I definitely think you should have an x-ray or some other imaging to make sure that the stomach and everything is in the right place and valves are functioning (besides ruling out heart problems of course). I guess it would be nice if I could get that for myself too but I probably won't because I don't have insurance or a regular doctor and the people at the clinic make me feel like a piece of **** when I tell them I don't have insurance.
Anyway until you see the doctor (tomorrow) rather than just pillows, get one of those big wedge pillows, or put some books under the feet at the head of your bed to make it 6 or 8 inches higher and the whole thing sloping and try sleeping on your left side.
"Hiatus hernia heartburn is another serious GERD symptom. Fortunately it's relatively rarer, but nonetheless is potentially very dangerous and needs to be treated on an urgent basis. The condition occurs when a person's stomach muscle moves in an upward direction through a distended hiatus. Hiatus hernia can be of three types. The first type is the sliding hiatus hernia that occurs when a part of the stomach that has come up through the hiatus slides to and fro through the chest cavity. This type of hiatus hernia, along with the second type, is relatively harmless. The third type of hiatus hernia, known as Serious Hiatus Hernia, which causes the entire stomach to move up in the chest, can create very acute GERD symptoms involving persistent heartburn and chest pain."
Of course you should to discuss this with at least your regular doctor and a cardiologist and maybe a gastro specialist or whatever but I will tell you what I think it might be since I have been having similar problems (although in some ways less severe).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease (GERD)
I regularly experience short chest pains (which is one of the less common symptoms), asthma at night -- that is the main one, I have always been asthmatic and the nighttime asthma was not responding to my medications , and finally I figured out it happens when I lie down, and I can feel the acid or whatever getting in my lungs or whatever and sometimes causing pain in my chest but nearly always asthma.
So I raised the head of my bead and started taking Prilosec, and that makes it so I can sleep and not wake feeling like I almost died the previous night. Its weird now everyone is telling me they have GERD.
It might be recommended to actually have surgery because structural problems like hernias can cause it so you have to have the right specialists check you out. Also it could be sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease etc so I think that you should see those type of doctors also to rule out other types of problems.
It definitely sounds like sleep apnea, as suggested by ireneo.
I would venture a guess that it's not cardiac related, but then again, I'm not a doctor. Have you spoken to your doctor about this?
I'm always surprised when people come on here with symptoms that are as troubling as yours, and they haven't mentioned a thing about it to their doctors. Your first step SHOULD be to discuss this with your doctor, if you have further questions regarding what the doctor has said, or aren't sure how to locate the information you need, then there are a lot of us here who can give suggestions or advice.
Take control of your own health by discussing this with your doctor, and if you have the kind of doctor who "appears" to not have the time for your discussions, then MAKE him/her listen to you. Always remember, you are your doctor's employer.
At first I was thinking you might have some acid reflux at night. My husband struggles with that. Lie down and the stomach acid backs up the esophagus which can cause shortness of breath and chest pain. But another thing to consider is sleep apnea, long pauses in your breathing. Only a sleep study at a sleep center or hospital will determine that. In the meantime, try sleeping propped up with a couple of pillows. That often helps with reflux. And do check with your doctor.