Heart vs Barrett's

[rosied51]

I have been diagnosed with Barrett's a few yrs ago but within the last few months I have been dealing with severe chest pressure, could this be linked to Barrett's? I had a echo test done and it came back okay but constantly daily chest pressure.

[maggiemag]

You don't say if you are being treated for the Barretts.  How old are you and do you have any other medical conditions?  Are you getting regular endoscopies done, like every year?  Barretts is an esophageal condition, not heart.  Reflux can mimic angina though.  Was it a stress echo or just a regular one/

[rosied51]

I am currently taking protonix, I am 56 and yes I have other medical issues like being borderline diabetic. It was a stress echo test. I am having alot of chest pressure for sometime now.It was a year ago that Barretts was diagnosed.

[kitlyn]

HYa maggie:
Let me share my husband s story , never was he sick  i was the one w reflux, he had sudden chest pain w burning stabbing pains in chest and stomach, The hosptialized hima did a scope, he has barretts esophagus and no dyslplasia, but he continues even in the protonix to ahve the discomfort , although the irritation is better, now., He has tried to stop the coffe, and not smoke cigars. he does smoke still some what.Chest pressure can mean other things too though besides the stomach, to make sure although my husband has no history of heart trouble , they did the heart cath to be sure it wasnlt his heart altthough his endoscopy for stomach had issues. Heart cath is not given to all, but you need to tell your dr, about the chest pressure, to be safe, i am not a dr a patient here. My husband s arteries were all clear.. But its all scary when it comes to chest pain, take care, K

[shell1925]

I too have extreme chest pressure, had testing done to rule out heart.  I have a hiatal hernia w/GERD and esophageal ulcers (but not Barrett's).  I am taking Protonix 20 mg 2x a day and lately it has not been helping.  My pain also goes into my left arm, shoulder and neck which sent me to the ER about 6 weeks ago.  After normal cardiac testing they sent me home.  I have not had a heart cath done and they won't unless more GI testing comes back negative.

I am scheduled for another endoscopy on May 27 and I am also have a 24 pH monitoring done next week.  Both cardio and GI doc think this may have developed into esophageal spasms which can definetly mimic a heart attack.  As far as the arm goes they think it is just a coincidence that it is causing me pain because they discomfort is almost there 24/7 and if it was either heart or GI related the discomfort whould have eventually subsided.  

I hopes this helps and good luck to you!

Shell