esophageal spasm?

I have a reoccuring condition that sounds to be somewhat like esophageal spasms, but I'm not quite sure. For about 2 days, I have this feeling in my chest, under my breastbone. The only way I know how to describe it is like the feeling you get in your chest before you hiccup or burp, like there is air within that needs to be let out. This feeling is accompanied by a sore throat and a cough. For the first day I had the feeling in my chest, it was very minor, and uncomforable rather than painful. It progressed rapidly after that to being quite painful. The second night I had the pain, when I was lying down, the pain got even worse, and I was having trouble breathing. Breathing came more easily when I was sitting up, but there was no releif from the odd chest pain. Usually, before vommiting, you get that unmistakable feeling in your stomach, telling you that you'd better rush to the bathroom. Well, without so much as that feeling as a warning, I threw up. Immediately after vommiting, the chest pain was gone. This is the second time within 2 months that this has occured, happening exactly the same way both times. I am still in my early teens, so I'm assuming the pain isn't associated with a very serious condition, but I guess you never know. Any idea if my condition is esophageal spasms or something else? Any help is very much appreciated! Thank you!

[gnorb]

Actually, it sounds like you have acid in your throat, possibly due to GERD if it's happening as often as you describe and has been going on for more than 2 weeks. Esophageal spasms may be a consequence of the acid, but every you mention--the pain/pressure in chest like there's air, the breathing issues, the coughing--all sound like acid reflux. Esophageal spasms are less likely.

For the moment, try just an over the counter antacid (start small, maybe with some Tums or Gaviscon, then moving to H2-blockers like Zantac or Pepcid if necessary, and finally to Prilosec if absolutely necessary). If it continues after 2 weeks go see a doctor.

Good luck.

[jororn]

I suggest that you get these chest pains investigated.  It would be great if they turn out to be gastric in origin but if it is cardiac you should not be ignoring it or trying to diagnose it yourself.