My heart hurts when I lay down

[bourne10]

For the past 6 months, I've been having these weird symptoms. Every time I lay down, specially on the left side, I feel strange sensation in my heart. It feels heavy, pressured and very uncomfortable. It's like someone is grabbing it. it feels very weak. These symptoms would lessen if I sit up or stand up. These episodes would last few hours and then they're gone. Going to bed at night is the worst part. It's like an event. Laying down intensifies these symptoms.

Starting 3 days ago, I've had the worst episode yet. This time, it didn't go away. The symptoms just stayed. And I don't have to be laying down any more, they persist even if I'm up or sitting down. It's a strange sensation that's hard to describe. I'm fully aware of my heart and it's heavy like something is there.

I made an urgent appointment with my primary doctor and he did a chest xray and EKG and decided that my heart is fine and that it's just a muscle strain. That cannot be true but he would not listen. I've been reading a lot of peoples' symptoms that are similar to mine and a lot of them have Congestive Heart Failure or Pericardial effusion.

I don't know what to do from here. He prescribed Diclofenac Sodium for the supposed muscle strain. But I've been reading the warnings on it and it says clearly not to take it if you have any heart disease.

Any thoughts at all would be very appreciated.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Your symptoms of discomfort on lying down and lack of sleep could all be attributed to GERD, (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease), where the acid contents of the stomach come up into the esophagus. You could try life style measures. Take frequent small meals. Eat dinner about two hours before sleeping. Elevate the head end of the bed. Keep a food diary and note down what aggravates your symptoms and avoid them. Ensure to maintain optimum weight by regular exercise. Avoid non steroidal  anti inflammatory medications NSAID's, quit smoking, eliminate alcohol and reduce stress levels. These measures need to be practiced long term for results.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[vienna13]

From one symptom you are having you cannot diagnose yourself thinking you are having a heart disease.  The medication he gave you said: “not to take it if you have any heart disease.” You don’t, the test said. Why don’t you believe it?
“That cannot be true but he would not listen.” you said

  I had Congestive Heart Failure, i much more symptom involved than what you described.  So just relax. If you don’t believe to this dr. go and get another one, but you can save your time  by believing to this one.

It could be so many other things then heart disease. I would take what he gave you and see what happen. If you overweight, smoke, drink, etc. …or drink energy drink, caffeine, you should stop and look into those habits and change it for only healthy food and drink.