h yplri and reflux... chest pains

[kaceyj]

hi  i am a 28 female, 2 children.i have been exp. chest pains and palps since 8\05 after giving birth to 2nd child. after numerous tests found to have pvc's,reflux esophagitis, and recently h-pylori bacteria. i have bouts of chest pain that send me to the er ALOT. they send me home saying prob gi related the only thing they find is non specific abnormal t waves.. its usually a squeezing,muscle pull type pain in my inner left breast area. i am on atenolol for pvc's-nexium for a few months did nothing, switched gi dr's. second one said no reflux(1st dr said yes) and found the h pylori(first dr said no) put me on prevacid(which i hardly take) and awaiting meds for the bacteria. i have had cardiac mri,holters, eps study, thalium stress test, ecgs, chest ct and x ray,and cardiac angio ctw  contrast to check for blockages. all came back ok except numerous pvc's. i also exp. sharp and hotness pains right below my breast area all along my waist to the left armpit. could this be gi related? whenever i get a chest pain i get a nervous sensation and then have to release bowels. is the chest pain i'm desc. gi pain? i have lost 30lbs more than my pre pregnancy weight. somedays i can not eat b\c of the chest pains. i also notice that the less i hv bowel mvmnt the more pain i have and the less i can eat. i also get uncomfortable feelin in entire chest. pains only last for a few second but they HURT! sometimes sharp, mostly squeezing muscle pull pain always in same area. sometimes shrp pains in right breast but mainly in inner left breast area... does this sound gi related due to findings. since cardiac tests came back ok.i also had a 24hr ph study which showed nothing which seems impossible b\c i burp hot liquid and have acid taste contantly. i did not eat after my endoscope cuz i was in pain. could that hv been y no reflux showed? i also notice that when i push to release gas sometimes or burp i will get a pvc.... please help any advice or opinion would be greatful i am at my wits end with this!!!  stil hoping this is not cardiac...........btw i am also hypothyroid w\goiter(whichi feel tightness in neck sometimes) since giving birth also so i am on 12.5 synthroid once a week.........

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You have had a very comprehensive evaluation for the pains.  The negative cardiac testing would make a cardiac cause very unlikely.  

The negative 24-hr pH study would exclude GERD.  H Pylori is associated with inflammation and ulcers, which may be associated with your discomfort.  Appropriate treatment with dual antibiotics and a PPI is normally the approach for treatment.  A breath test or stool test can then be done to confirm eradication.

If the symptoms continue despite this treatment, you can consider other causes, such as a pulmonary or musculoskeletal etiology.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[dukert2]

Kace...where is your chest pain or ache? Interminent or constant?

[dawabbit]

Hi Kace,

How long have you been taking synthroid? Would there be a possibity that your symptoms might be side effects of this medication. The reason I said that was because my husband was misdiagnosed with hypothyroidism 6 months ago. Misdiagnosed, meaning that a family doctor just (based on his blood work one time) ruled out that he is hypothyroidism and put him on Synthroid. Synthroid made my husband felt worst than ever. When I went on websites to study Synthroid, tons of complaints on the side effects of that medication. If the side effects of that medication makes you feel worst than the symptoms itself, why take it? People suggested Armour with less side effects. When I approached the family doctor with prescribing me another type of medication, he insisted that Synthroid is the only brand out there and refuse to write up a prescription for Armour. I then went to the next door pharmacy (whom he referred) told us that they only carry Synthroid. Well that explained it, doctors only prescribe you medication at which they can make money off. These doctors get commission to sending patients over. What happened to what patients want or need? Ironically, my husband went to see a specialist to try to get a prescription of Armour. That specialist insisted that my husband does not have Hypothyroidism and don't understand why a family doctor would just prescribe such a strong medication without first sending him to a specialist. He wanted my husband to stay off Synthroid for a month and then go to do blood work again.  We did and he later ruled out that my husband does not have hypothyroidism. Taking this Synthroid for over a month has added more damage to his not-so-good health already. Best of luck to you.

My husband was the healthiest man, up until 6 years ago, when it all went downhill. We rented and lived in a small apartment that had a lot of deadly molds on the wall. We've been exposed to molds for about 2 years. We later found out that he had allergic reactions to mold. It all started from there. Nothing happen to me, cuz I don't have allergic reactions like he does. The molds, obviously had weakened his immune system, he started getting fevers, ear infections, light headed, etc. We went to a Thai restaurant called "Thai Promise" in Mission Viejo, CA had he started coming home vomiting, diarrea (diarrhea), and fevering. He felt like he was gonna die. I thought that maybe he was food poisoned. Months later, we went back to that restaurant. The same thing happened to him. Funny thing is, we ate the same food but I was ok.

We owned and was operating a very stressful food business for 6 years, working 12/7. Every doctor we went to would just rule out stress / anxiety and send us home. My husband was never the same ever since. He has this throbbing chest tightness, shortness of breath, and a discomforting churning growling stabbing (you name it) under his left rib cage traveling to the back upper shoulder blade area. It feels like cold airy acidy gas. He was never able to take a full deep breath eversinced. Every time it seems like air is leeking somewhere else. We've done colonoscopy came out normal, breath test, numorous blood works, chest xrays, ekg, gallstone ultrasound, recently endoscopy with biopsy ruled out that he has inflammation and erosion in his esophogus. Was put on Nexium with no improvement and left dangling again. We've tried practically anything, anyone would recommend us. There are times when he has this sharp pain just a little below his left hip bone. A pain which concerns him that we went to do ultrasound for stones, came negative. He does realize that he feels better on certain days, and that certain food does make him feel crappy. It's very discomforting for him and I hate seeing him go through that. His 2 year older brother died of Leukemia less than 6 months ago after battling 4 years.

We visited the Asian country 6 months ago and he came back with diarrea (diarrhea). I did too, but it went away in about a week. His diarrea (diarrhea) has been on for 6 months. He was put on strong antibiotics and immodium with not much luck. After each of his diarrea (diarrhea), he gets this growling churning discomfort in his stomach. People look at my husband and no one has a clue that he has all these symptoms.

My husband is the sweetest man in the world, why is he being punished with all these illnesses? We've spent over 40k in medical bills already (that is with insurance coverage)with no solution. It's funny how different docs tells you different things just to get you out of their office. Doctors told my husband that he's got pluracy, muscle spasm, anxiety attack, GERD, gastritis, ulcer, IBS, asthma.

After visiting this website, I realized that my husband isn't alone. There seems to be no answer as of it yet. But if there is ever that someone has the answer to all this, please advise. I appreciate any input.