burning in upper chest

[RubyWitch]

I am a 57 y/o female. I have been told, many years ago, that I have GERD/Acid reflux. So, as big a pain in the arse as that is, that is not why I'm writing. About a year ago, I was helping my husband haul some big tree branches to the burn pile when I noticed some reflux but it then spread to my upper lung area. To explain the area better, be you man or woman, if you were to put your hands on your chest directly above your breast area, that is where I'm talking about. Anyway, I WAS rather bent over hauling this branch as it was large and very heavy, so the reflux wasn't much of a surprise, but the burning really freaked me out. Almost as soon as I stood up straight, it went away. I had absolutely no other symptoms. Naturally I was thinking heart attack. The rest of that day, it didn't happen again, so I just put it down to one of those "mystery" things. A week later I was really going at raking leaves, again kind of bent over, really putting my back into, and the same thing happened! But again, as soon as I stood up, in just a very few seconds, it had gone away. Still no other symptoms. Then I began to notice it happening when I was sweeping or hauling firewoood or doing just about anything where I was slightly bent at the waist. I finally went to my doctor and she said at first it sounded like reflux, but had never heard of the upper chest involvement. She sent me to a gastroenterologist who did an endoscopy which came out totally normal. He sent me to a cardiologist who sent me for some massively expensive but thorough test of my heart.This also came back almost normal but he did see some mild narrowing of one of my arteries but said it would not have caused the burning sensation. He then sent me back to the gastroenterologist, who I haven't seen yet and probably won't. My PCP gave me a script for Protonix that may or may not be helping a little. Sorry for all the background stuff, but I just thought I'd save anyone from suggesting I see these various doctors. What I want to know is if there is anyone out there who has felt reflux in the area I'm describing? This NEVER happens to me when I am sitting or lying down, but "normal" reflux WILL "get me" at those times. This seems to happen only when I am engaged in some physical activity which also has me bending a bit at the waist. I work in a hospital and have noticed it when I am very stressed out and running around like a headless chicken..........my job there requires that I spend a great deal of time bent over a patients bed. I am quite desperate to understand what is going on as the docs don't seem to have a clue. Anyone, thoughts? I AM a smoker which makes me a digusting,stupid, filthy person and I KNOW it makes reflux worse.(I am planing on quitting soon.) Any and all advice or suggestions are welcome. My chest X-rays were clear, by the way. To say that I'm scared goes without saying even if I did just say it.
Thanks for slogging your way through this!
Regards,
Linda          

[RubyWitch]

I agree with you totally! My endoscopy showed that I did have some slight irritation but that it was pretty normal and nobody seemed concerned. MY concern is the burning sensations in my upper chest when I'm doing some physical activity that also finds me bending a bit at the waist, which I'm very aware can cause you to have reflux. I just feel very alone (and scared) that I seem to be the only one in the entire world who has ever felt reflux this way. It's frustrating as three doctors have all pretty much blown me off and I really don't know where else to go for an answer. If I knew that even one other person felt this, I would feel better.
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond and for your kind words. If you can think of anything else I should or could try, please give me your thoughts! I am so open to trying anything to correct this or at least, understand it.
Regards,
Linda  

[healthiswealth]

A lot of people have endoscopies and they come out normal and they STILL have reflux.  Not so sure these procedures are always correct.  Good luck!

[RubyWitch]

Thaks for your response, it makes a lot of sense. I have two questions.........what is HCI and why do I feel the burning where I do?

[janet6456]

Possibly when you bend over you put pressure on the valve and acid gets forced up? I would try a little HCl and a good digestive enzyme with your protein meals. If your not producing enough HCl you're not breaking down your proteins, which cause fermentation that exspands, and in your case when you bend, you force it into your esophicus.

[RubyWitch]

Like what? You've just made me more frightened than I already was!
Linda

[Megan1710]

Maybe you should have an HRCT (High Resonance CT Scan). You may be surprised what it will show up!

[RubyWitch]

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