Chest Pain

[Nick0623]

I woke up 3 weeks ago with pain in the middle of my chest.  After about an hour I felt I needed to go to the hospital.  I was taken right away and after 8 hours in the ER I was told I have GERD and was sent home with a perscription for nexium.  I did not fill the perscription and lived with the pain on and off for 2 more weeks.  I went to my own doctor a week ago and was given a RX for prevacid.  I have been taking the prevacid for 6 days now and are having good days where there is no pain and bad days where the pain lasts all day.  I am in good shape and go to the gym reguraly.  I do smoke like half a pack a day but have decreased that for a week now to 1 to 3 cigs a day.  For a couple of days now I have been feeling a weird feeling in my left aforearm and pinky and ring finger.  I do have a stressful life and I know I am worrying about this pain which in turn makes it worse.  I am a 38 yr old male.  My blood presure is 115 over 75 and pulse ranges from 45 resting to 60.  Did anyone ever experience this before?  

[Tarheelguy1967]

If the ER doc determined you have GERD, I imagine that would be based on some testing.  If not, there are a few tests that can be done to confirm whether or not you have GERD.  But GERD does have similar symptoms to heart problems, and may be a valid diagnosis.  Smoking of course does not help either.  Recommend you see a specialist who can confirm/deny the GERD diagnosis, and if he/she confirms it, I'd recommend following the treatment plan or find another specialist whose treatment plan you are more comfortable with.  If GERD is ruled out, then talk to your doctor about other tests to determine what the pain is.  Good luck!