I suspect cardiac...Dr. suspects GERD - where to go...

Please bear with me - this is long but I'm hoping I can get some help here.  I'll give some background first - 37 year old female, significantly overweight, BP issues since giving birth 2 years ago (it is controlled but still on the high side), father died at 48 of heart attack, I have pvcs / Dr. suspects mitral valve prolapse, lots of stress lately...

I have been having chest discomfort for about a year now on and off accompanied by a list of other odd symptoms that don't last but are noticible.( I can't tell if I'm noticing every little twinge or if they are part of the problem.)  The chest pain is variable...1 type of pain is an acute pain covering a small area on the mid to high side of my left breast.  Pain 2 is a dull and worrysome ache that is midsection and seems to be from front to back. Pain 3 is right below my sternum and can be intense and localized or achy and spreads to my shoulders.  I also have an ache in my pit of my throat that seems to get worse when I am stressed.  The pain varies in intensity, when it occurs is sometimes at rest, sometimes when I'm active, comes on fast and slow but usually lasts no more than 10 minutes at one time (then will sometimes start up again later).  THis has been going on for about a year.

I have taken all this info to my family practitioner who upon the first visit ruled out heart conditions after just listening to my heart. He suspected either GERD or musculoskeletal. At that time I think he also switched my BP meds, told me to take PrilosecOTC.  The pain came back (especially bad one night during the Prilosec) and after a couple more visits he sent me to get a 64 slice ct scan of my arteries.  I scored 0.  He said that since it is a systemic disease it meant 100% of my arteries would be clear.  Also did a 24 hour holter monitor - all clear but I was totally free of symptoms during that 24 hours.  I still wasn't comfortable with it since the symptoms wouldn't go away so we did the king of hearts monitor for 2 weeks and that showed no irregularities but I didn't experience ALL of my symptoms during that time - just some.  It did reveal pvc's but he said nothing to worry about.  I am currently on metoprolol for the BP and he gave me a Rx for ranitidine which I haven't started because the pharmacy sheet said not to take the two together so I wanted to check with him but just put it off.  (I am also a little scared to take it after the increased pain in my sternum while taking prilosec).  

For about 2 days I was nearly symptom free but yesterday and today it's back with a vengeance accompanied by explosive belching, and bloating. The only thing I've changed in my diet in the last few days was Uncle Sam cereal which is whole wheat,flax seed and barley and maybe a slightly spicy meal but nothing TOO out of the norm.  I am really uncomfortable and the discomfort seems to be slightly present all day today, briefly alleviated when I burp.  My BP is typical for what it's been - avg 130/80.  

My question is should I trust that my dr. is right and go ahead with the ranitidine and see if it helps and hang in there or should I be more persistant with him about the cardiac testing?  Both techs I saw when I was getting my workup said I shouldn't rest until I get a clear nuclear stress test.  Because all GERD symptoms are so close to heart symptoms I am confused.  I am cynical about the care I am receiving because all of my online research has turned me into a cyberchondriac.  I keep coming across the "I thought it was GERD but it was a heart attack" stories.  The panic is driving me mad and I am tired of keeping myself locked up in the house or leaving making sure I know the route to the hospital.  I'm just looking for another opinion, but I really don't think I want to switch dr.s (he is also a family friend) and he doesn't want me to waste money on more cardiac tests.

Thank you.

[amdgjoseph]

I also wanted to question whether heart symptoms can really "come and go" like this for a year?

[peter r]

Sounds like GERD. Discomfort shows up in the ribs back etc. Ask about NEXIUM. Take it for 1 month if its GERD it should take away the symptoms. If you still have discomfort and want your heart checked get a stress echo.

[Flycaster305]

Certainly, cardiac-related chest pains manifest themselves differently for different people.  I have been diagnosed with Cardiac Artery Disease and have quite a number of stents placed in my arteries to alleviate angina pain, and have had two heart attacks.  I feel pressure, like something really heavy is pressing on my chest.  I'd go with the docs advice and take the Ranitidine.  GERD also presents itself differently with different people.  I didn't take it seriously until it burned my vocal chords, I sound like Kim Carnes when I talk... I had little pain, but lots of burping.  Also, a meal of whole wheat, flax seed and barley is an absolute guarantee of some digestive activity!  I totally agree with peter r.  

[maggiemag]

I take Ranitidine in the evening before bedtime and Protonix in the am, which is similar to Prilosec.  You might need more than the OTC dose of both of those.  It sounds like GERD to me too, but I got SEVERE abdominal pain from Nexium.  You do need to take those for at least a month before you give up on those drugs.