Re: crushing chest pains

Posted By HFHSM.D.-rf on February 28, 1998 at 15:47:08:

In Reply to: crushing chest pains posted by Taushau. W on February 15, 1998 at 23:22:53:







: My wife is having crushing chest pains.  She has been through several test and we are not wanting to go through any more tests.  She has had a operation that was to correct this problem but it did not correct the problem.  The doctor who performed the operation, removed part of her colon, cleaned out a ovarian cyst and removed her appendix.  She has had all of the test know to man for the digestive system.  The chest pains are constant and never let up for only a minute.  She has seen a gastro. and he has not been much help.  We are currently seeing another gastro. and hopefully he will help us because my wife is having a gastroscopy for him to look down at her stomach and esophagus.  She has taken Prilosec, Propulsid, Vitakin and several other meds.  We are at wits end and would hope that someone out there could help.  My wife is tired of being in pain and hearing from doctor's, lets do this test, lets try this med.  Please respond ASAP.  We have left our e-mail address for you to contact us directly.

Please!  Please! Help if you can.



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Dear Taushau W.,
You do not provide your wifes age and consequently it is difficult to prioritize the likely causes of her pain.  Clearly, women age 30 are going to have different diseases considered than women age 70.  There are a number of different causes for "crushing chest pains".  Heart disease must be excluded.  Based on the information that you have provided, I would assume that structural abnormalities of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum have been excluded.  One diagnosis that must be considered is esophageal spasm.  This condition presents as chest pains that can mimic those of a heart attack.  The underlying abnormality is simultaneous contractions of the muscles of the esophagus.  This problem can not be diagnosed with an endoscopy.  To make the daignosis of esophageal spasm a special test, called an esophageal motility study, must be done.  This test is performed in an outpatient setting.  A small tube containing several pressure transducers is placed in the esophagus. After measuring the pressures in different regions of the esophagus, the patient is given water to swallow and the pressures are again measured.  Based on the pattern of contractions a trained gastroenterologist camn make a diagnosis of spasm.
Best of luck.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation.  Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you are in the Detroit area or would like to be seen at our institution, please call 1-800-653-6568, our Referring Physicians Office and make an appointment to be seen with Dr. Ronald Fogel of the Division of Gastroenterology, one of our experts in the treatment  of esophageal diseases.
HFHSM.D.-rf
keywords: esophageal spasm, chest pain
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