Please help my Dad

[bflomom]

Hello-
  My Dad (athletic 68 y/o) has had severe spasmodic type pain located around his cardiac sphyncter/below sternum since November. (He has had a dx of a hiatal hernia.)  A very well respected GI specialist in the Buffalo area has done an Endoscopy, (showed some stomach inflammation only, no signs of cancer etc)) tried abour 6 different reflux med combos, blood work (all neg), and a negative chest Xray.  My Dad cannot sleep, has lost 14 pounds, and occasionally gets temporary relief when lying on his side. (for about 45 minutes).  His specialist said he "is stumped" and as a different approach, is trying him on Cardizem, as he said his pain does not seem consistent with hialtal hernia type pain. Narcotics do not provide relief.  He does have some anxiety issues and finds a 1/2 of a Clonopin lightens up the pain, but never dissipates it. He did have 2 panic attacks in early December caused by intense pain from a abcessed tooth (which took his dentist 3 weeks to pinpoint) and spinal stenosis (which subsequently he had a laminectomy/foraminotomy for 10 days ago.)  He is wondering if the panic attacks could have done some sort of damage? I'm an OT and not familiar with anything like that.  We are at a loss and it is very hard to see my Dad in such discomfort and depression. Any suggestions/treatment approach would be greatly appreicated!

[sanni]

Hi Just a thought
i have heard many times of people who end up getting their gall bladder out after many years of sudden onset pain They have sought opinions from doctors and all test results can be normal This actually happened to me and a friend
they thought  at first mt firend may be having heart problems It took them 18 months to take it out but no problems since he has

[Sue357]

Hi.  Does your dad take Ibroprofen?  I have acid reflux and a small hiatal hernia.  I take Prevacid ( acid blocker) daily.  The reason I ask is that 2 years ago I have Valley Fever and was taking Ibroprofen daily ( prob. about 1000 mg a day!).  Well, at that time, I was not taking my Prevacid as I should and I developed pain in my chest, just left of my esophagus.  They thought it was due to the VF as I had a very tiny lung nodule in my left lung but felt that the pain was too bad for something that small.  Well several CT scans, chest xrays and even a PET scan, nothing helped.  Finally, I went back to the doc and they had me drink some type of "cocktail" they called it.  I think it had Lidocain in it...anyway, within about an hour, the pain stopped.  I went to my GI, stopped the Ibro and take my Prevacid daily.  Also, I, too, am prone to anxiety and have been diagnosed as a clinical depressive ( first episode at age 9!), so I take .5 mg Klonapin twice a day, which seems to help.