I am at my wits ends,and feel like its time to give up hope.....:(

[Darcy]

Hi my name is Darcy I am 26 years of age and I am overwieght but I have
Hi my name is Darcy I am 26 years of age and I am overwieght but I have
been dieting for more than 6 months and am slowly loosing the wieght thats not my problem
my problem started when i was 18 Years old I was with my family on a trip
when I had a sudden shooting pain down my left arm to my ring finger and
back up my arm then a sense of panic or a sense of doom,so we went to the nearest
hospital and they said it was a combination of stress and Reflux(The vacation was very stressfulee),A few days
later our trip ended and I then had continual stabbing pain in my chest
a freind of our family told me that her husband had a major heart attack
and died just after he started having the same pains I had,so this sent me into
a panic the pain got worse,911 was called and I was rushed to the emrgency room
where they said it was a panic attack.And sent me home.The next day I went
to see my family DR. and he sent me for some tests Upper GI,Ultrasound,I dont
know what its called but they sent a scope down my throat with a camera on the
end,and also a heart specialist.Now all the tests showed nothing.

[Darcy]

THIS IS THE REST OF MY STORY
So he gave
me something to control the heartburn.Now ever since i was 18 these pains come
back occasionally and every time I think I am dying so i go to the E.R.
and they do the regualar blood workup and EKG.Up To about a month ago I have Just lived with this
thinking it was nothing.Until one night I was driving and the middle of my
chest started to have spasms vey tight with the pain going to the left side of my
body.There was 3 very intense and scary spasms then one slightly less intense
spasms(got very tight then let go).So i went straight to the E.R. and they said its just
Reflux agian.So I went with it.A week later I was getting the regular chest
pains but I felt very Ill like I was being poisened or something and with
that came this headache that was just overwhelming and my head was extermely
hot while the rest of my body was nice and cool.It was so bad I couldnt
concentrate on work.I just wasnt thinking right at all.So I went to my Dr.
the next day and he took my Blood Pressure And It was 150/100 which he said
was more than likely the cause of the Ill feeling and the headaches
he said it was from Anxiety Or Stress And gave me LORAZEPAM to relax me
and RANITIDINE for the chest pains(REflux)then sent me for a Kidney
ultrasound to check for Adrenal Tumors
that came up negative thank god.Then he sent me for an EKG which was fine
now that all the results are back I feel A littel better and MY Blood Pressure
is down to normal 130/80 but I still get the Headache Chest Pain Very Hot Head And Ill Feeling.
I will let you know that 1 year ago I was diagnosed with sleep apnea but its under control.I also get pressure in my head ears and behind my eyes.I sneeze all the time,and I am constantly catching my self popping my ears so the pressure goes away.
I am going out of my mind here I cant enjoy a moment of my life.
Does anyone have any advice for me.Or any similar problems.
I am so frustrated I could cry literally
This board is great

[mizmamie]

If all the tests came back negative (and it's great that the heart one did!), then you probably have panic disorder.  If you go to a psychiatrist, they can give you anti-anxiety medicine (xanax, klonopin, etc.).  Please try not to be afraid!

[Darcy]

I think I will Thanx for the advice

[jonp]

Darcy,  hang in their... i have had many of the same problems
as you..it is very frustrating, next week im suppose to have the scope down my throat.. a little nervious.. I just wish I would feel better... take care jonp

  ps: Can anyone tell me what to expect?

Thank You

[pikamom]

It sounds like you have real pains in your chest and still have not discovered the cause. Did they check to see if you have spasms of the esophogus? That can be very painful and feel like a heart attack. I don't know if that's related to the reflux or what the treatment is, I know over on the heart forum I remember seeing something about nitrostat relieving esophogus spasms although that med is for angina. Ask your doctor about that. As for anxiety, that can cause chest pain, lightheadedness, etc. But I doubt it would actually cause STABBING pain in the chest. In any case, it wouldnt' hurt to explore that possibility and work with a therapist just to see if that could be the culprit of your troubles. Best wishes.

[Dondi]

The procedure you are having is called an endoscopic exam. I have had this done to me 4 different times. Please don't be nervous or dread it!! They will give you something to totally relax you and put you in a light sleep. You will know nothing and remember nothing when you wake up. Good Luck!

[jonp]

Tahnk You Dondi

God Bless

[Baseball_Mom]

I'm certainly not a doctor but it sounds like with the reflux that you might have a hiatal hernia.  I was diagnosed several years ago after going to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack.  I ended up having the Nissen Funduplication surgery done and it cured both the reflux and the hiatal hernia.   Best of luck to you and I hope they find out whats making you ill.  It's no fun to be sick, I certainly should know.  Take care!

[Darcy]

I have been tested for a hiatal hernia and they say I dont Have one.

[svd4everbmc]

After many years of experiencing the same symptoms, I have
finally found relief.  You said that your first onset was during
a stressful time.  That is the biggest clue to me.  Reflux and
anxiety/panic disorder are both aggravated by stress.  This does
NOT MEAN IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD.  It just is your body's way of
reacting to stress, and maybe unfavorable eating habits.  
  What has helped me the most was getting to the root of my anxiety, personally I have the disorders described above.  I went
for psychotherapy, and also a psychiatrist.  The symptoms are
real.  I have learned to manage most of mine most of the time,
but still yet to this day without rhyme or reason I have these
"attacks."
  Anxiety/panic disorder is very common in today's society.
Don't berate yourself, or deny yourself the treatment and quality
of life you deserve.

[Darcy]

Thank you very much

[alonro]

doom feeling). I also went several times to the ER and time after time they did a complete heart workout and sent me home saying it is nothing fatal (either reflux or panic attack). Finally I went to a GI who said it looks like esophagus spasms. These spasms can mimic a heart pain (my doc told me that in a clinical experiment 75 people suffering from angina pectoris, which is chest pain from a heart disease, were given drugs that stimulated esophagus spasms. Over 60% said that the esophagus pain they experienced was indistinguishable from the angina pain). I’m scheduled to some tests next week (24 hrs PH monitoring and manomentry) to verify the diagnosis. My advice: don’t listen to all those talking about panic attack. Your pain is REAL and have a PHYSICAL source. Go to a good GI and find out. There’s no reason to live in pain.
Good Luck
A.

[keystone531]

Have you looked into Lyme disease? check the symptoms and see if this is something that you should R/O.
Your symptoms sound connected.
my son has the same symptoms for years and it turned out to be lyme.

Good luck searching and dont give up.

[Kayleigh]

When my reflux was very, very bad..I had many of your same symptoms.  Especially the heart, chest pain.  The first thing they did was heart tests.  Yes, it does feel exactly like a heart attack.  One day, I was so, so sick...and my doctor was in surgery so an intern saw me...told me the same thing...that it was all in my head..a psychological problem.  I had chest pains, esophagus spasms, major mucous in my throat, no voice or little voice, tired....and I wasn't under any stress.  I found another doctor. Hang in there...it took me about 4 yrs. to get my reflux under control to have a normal life...(had the Nissen fundoplication).  After 2 yrs. with my first doctor.....I changed medical facilities and doctors.

[Moppet]

Sounds like you have Acid Reflux and a panic disorder  to me. Follow the good advice above. And may God be with you!