectly fine" but this sharp pain is a killer. I got a feather tattooed on my ribs when i was 15. I would gladly get another tattoo like that instead of deal with this thing. It is incredibly painful and sharp much like a knife twisting into my ribs..

Last year i spent the year abroad in New Zealand and it happened only twice. I drank a lot less coffee and soda which by the way, the pain seems to occur when i do drink soda, or coffee or when i am in active i.e falling asleep, sitting down, etc.

My pain happens so suddenly and i just go into short breaths (on the verge of hyperventilating sorta) and it works. I am far too much of a coward to "take a breath" and have it "pop" so instead i just wait it out by continuing small in and out breaths and drinking cup after cup of water. Burping also seems to helps whilst i kinda of keep a fist to the affected area on my chest/ribs.

I am confused why everyone says the attacks last minutes? Mine normally last an hour to hours. unfortunately.