chest pains

[JeffWest]

I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR POSTS AND WONDERED IF ANYODY COULD HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE UNCOMFORTABLE CHEST PAINS OFF AND ON FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. HAVE HAD TWO STRESS TESTS, ECHOCARDIGRAM, EGD, AND HEART WAS NORMAL, PER THE DR., BUT THEY SAY I HAVE GERD AND ESOPHAGEAL SPASMS, AND COSTOCHONDRITIS. I TAKE COUMADIN, LIPITOR, COSOPT, PRINIVIL, PROTONIX, VIOXX, AND NOW AM ON ZOLOFT.MY CHOLESTEROL WAS OVER 200 BUT NOW IS BELOW 100. I CONSTANLY BURP AND HAVE BURNING SENSATIONS IN MY UPPER CHEST AND MOST RECENTLY HAVE BEEN GETTING TINGLING TYPE PAINS IN MY ARMS AND JAWS. MY LAST STRESS TEST WAS IN JULY 2001 WITH AND ECHOCARDIGRAM. AND THE CARDIOLOGIST SAID MY HEART WAS NORMAL. SOMETIME WHEN I OVER EXERT I GIVE OUT OF BREATH AND HAVE THE UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS IN MY CHEST OR IF I GET REALLY STRESSED. MY DR. THINKS IT'S STRESS RELATED, BUT YOU STILL WONDER IF IT'S YOUR HEART.DOES ANYONE THINK IF COULD BE SOME OF MY MEDICINES OR IS IN FACT GERD SYMPTOMS. YOU WOULD THINK AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF IF IT WAS THE HEART YOU WOULD ALREADY HAVE WORSE PROBLEMS. THANKS FOR ANY HELP.

[cotton]

I happened upon this web site and was amazed to find so many who have had and are having the symptoms I have after having my gall bladder removed.  Back in September I too thought I was having a heart attact and went to the emergency room, they checked me over and sent me home the next day with the same pain I had when I went in.  It took me a month to get into a gastroenterologiest and he scheduled an endoscopy and then an MRI and they found my gallbladder was not working correctly and I had it removed in October.  My surgeon was shocked to find out I was still having the same pain in my chest as before, I was then sent to another specialist who has put me though every GI test there is.  The gastric Emptying Study, CT Scans, esophangeal manometry, 24 hour PH study and they found I do have acid reflex disease which I too am on my third drug, I now take aciphex twice a day.  My doctor put me on trazodone for the pain in my chest but I had a severe allergic reaction to it so now it's just the aciphex but the pain my in chest is unbearable at times.  It is a 24 hour pain that just won't go away.  It is worse in the morning, I too feel like vomiting when I first get up and there is a terrible lump in my throat.  Eating seems to make it worse and sometimes, even drinking will start the pain, I assume it is spasms and not my heart.  The pain radiates across my chest into my left arm as well.  My doctor is perplex as it seems most of your doctors are and has suggested surgery but after reading how it doesn't always work and doesn't last more than 10 years, I am fearful to try it.
I too have lost a lot of weight, one good side affect and my diet is very bland which I can live with.  Thanks for all of your e-mails, I too thought I was the only one having this much trouble but this has helped so much, I wish you all well.

[CCB]

Yeh they would see hiatus hernia, ulcer, stomach cancer, whatever might be causing the pain but the tests are very expensive and painful and if its anything other than cancer (like GERD, ulcer, hiatal hernia, etc) they will treat it pretty much the same (with a proton pump inhibitor like Aciphex, prilosec, etc., and if its ulcer or hiatal hernia, with carafate.) some esophageal hernias if bad enough require surgery

[JeffWest]

THANKS FOR YALL'S COMMENTS. I'M GONNA RESEARCH THE HERNIA AND THE AEROPHAGIA. NORMALLY I DON'T HAVE TROUBLE AFTER I LAY DOWN OR WHEN I FIRST GET UP. BUT THIS MORNING I WOKE UP ON MY STOMACH AND I FELT A PAIN BELOW MY STERNUMLIKE I WAS PUSHING AGAINST SOMETHING. IS THIS POSSIBLY A HERNIA. ALSO WHEN I LAY DOWN ON MY BACK I CAN FEEL A KNOT BELOW MY STERNUM. WOULD NOT THE DR. SEE A HERNIA WHEN I HAD MY ENDOSCOPY? THANKS AGAIN FOR RESPONDING.

[CCB]

Air in the upper GI usually comes from aerophagia (airswallowing). patients with ulcers, heital hernia, and other stomach conditions report bloating because they are swallowing air. this is because the pain causes them to salivate more and subsequently swallow more, air gets trapped in the splenic flexure and mimics heart pain.  AEROPHAGIA is a symptom of many GI conditons and especially anxiety,  People usually swallow durring meals and when they are nervous.  Does the belching/pain usually go away when you are sleeping, doesnt wake you up, and is absent when you first wake up? (people usually breathe correctly when they are sleeping).  Try breathing through your mouth, not swallowing as much during the day (3 or 4 times per half hour) and be especially aware of your swallowing when you are eating and drinking-please let me know if this helps it seams to have helped alot with my mom who had the same symptoms as you, she had an ulcer. Sometimes they perscribe benzodiazepines for this (aerophagia) because it is related to anxiety.
Im interested to see if this helps with you if you try it for one day (are your symptoms worse during the eveneing?)

[CCB]

sorry: I meant to say NOT TO BREATH THROUGH YOUR MOUTH, usually mouth breather have more of a problem with this
hope this helps :)

[Baseball_Mom]

Those were my symptoms that you describe except I had terrible Acid Reflux/Heartburn too.  I had the Nissen Funduplication procedure in 1995 and that cured all my symptoms until this past March when I had a terrible bout with bronchitis.  I feel I coughed something lose. At the present time the doctors I am seeing do not recommend me having the surgery redone.  So I take Nexium twice a day for the heartburn.  Best of luck to you.  Have a GREAT day!  Baseball Mom

[alonro]

Wow - you describe my symptoms exactly: episodes of vague chest pain (mine are radiating to the arms and back), had me going to the ER several times, where each time they sent me home after ECG and physical check. I also did a stress and an echo that came out normal. Drives me crazy !
Two years ago I was diagnosed with HH and GERD. Have been on Prilosec / Prevacid since which reduce the occurrence. However - if I stop the medicine (even for several days) - it strikes back after about 2 weeks with all the symptoms. Strangly enough I hardly have the 'classic' heartburn (that is the burning). My pains are rather aches like pulled muscles.
Anyway -next week I have an appointment with my gastro doc. He may offer the Nessen proc. Baseball-man -  were these your symptoms as well ? can you please tell how did the operation help ?

[Baseball_Mom]

Has your doctor ruled out a Hiatal Hernia?  When I was diagnosed with one I was having the same symptoms that you describe.  I also had acid reflux/heartburn really bad.  Ended up having the Nissen Funduplication Surgery to correct the Hiatal Hernia and relieve me from the Acid Reflux/Heartburn.  Hope this info help.  Take care.