Need help...

[Christine]

Hi, I am 31 years old and overweight but losing.  I have been diagonised with GERD, and an hiatal hernia.  The only thing is that I have chest pain with it.  I have a couple of ekgs abnormal but my stress test and echo was okay.  I was also told that I have costochondritis.  Does the above conditions cause your heart rate to go up and down, went to er and heart rate was 114, 82, 52, 77, 86,111ect?  I am just wondering if your stomach can cause your heart rate to flucuate like this thanks so much
I also have to go to the bathroom when I get chest pain, at times it "(the pain)is sharp sometimes dull, sometimes squeezing.  Into shoulder and back and left arm thanks again.

[Kurt]

Ive been on propulcid and prilosic for over a year.Reflux,I
   can handle. I fighting with the,halitosis.Brought on by the
   reflux,any Ideas? Its running me nuts.The worst of it is Iam
   not aware,of the problem unless,someone informs me....
     Thanks.

[sue]

Hi: Sounds like I have The same Problem many of you people suffer with Gerd and Hiatal Hernia. My doctor said mine is also motility . I'm on propulsid 20mg 4 times a day. I am thinking about stopping propulsid since the F.D.A report came out monday.I was on 10 mg 4times a day but that was doing no good. But since I'm on the 20 mg things are moving better. My Doctor thinks the propulsid is very save if used correctly. I'm going next week for a EKG. I have been told Regan is not nearly as good as propulsid. Does anyone know of anything else that might work. My Doctor is not very helpful, because he said there is nothing else to offer me. The only thing I can eat without Regurgitating is toast. He said surgery would make things worse. I had the scope done in December. I can not figure out why my food comes back up I'm talking after 10 hours my food still comes back up undigested. Water will not even stay down. Any one with any advice please help me. IS PROPULSID SAFE IF A PERSON HAS NO HEART PROBLEMS.

[sue]

Hi: Sounds like I have The same Problem many of you people suffer with Gerd and Hiatal Hernia. My doctor said mine is also motility . I'm on propulsid 20mg 4 times a day. I am thinking about stopping propulsid since the F.D.A report came out monday.I was on 10 mg 4times a day but that was doing no good. But since I'm on the 20 mg things are moving better. My Doctor thinks the propulsid is very save if used correctly. I'm going next week for a EKG. I have been told Regan is not nearly as good as propulsid. Does anyone know of anything else that might work. My Doctor is not very helpful, because he said there is nothing else to offer me. The only thing I can eat without Regurgitating is toast. He said surgery would make things worse. I had the scope done in December. I can not figure out why my food comes back up I'm talking after 10 hours my food still comes back up undigested. Water will not even stay down. Any one with any advice please help me. IS PROPULSID SAFE IF A PERSON HAS NO HEART PROBLEMS.                    
                                        Sue

[dottie]

I just found this forum last night and find it very sad that so many people are suffering and can't be diagnosed. After 6 years of this I believe it is a syndrome, not a disease and that is what makes it so difficult to diagnose. There isn't a symptom listed that I don't or haven't had - left arm pain and numbness, excessive belching, pain below the sternum and to the left, numbness in lower right leg, abdominal pressure, high blood pressure during what I now call 'spells', a husband I'm driving nuts, trips to the ER, constant ringing in my ears (usually indicates by BP is on the rise) and anxiety attacks - to mention a few. I've even had gout and shingles. I've had every test in the book including an angiogram, endoscopy, stress tests, MRI's, complete blood and urine tests - all inconclusive. The only absolute is that I am now hypoglycemic - the result of the fight or flight theory. My former cardiologist prescribed Carafate and it worked well - for awhile. I won't take Reglan or most of the other drugs because of the side effects and I think they just address the symptom but not the problem. I then went the herbal route taking Digestaway and charcoal - both of which helped tremendously but didn't elimate the problem as I'm just coming off another spell. I had 6 good weeks though and will continue with the herbs and be more aware of the stress factor. I think it's the key so I'm going to start taking kava kava again - don't know why I stopped. I guess I just felt better.

[patricia WALKER]

FOUR WEEKS AGO 12/25/99 I HAD LAPROSCOPIC SURGERY FOR HERNIA REPAIR AND ACID REFLUX DESEASE.  I HAVE NOT TAKEM A PREVICID
(MEDICATION FOR REFLUX AND INDEJESTION) HAVE NOT HAD HEARTBURN OR REFLUX SINCE SURGERY.  IT INVOLVES REPAIRING THE HERNIA AND WRAPPING THE STOMACH AROUND THE ESOPHAGUS.  THIS PREVENTS THE REFLUX.  I STILL HAVE SOME GAS, BUT HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT IT WILL GO AWAY IN 6 TO 8 WEEKS.  IT WAS HARD TO SWALLOW AT FIRST BUT NOW I EAT ANYTHING I WANT AND DON'T GET HEARTBURN. I CAN ALSO SWALLOW BETTER NOW.I FEEL BLOATED MOST OF THE TIME AND MY DOCTOR ASSURED ME THAT THAT TOO WILL PASS. IT IS WONDERFUL NOT TO HAVE HEARTBURN WHICH I WOULD GET FROM ANY AND ALL FOOD.THE PROCEDURE INVOLVED 4 SMALL CUTS. I WILL WRITE AGAIN AT THE END OF THE 8 WEEKS AND LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BLOATING AND GAS. TO ME THE SURGERY WAS UNCOMFORTABLE BUT WORTH IT.

[Annette]

I can relate to SO many of you.  The middle of the chest pain, reflux, belching, left arm and shoulder pain, back pain.  All with no answers either.  Been to the ER, have had EKG done, stress test, Zantac and other meds, and then was told I had gallstones.  Had the gallbladder removed 4 months ago and when asked to see the gallstones, was told there weren't any!  Just sand particles.  I actually have had more back/arm/chest pain since the surgery than before tho I was told it would CERTAINLY take care of much of my pain.  Its been a rollercoaster ride.  Along with the daily, unpredictable pain has come the depression and anxiety of not knowing what is happening.  Its been 4 years of drs, tests, worry, and no answers.  Its taken its toll on my spouse and children.  I would like some herbal/natural suggestions since I have tried so many meds and most have negative side effects.  Now I have been told I have a pinched nerve and scoliosis (which I knew about but was not a problem).  Can a pinched nerve cause this much trouble?  Can stress cause that much havoc?  Is it GERD?  I had the endoscopy and was told it was normal.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.