Was this a heart attack?

Since April, I've been having horrible, horrible indigestion/GERD. I've been to the ER twice, had an upper GI (negative except for a very small hernia that all specialists are saying is no big deal), CT scan, etc. All came up normal. The gastro specialist even checked for celiac disease. In short--all tests came up negative.

However, last night, I didn't eat dinner, took my Nexium, drank some milk, and woke up at 2am with the worse mid chest acid reflux feeling but the thing that woke me up was my left arm felt crushing pain like it was in a tourniquet. Mid arm down to my hand. I KNOW this wasn't something related to sleeping odd/arm fell asleep. I shook it--no relief. I eventually went into the bathroom to look because I thought it was swollen or something. Nothing. The pain in the arm just wouldn't go away and the indigestion was horrible.

I'm starting to wonder if all of these "gastro" episodes are really signs of a "woman's heart attack". I've had left arm pain before. I definately had some sort of an angina attack 20 years ago (felt like a semi was on my chest). I've worn a holder monitor before twice 20 years ago for skipped beats (negative results).

I called my doc today but I can't get in until Tues. Does this sound more and more like they need to start exploring the heart and see if something is up?

Also about 20 years ago I had a cardiac ultrasound. That too was negative.

What tests do you think would find if I had a heart attack?

[maybebaby29]

Oh and the majority of these issues wake me up at about 2am, including the angina 20 years ago.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

i would get me a good cardio dr and yes have all the heart test ran. next time this happens you need go to the er. or if you can go now tell them whats been going on and they will see whats going on with you . dont play with your life.

[ChatterAlly]

The angina that wakes me from a dead sleep is actually cardiac artery spasms. Or vasospasms.  Or unstable angina. Depending on who is checking me that day.  You said you had angina 20 years ago. Can you give more details about that? And the angina (or spasms) I have feel like a burnng ache, which is most like indigestion.  Ally

[ChatterAlly]

Oops, hit too fast here.  In the ER they can run cardiac markers with blood samples to see if your cardiac enzymes are elevated.  That is how my heart attacks were detected.

[curmudgen]

I would try Prilosec OTC, generic,  if it is gastric perhaps this will provide relief.  I think it is working for me - I would get heart burn like symptoms with my episodes of PVC's.  If you doctor says its okay to take then - you can take it longer than 14 days.

[erijon]

All good advice here, I would add one point. Esophagitis caused by GERD will mimic a heart attack including referred pain as you experienced in your left arm. It is so much like a heart attack that symptoms will also be relieved by nitro. The reason for this is that it initiates the same response to the Vagus nerve as a heart attack does so the symptoms are almost identical.

Having said that, it still needs to be checked so any issues related to your heart are ruled out.

Good luck,

Jon

[maybebaby29]

Went to the ER. They ran 2 EKGs, did the trophonin (sp?) blood tests twice, xray, and a stress test. I'm fine. They think the GERD and tiny hernia is out of control and Nexium has to run it's course. Never felt so incredibly stupid in my life. I'm not going to the doc/ER anymore with these pains. I'll just take my meds and deal. I'm sick of the hosptial bills and the embarassment for stupid indigestion. But thank you.

[ChatterAlly]

Never ever feel stupid when it's your health!!! Glad you went to the ER and ruled out a cardiac issue, but hope you can get some relief for the other.  Take care, dear friend, Ally

[curmudgen]

Going to the ER with wild PVC's and epigastric distress, and the feeling of being stupid about going to the ER,  got me the diagnosis of no heart disease,  evidence of benign PAC's and PVC's, with the possibility of non-reflux GERD and the suggestion to take  Prilosec OTC in the morning and Pepcid AC in the evening.  This has helped  and at least I now know what not to go to the ER for.  As Chatterally stated, never feel stupid about going to the ER.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

better to be safe than to be dead, anytime you have a heart issues going on go to the er, they see lots inthere for gerd/anxiety or whatever it is , am sure they dont think your stupid/dumb for coming in for chest pains they tell you to be safe and always have it checked out.

[maybebaby29]

Thanks. DH and my parents were all mad I went saying it was a waste of time. I don't know how they can be mad. The only "waste of time" I did was skipping work. Not their time. I was home by 6 just as if I went to work.