Thanks for your input. I'm sorry that you too suffer with this strange, often undiagnosed condition. I too find this thread interesting. It's taken on a life of it's own. It says something.
You're following the right path with your medical provider. If you've read this link you'll know that I believe there is an answer - there is a reason that ppl develop this symptom.
For those that search - they seems to find a variety of diagnoses. Some ppl never find a DX (diagnosis) - however it's my contention that either something was missed - or more tests should have been done. I went a few years without a DX. Finally one astute Internal Medicine Doc provided me with one. No more fear or cold water for me.
It's my guess that for most this condition originates in the GI track - or structures closely related to it.
Ice water will often make Cardiac SX (symptoms) more pronounced. Some studies report a link between very cold drinks and heart attacks
I encourage everyone to r/o (rule out) the possibility that this has a cardiac origin - even though I have serious doubts. Why risk your life? Our SX, (even though all seem to relieved by cold water) may not all even be the same. I - or you may forget to add a SX - or I may interrupt my body's SX differently that someone else interrupts theirs. We're different.
I'll be very, very interested and am excited to hear your final DX. I'm delighted that you found this thread and that you are sharing your experience and journey.
I wish you well and will watch for further updates.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Well, this is somewhat good news. I am yet another sufferer of this strange illness. I started experiencing this about six weeks ago, the first time was at 4am. So you can imagine, pain in my center leftish part of my chest, never felt anything like it in my life, I am 54 and not in great shape so I am jumping out of bed, first thing I did was grab some water and it went away, took about 45 seconds total between waking and going away. Unlike you smart people, I did not conclude that the water made it stop. 3 days later I get this again, this time the pain goes to my neck and jaw, and felt like a toothache but everything started in my chest. Once again, I went to the kitchen and grabbed some water it goes away, and I am left with this anxiety and weird feeling like "What just happened?" Then it happened a couple times more. I decided doctor time! I still didn't figure out water stopped it, (but always seemed to find some water and it goes away in about 30-45 seconds because of that activity. So I get my heart checked, get x-rays and I get to have a scope check on my throat as well pretty soon. Since my doctor visit, I found that drinking the water was what made this go away. I was driving home for lunch and had an attack of this and realized it was not going away. I hurried to a service station, actually took cuts, and go to buy a water and chugged it before I could pay for it! (People probably thought I was insane) The pain went away instantly. So I get to go back to my doctor pretty soon, and I am going to give them this link, because most of what everyone is saying sounds just like mine. Starts somewhere in my lower chest, then moves into my center chest hurts real bad, radiates to random places, somewhat pulsating at times. It happens standing, sitting, sleeping, full, empty, very random. I will let you know if they figure anything out.
Thanks for sharing your story and diagnosis. I'm delighted you were able to find a resolution to this frustrating condition.
I do believe that, like you and I - many of these ppl have a condition that has been over looked. It may not be what you are I have - but in most instances something is going one.
I wonder how many have had Esophageal pH Monitoring? This is a thin plastic catheter (about a sixteenth of an inch in diameter) that is passed through one nostril, down the back of the throat, and into the esophagus - about two inches above the esophageal sphincter. The tip of the catheter contains a sensor that senses acid. The pH probe send a signal to the recorder usually worn on your belt or waistband.
It's not a comfortable test - but it tells a lot about what is happening in the area for a 24 hour period. It's a great diagnostic tool and can only be placed by a Gastroenterologist.
Again thanks for sharing.
~Tuck
OMG, I am so sorry, you support our theory! I misread your post and cannot apologise enough. Thank you! Blushing here!
Hello,
I hope that you did not read my previous post as me being a supporter of nicotine to relieve the symptoms listed on this post? I just re-read my post and even though it was an adendum to my previous post, I think I made myself clear that I was suggesting that nicotine was a relaxant, like a lot of "over the counter" drugs and should be avoided by anyone with 'our' symptoms! I want to make it very clear, MUSCLE RELAXANTS might be adding to this problem, including NICOTINE. By the way, I also think that smoking is just asking for trouble in the first place?
Aus
Hi, I have watched the list growing larger with this awful problem and the difficulties of finding the cause. I started to suffer from this 9 years ago, the first attack was 4 days after major surgery for spinal fusion, I was rushed back into hospital as they thought it was a blood clot, thankfully it wasn't and was sent home with pain killers. I thought it was a one off but it kept coming back so they checked to see if it was related to the surgery possible damage to nerves but all was fine. So to cut a long story short and 9 years later. I moved to the UAE to work three years ago. I had a few attacks grabbed the water and everything was OK, then suddenly they increased to every day.I was very lucky that I was given the name of this gastroenterologist. He carried out very test possible he stated that everything was fine except my stomach showed signs of acid damage tissue, he took samples to rule out H pyrio bug this was negative, so then asked did I get heart burn which I did occasionally. So he carried some further tests this showed that during the night I was getting severe silent reflux which I slept through so didn't know. It was after this that I had the attacks. From this he explained that I needed to try different combinations of Ppi to see which were effective with a herbal solution which is produced by the human body called melatonin. This is produced in the brain and controls your sleep patterns, but also it's Produced in you gut and helps protect your mucosa lining. He explained that as you get older the melatonin reduces that's why older people seem to sleep less and in you gut it can stop altogether. I am 56 so he put me on a Ppi at night along with 3 mg of melatonin. The results were that after one year the attacks have stopped, also what melation in does is relax the muscle around your esophagus sphincter and stops the acid entering your food pipe. Now I'm not saying this is the answer for everyone but it's worth checking out with your doctor to check the melatonin level in your gut, also check out this melatonin on Google some very interesting facts. Now I do not take Ppi just occasionally melatonin I have no silent reflux my endoscopy showe'd that the lining was in tact no signs of reflux damage at all and that my levels of melatonin was constantly stable this will be monitored now every 12 months. Like I say and empathise this worked for me not saying it's a miracle cure, but I found a great doctor in the UAE who tested every possible angle to get to this. Good luck.