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Severe Chest pain relieved by cold water
I hope I got the right Forum for this...
I'm a 51 year old male and for the past 16 months I have had a strange pain happen to me at random times. I call it a "severe flash pain" for lack of a better description. It is located in my chest behind the sternum and slightly to the right (not the heart side). The pain area radiates about the size of a softball and happens very fast with no or little warning. I have even been raised from sleep with this pain. I get it at work, at home, pretty much any time of day. I can’t seem to nail down what triggers the pain like meal time, too much stress, fatty foods, etc. The weird part is this: I get myself to cold water as fast as I can and drink it quickly. Almost as fast as the pain arrived…it goes away. The pain is severe and the rush to find cold water is in panic mode to be sure. I even had to get a cup out of the trash once since there were none around during an attack! I don’t think it’s a heart issue but I just don’t know. I do drink coffee in the mornings, don’t exercise much as I should, but I don’t know if that’s it.
DeBug
I'm a 51 year old male and for the past 16 months I have had a strange pain happen to me at random times. I call it a "severe flash pain" for lack of a better description. It is located in my chest behind the sternum and slightly to the right (not the heart side). The pain area radiates about the size of a softball and happens very fast with no or little warning. I have even been raised from sleep with this pain. I get it at work, at home, pretty much any time of day. I can’t seem to nail down what triggers the pain like meal time, too much stress, fatty foods, etc. The weird part is this: I get myself to cold water as fast as I can and drink it quickly. Almost as fast as the pain arrived…it goes away. The pain is severe and the rush to find cold water is in panic mode to be sure. I even had to get a cup out of the trash once since there were none around during an attack! I don’t think it’s a heart issue but I just don’t know. I do drink coffee in the mornings, don’t exercise much as I should, but I don’t know if that’s it.
DeBug
Hello and Welcome.
I'm sorry that you too have this strange symptom. Debug is no longer active in MedHelp but this old thread has lots of ppl that come and go - all with the same calamity.
Have you consulted a Gastroenterologist? Many of us find this is a GI symptom (sx). At the very least make sure you have a thorough diagnostic work-up to rule out disease.
If you've read this long thread you know my story and the story of many others - some find a diagnosis - others have resigned to live with the sx - something I highly discourage.
Feel free to add more here or Post A Question.
Regards,
~Tuck
I'm sorry that you too have this strange symptom. Debug is no longer active in MedHelp but this old thread has lots of ppl that come and go - all with the same calamity.
Have you consulted a Gastroenterologist? Many of us find this is a GI symptom (sx). At the very least make sure you have a thorough diagnostic work-up to rule out disease.
If you've read this long thread you know my story and the story of many others - some find a diagnosis - others have resigned to live with the sx - something I highly discourage.
Feel free to add more here or Post A Question.
Regards,
~Tuck
Five years ago, the medics thought I was having heart attack because of this pain but everything's fine: I still have the same pain as you and everyone else though. I have been woken by it, been driving, anything and water is the only thing which stops it. I have never found out what it is, the medics don't know. I'm so glad I found this forum because I thought it was just me. I'm now 61 and wish I had a definitive answer.
2 Comments
2 years later, still not much wiser and still getting the pain. Sometimes twice in a week and then nothing for a month or so. I think it's a spasm of some sort, which triggers out of the blue, which is why it can't be diagnosed. The pain is incredible but vanishes instantly with cold water, which presumably 'shocks' the spasm. I've tried not taking water, to see if it will go away on its own: it doesn't. I'm so glad I found this thread, as someone said, it's the only one out there!
Speech marks have turned into code!
Sorry my dear. Neither of the ppl that you have addressed your comments/questions to are active on MedHelp at this time. They have been absent for sometime.
If you read this very old thread carefully you'll find a lot of information. If you have questions of me - feel free to ask.
~Tuck
If you read this very old thread carefully you'll find a lot of information. If you have questions of me - feel free to ask.
~Tuck
To DeBug - thank you soooooo much for starting this chain!
I've been perplexed about these symptoms for years, and no one in my circle can appreciate how terrible it feels, even my doctor.
It literally just have 1 sip of water for me and the pain and discomfort goes away instantly
What's the summary of how to treat this ?
I've been perplexed about these symptoms for years, and no one in my circle can appreciate how terrible it feels, even my doctor.
It literally just have 1 sip of water for me and the pain and discomfort goes away instantly
What's the summary of how to treat this ?
thats interesting.. I have been taking Naproxen once per month for a couple of years.. maybe there is a connection. Have you heard anything on this?
I'm so sorry you are experiencing this strange phenomenon also.
If you've read this long thread - you know it took several physicians and severe episodes before I was DX. It's a long story as I went several years before DX. I'll share with you the details.
During an office visit following several trips to ER for the SX - I consulted my new, astute Internal Medicine Physician - telling her how no one could DX me and I was at the end of my rope. She said I think you have ES. She informed me that the diagnostic "procedure" for ES is Diazepam with Nitroglycerin SL. Diazepam IV is quicker and more effective but it can also be taken PO as than it can be administered at home - as can the Nitro.
She wrote it out on an RX pad and told me to carry it with me in case the episode reoccurred. Indeed it did - and the Internal Med Doc was correct. I have both meds at home and when I feel an attack becoming extreme I take both meds. I've never been to ER since with an ES.
You might want to consider that treatment - chat with your medical provider. It's like a wonder cure for ES.
I hope this helps. Good luck my friend in pain.
Warm Regards,
~Tuck
If you've read this long thread - you know it took several physicians and severe episodes before I was DX. It's a long story as I went several years before DX. I'll share with you the details.
During an office visit following several trips to ER for the SX - I consulted my new, astute Internal Medicine Physician - telling her how no one could DX me and I was at the end of my rope. She said I think you have ES. She informed me that the diagnostic "procedure" for ES is Diazepam with Nitroglycerin SL. Diazepam IV is quicker and more effective but it can also be taken PO as than it can be administered at home - as can the Nitro.
She wrote it out on an RX pad and told me to carry it with me in case the episode reoccurred. Indeed it did - and the Internal Med Doc was correct. I have both meds at home and when I feel an attack becoming extreme I take both meds. I've never been to ER since with an ES.
You might want to consider that treatment - chat with your medical provider. It's like a wonder cure for ES.
I hope this helps. Good luck my friend in pain.
Warm Regards,
~Tuck
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