Severe pain still after 1 year

[Steelers86]

I am a 30 year old female and one year ago I was diagnosed with GERD. I was blown away by the intial diagnosis as I ended up in ER thinking that I was having a heart attack. I mean, I had heartburn prior to this and the pain I was feeling was not heartburn....even my EKG was abnormal and the ER doc at first thought I was having a heart attack. The intial ER doc gave me a GI cocktail, (which was beautiful) some pain meds and a rx for Prilosec and told me to get into a GI ASAP. During this time, I also had a complete work-up with a cardiologist who ruled out any heart problems but told me that through all the stress of pain, that I should be cautious. Through my year's journey, I have been on Prilosec (had a reaction to it) Prevacid and Protonix. I have had 2 scopes and a 24 Bravo PH test. I have been in the ER at least 7 different times because the pain is so severe. Around the time of my second scope, my GI put me on Dexilant 60 mg a day. My PH test showed that my reflux is under control but that I also have delayed gastric emptying so my GI added Carafate 1mg twice a day to the mix. However, I was not having a symptoms during my 24 monitoring but as soon as I turned in the device, the pain was back. My pain is so severe that it radiates to my jaw, my left arm, shoulder and back. It is ALWAYS on my left side and never on my right. I constantly feel like I am having a heart attack!! The pain can be stabbing, sharp and sometimes can burn but rarely. Because I have break through reflux, my GI also told me to take 300mg of Zantac at night. Never mind that I eat Tums and drink Maalox like they are going out of style. Nothing triggers my reflux. I can eat a perfectly normal food and one to two hours later the pain starts. I live in constant pain. Do not get me wrong, there are days where I feel great but when I do have an episode then I have  constant all day pain. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to live in the ER to see if I really am having a heart attack and to receive a GI cocktail. The pain is so severe that my PCP has put me on Vicodin for the pain (they normally try to give me narcotics in the ER anyways) but I do not want to keep taking it to get relief. The last time that I met with the PA at my GI, she suggested surgery. I am meeting in a week with another GI for a second opinion. My question is does anyone else suffer like me? If so, did you ever find relief? I have done everything from the elevating of the bed, to not eating 3-4 hours before bed, stopped eating and drinking "trigger" foods, no smoking, excersising more and tried stress relieving activities. I am far too young, with two little ones to care for to always be in this much pain. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Steelers86]

Thank you guys for the feeback. Yes, my doctor is talking about the Fundoplication. However, I had my gallbladder out in July of this past year. I have been checked for H. Pylori and Celiac Disease too. Anything major like a Hiatal Hernia has been ruled out as well. I had a major complication after my gallbladder surgery so I am very hesitant to have the surgery. There are times that taking Maalox and the 300 mg of Zantac help. My life has just been turned upside down by this and I can't believe that I use to be able to eat whatever I wanted without a care in the world and now I can't. Thanks for the advice on the
costochronditis! I am going to look into it!

[Flycaster305]

I think linda555 is suggesting a good approach to your problems.  I had Costochroniditis, GERD that eventually needed surgery to correct, and I'm also a heart patient.  
From your symptoms, it doesn't sound at all like a cardiac issue.  From my own experience and from work as a volunteer in the cardiac wing of our hospital where I've talked to hundreds of cardiac patients, a heart attack is almost never explained as pain, but as a pressure, and never referred to as a sharp pain.  
I had what is called a Nissen Fundoplication to repair the LES valve that prevents acid from backing up into the esophagus.  Is this what your doctor is suggesting?  My sugery was very successful, but I'm pretty old and had time and patience with relatively few distractions to control my diet afterwards, which is absolutely necessary.  I say that because I note you have little ones, and this surgery is pretty invasive with lots of discomfort afterwards, you would want a strong support system in place.
Be careful with the Vicodin, that can easily constipate you, causing additional problems.  
I'd try Linda's approach for now.  Keep us informed.