Severe Chest pain relieved by cold water

[DeBug]

I hope I got the right Forum for this...

I'm a 51 year old male and for the past 16 months I have had a strange pain happen to me at random times.  I call it a "severe flash pain" for lack of a better description. It is located in my chest behind the sternum and slightly to the right (not the heart side).  The pain area radiates about the size of a softball and happens very fast with no or little warning.  I have even been raised from sleep with this pain.  I get it at work, at home, pretty much any time of day.  I can’t seem to nail down what triggers the pain like meal time, too much stress, fatty foods, etc. The weird part is this: I get myself to cold water as fast as I can and drink it quickly.  Almost as fast as the pain arrived…it goes away.  The pain is severe and the rush to find cold water is in panic mode to be sure.  I even had to get a cup out of the trash once since there were none around during an attack!  I don’t think it’s a heart issue but I just don’t know.  I do drink coffee in the mornings, don’t exercise much as I should, but I don’t know if that’s it.

DeBug

[Ingun]

I am a 45 year old woman from Norway who have exactly the same chest pain you all describe . Have been to gastroscopy , which was normal . Biopsy: Normal . Have also been to 24h pH and manometry which was also normal , but " hinted synchronous contractions by dry throat, but no pain then ." Think even it must be spasms of the esophagus , since the pain go over with cold water. Wrote down every time I had pain for 2 years to see if I could find out if there was a pattern , but without success. I had 26 episodes of chestpain for one year, sometimes 1-2 times a week , but it can also go two months where I do not have pain . Great to know ( sorry) that I not alone , it 's like reading about myself . I hope we will find this out in future.

[Tuckamore]

Hi NettieTop,

Welcome! I'm sorry to read that you are plagued with this anomaly too.

I haven't heard of others having Urticaria. As you know, when you experience Urticaria - it normally has an allergic trigger. Have you consulted your medical provider? If not I highly recommend that you do.

If what you are experiencing is an Allergy reaction than it makes sense that cold water would help relieve your SX.  The cold water will temporarily sooth inflamed mucus membranes and/or GI track linings. The inflammation could be caused by the allergic reaction - hence the hives or Urticaria!

I hope you'll also consult a Allergist. We'll look forward to hearing more from you!

My Best to You,
~Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Thanks for sharing your experience and diagnosis with us. I'm very glad that you've had a detailed diagnostic evaluation.

It's not common that dehydration (excluding Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion) can cause these SXs without any accompanying symptoms. Anything is possible - and I certainly believe you and your physician. Certainly we know that dehydration can cause a multitude of painful and seemingly strange SXs. It's a good reminder of the importance of remaining well hydrated!

For our readers, Dehydration occurs when our liquid intake is low and we get rid of more fluids than we take in.  Ppl that live in warm climates - or in any type of climate during summer/warm months tend experience dehydration more often.  Once we have had an episode of dehydration we are more prone to having another.

I'm glad you found an answer and are treating it successfully. Stop by any time. :o)  We welcome input and comments in our Pain Management Community - or in any of our MedHelp Forums.

Thanks and Best of Luck,
~Tuck

[NettieTop]

I experience this pain also, and yes water helps.  I usually have a severe case of urticaria (hives) when the pain happens.  Just courious if anyone else out there also suffers with hives and has the pain in the esophagus.  Thanks

[terridoe]

This gal here, I have had two UTI's in a row along with Bad Hives and horrible digestive upset and the same attacks everyone here is getting, starts in pit of stomach and radites up into my chest and feels like my chest is cracking open, the only thing that helps is drinling baking soda water, I cant lay down flat, was just put on a medicine that is for esophogeal spasams but i have only used it now 5 x's and last attack it did not work, i was on two rounds of prednisone for the hives but as soon as it is gone the hives come back, i have a abdominal ultrasound coming up, surprised to see so.many people suffering from the same chest pains

[Shelly1107]

I have had this pain for a long time.  First few times I thought I was dying.  Almost in panic mode every time even knowing water helps it.  I also have severe reflux but this is different.   I've been seeing my GI doctor for a few other things and have had very thorough work ups.  My doctor has come to the conclusion after physically witnessing an attack as well as my medical history that it is dehydratiom.  I've since increased my water intake daily and have not suffered another attack....  that's my experience only.  I would recommend seeing your own doctor just to be sure as no two people are exactly alike.   However I would give increasing your daily water intake a try.  always good to stay hydrated anyway right.  

[Tuckamore]

Welcome and thank you for your input.

You are correct. We often think of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) when we think of Reflux Disease. However Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is similar to GERD in that is it also a reflux disease - you just don't hear as much about it. I have LPR and GERD.  

LPR differes from GERD by structure. This from a trusted website:  "At either end of your esophagus is a ring of muscle (sphincter). Normally, these sphincters keep the contents of your stomach where they belong -- in your stomach. But with LPR, the sphincters don't work right. Stomach acid backs up into the back of your throat (pharynx) or voice box (larynx), or even into the back of your nasal airway. It can cause inflammation in areas that are not protected against gastric acid exposure."

I don't know how many times I have said on this thread - "please consult your medical provider."  I know many have had clinical evaluation, including testing. It doesn't mean that something may have been missed - it also doesn't mean that something was missed - so I don't want to frighten anyone. Second and even third opinions should always be considered.  

GERD and LPR can cause a condition known as Barrett's Esophagus. That is the per-cancerous condition associated with these reflux diseases - and/or the cancer that you spoke about. It's been discussed in this long and very old thread. It is real. Sadly it left untreated, it can lead to cancer of the esophagus. About 3.3 million American adults have Barrett's esophagus. The good news is it can be treated.  No one wants Esophageal Cancer. It's an ugly, painful way to leave this earth!

Thanks for sharing your experience and comments. It is my hope that this thread will be seen by others and they will seek help. Readers and Members - if you have chest pain relieved by water, cold or not - please keep searching until you find a DX.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[SimpleLifeLover]

I am 65 and have had this problem for years. I thought it was gallstone pain as I have had gallstones for years. Over the years the pain has increased in intensity and fequency but I didn't worry too much as I found drinking water immediately relieved the pain. It didn't have to be cold water, just tap water would do it, but I would need a couple of glasses. I foolishly did not consult a doctor til I started to experience some ongoing slight pain and discomfort up behind my right rib. Doctor suggested it was caused by GERD and prescribed beta blockers but I couldn't believe it because I have never had indigestion or reflux at all. Now I have found online there is a thing called Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (Silent Reflux) and that it is possible to have GERD without any heartburn or indigestion symptoms at all. I have discovered also that GERD can lead to oesophagus cancer if left untreated and so I urge anyone who has the pains that have been described in these posts to consult their doctor urgently and get tested. While most people who have these symptoms probably don't have cancer they may have the potential to develop it in the future. So change your eating habits now. I don't smoke but if you do you should stop.
Also give up caffeine and alcohol, greasy foods and check to see what other foods may upset you, some foods can be surprisingly problematic, such as tomatoes for example. Clean up your diet and lifestyle and drink lots of water even when you don't have pain and hopefully your pain will never return and you won't get cancer.