symptoms, anyone have answers?

[Christine Shelton]

I just have a couple of questions.  First my heart rate goes up and down.  Ekgs were abnormal, echo and stress test normal.  I am slightly overweight, but have begun walking.  Ekg suggested heart attack, but everything else normal.  I have a hital hernia.  The cardiologist thinks that I have GERD.  I have awoken with sharp pains under my left breast, 2 nights this week.  I also have sharp pain into my left shoulder and into arm.  1.  Can this pain, in my chest AND into my shoulder and arm all be related to my hernia?  2.  Also when I have this pain my chest I end having to have a bowel movement any idea why?3.  Sometimes my shoulder hurts with chest pain and vice versa any idea why? 4. Is this my heart or stomach or both?  I have heard something about gas around your heart. 5.  Is there such a thing as that?  If so what is it?  I hate having to go  to the doctor, especially if it is nothing serious.  Thanks.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Christine,

Given that you have an abnormal ECG with evidence of a prior heart attack, i would suggest a stress test to fully evaluate these symptoms.  these may be cardiac or GI in nature.

[Christine]

Dear Dr.  I did have a stress test, drug induced instead of walking the treadmill.  Cardiologist says it was okay, and that the echo was also normal.  He said that sometimes ekgs are wrong.  Could you please answer the questions, now that you know?  Thanks so much.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

1. Can this pain, in my chest
     AND into my shoulder and arm all be related to my hernia?
Yes this may be related to your hernia with refered pain to these areas.
2. Also when I have this pain my chest I end having to
     have a bowel movement any idea why?
You may have irritable bowel syndrome and your gi tract responds to the stress of having this pain.  Your bowel may be particularly sensitive to any kind of stress be it emotional or physiologic.
3. Sometimes my shoulder hurts with chest pain and vice versa any idea
     why?

The nerves that run through the chest originate from the neck, run near the shoulder and through the chest.  Thus it is common for chest or abdominal pain to be referred to the shoulder.

4. Is this my heart or stomach or both? I have heard something about gas around your heart.

This is likely to be GI given the normal tests you have had.  I am still concerned about the old heart attack that shows up on your ecg however, but apparently your physician has addressed this.  I would pursue a full GI work up .

5. Is there such a thing as that? If so what is it? Your symptoms are not gas around the heart. YOu should have no concerns of this.

[debby]

I don't like to give any kind of advice but I have a heart condition and as well Firomyalgia. I two get the pain under my breast and in left shoulder and arm that my cardiologists [I have a cardiologist and I have an Electrophysiologist] say is related to my heart. I also get pain in that area  that can be from my fibromyalgia. When I'm having a fibro attack I get the pain in both my shoulders usually at the same time. With the heart It is like a pressure pain that keeps on going gradually and spreads out through my chest and then up into my arm and throat. I feel very sick to my stomach sometimes when this happens and I get very short of breath and I cough alot too.

Fibro is a syndrome that may inconclude many other syndromes. Irritable bowel and G.I tract problems are very common with it. Do you ever wake up after sleeping all night and feel like you have not slept at all? Or when you wake up do you feel sore and stiff and that your body just went through a Hurricane? Many people do not know they have it and suffer for years.

Again I will say I'm not trying to say what is wrong with you. Stress is the worst thing you can have with Fibro. I hope that I haven't given you any alarm or panic but I had these symptoms for years and then over the internet some said to me I think I know what you have and It changed my life forever. Unfortunatly I also have a heart problem now but I tell myself things could always be worse. Reading some of these postings makes me feel lucky that I only have these two things. I wish you all the best and hope that you have a wonderful christmas. God Bless you I will say a prayer for you.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thanks for your comments

[Christine S.]

Debby, hope you and yours had a wonderful christmas.  Thanks for the prayers.  If you don't mind me asking what kind of heart problems are you having?  Feel free to email me!

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thank you for using this forum.