Undiagnosed Chest pain

[hurtingMary]

I have persistent chest pain, that my general practioner thought was associated with a hiatal hernia. He put my on Nexium and scheduled a scope procedure with a gastroenterologist. That procedure came back "clear" with the doctor saying he didn't see anything wrong with my esophogus or stomach, no hiatal hernia, no evidence of acid reflux,etc.  Basically, he said he didn't know why I was having pain, and I should stop the Nexium.  He also did an ekg to check for heart irregularities and some blood work to check liver function,etc.  All was normal, but my pain continues!

The pain is not affected by what I eat, or when I eat...it doesn't get any better when lying down.  The ONLY relief I can get is when I drink cold water...then it gives me about 4 seconds of relief while the water is going down.

Anybody have any ideas for me?

[nadia]

I have the same thing right now.  Mine accompanies my abdominal pain.  If it is within the chest wall it may be a condition called costochondritis(not sure of the spelling).  It is an inflamation (inflammation) of the chest wall. However, if you don't think this is your problem, you may want to have a stress test done.  Any abnormalities with the heart may show up there. Your doctor may also recommend a Holter monitor.  It is worn over a 24 hour period and stores information about heart function.  It's been 2 years for me, and it was finally assessed this week as possible mitral valve prolapse. I will be having another echo cardiogram done shortly to confirm the diagnosis. Chest pain should definitely be investigated especially if it is constant.

[bue123]

I have been having chest pain for about 4 months with the tighting of the chest and pains in my left arm and sharp pains in the middle of my back I went to the doctor and had a stress test done and an ekg and the echogram when my ekg came back the doctor said he had seen worse and their was an 80% change of a blockage the chest pains got worse I was put in the hospital for 3 days taking beta blockers, blood thiner and nitroglycerin patches I have always heard that if their was nothing wrong with your heart the nitro. would give you a bad headache. I had a cath done during the cath the doctor wanted to know how to use some machine to measure something and was told he would have to take a picture of it an measure it later when I ask what he wanted to measure I was told their was a lot of things you could measure and he didn't remember what it was on me. He said my cath was normal my cholesterol was 270 and that my pains could be coming from my stomach. has anyone had this to happen to them what do you think. heart problems runs in my family and I don't have heart burn but I was put on nexium I don't understand the pains come and go 1 day i'm fine I have little pains but the next day the pains hurts so bad it will bring u to your knees please tell me if anyone is having these symptoms.

[kellieb]

Hi Mary, have you had your gallbladder checked? I had to have mine out in 1991 and I had chest pains, cold sweats, curled up in a ball, ...the whole nine yards. At first they thought it was ulcers until they did an ultrasound and saw a lot of gallstones...had it out and was fine after that. Did they see any blockages in your arteries? If you are not happy, go to a big teaching hospital......they are more up to date and will do more than a Dr in his office will...for tests it could be months whereas at the hospital they can do it right there. Also Pancreatitis can cause thes symptoms too. I am no Dr but I would do the teaching hospital thing to the ER of one...don't wait around because if you don't stay on it..they will think it isn't a big deal if you aren't going to be checked...trust me. I am in nursing school so I have seen and heard stuff like this but mostly from my own experience with a Dr I have since gotten rid of after he scolded me like a 5 yr old for going to the hospital so much...he pretty much flat out told me I need to stop going to the ER and stop calling the paramedics because nothing is wrong with me,I was just about passing out and felt horrible all the time everyday,   HELLO!!!!!NOTHING WRONG??????  I am one who very very rarely gets sick, so, I got another Dr by going to a teaching hospital's ER..actually it was Mass General in Boston..they are phenomenal there, I don't know where you are from but if you can get to an ER of a teaching hospital, I would just go, anyway if something is going on with your heart, lots of times it won't show up until you are actually in the process of whatever is going on...like the chest pains etc unless it was like a heart attack or something then bloodwork would show enzymes and stuff from your heart. Don't worry keep calm and...Good Luck...keep us informed!

[nadia]

Hi, I was just reading your post, and couldn't believe the similarities with our conditions.  I am 40 female, and I was just released from the hospital after 3 days.  I was in for chest pains and tachycardia.  I also was on blood thinners, nitro patches as well as spray.  I am also taking atenalol. I do have some small amount of damage to heart muscle according to the blood test.  But the doctors aren't able to say for sure that I had a heart attack.

My pain radiates from my abdomen and into my mid upper back.  The doctor thinks it could be a benign tumor on the adrenal gland.  The reason he thinks this is because I had excellent BP in the past and it has been getting increasingly worse over the past year. Anyway I am getting an ultrasound tomorrow and had a 24 hr urine test so maybe I will finally get some answers.

You may want to look into abdominal problems causing your chest pain. They may very well be related.

[jitter]

Hi I hope u can find out what is going on with you. I go to a gastro dr. friday but if u find out what is wrong with you will you let me know. I was begining to think that I was the only one having these pains so it must of just been me so thank you I'm not losing it after all.

[nadia]

Thanks for your response.  At the stage I am at now, it is very comforting to know someone else understands what I am going through.  The abdominal pain was bad enough but now the chest and back pain just makes it quite unbearable.  Let me know if you get some answers as well.. Nadia

[jitter]

When I find something out I'll let you know I had to have blood work done today to check my liver and chol. the results will be back thrusday that when I go back the heart doctor and then the next day I go to the gastro doctor. If you hear something before me you can email me if u want at ***@**** thanks and good luck.