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213398 tn?1202670474

Pain in center left of chest

Does anyone know what this is. woke up this afternoon. Pain in the center left of chest. it is not constant. it lasts a second. like stab. stop . stab . stop. stab stop.   happens like 3 times. lasts a second each. then gone. then few minutes later happens again. it seems to happen with a deep breath or a belch perhaps. does this sound cardiac in nature?
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10947 tn?1281404252
Enough of this argument please. This stopped being medical in nature a long time ago. If it continues we will need to delete the full post which we'd rather not do.

Everyone has a right to post in the forums but keep a few rules in mind:

- The forum is meant for Heart related issues, please try to stay on topic.
- If you don't like what someone is posting, do not feel compelled to "help" them by posting to them. It only fuels these kind of arguments. Simply ignore the post.
- Personal attacks will not be tolerated. People are here to receive help and not be attacked.

Thank you for cooperating.

MedHelp
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213398 tn?1202670474
i'll repeat this again to others besides maggie that have been less then friendly to me. its simple this is my post if you do not like it. then do not read it nor leave messages here or any other post that i make. i don't come into yours and harass you i expect the same courtesy. thank you!
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213398 tn?1202670474
i'm really sorry to hear about your story . sounds like you've been through a lot. how is your heart now? i'm guessing its better and in good health now? what about the gerd will it go away ? and yeah i'm not saying i'm in the same boat as you, because it turns out that i probably don't have a heart problem other than pvcs which are very common and being slightly at higher risk for high cholestrol and stuff, but i most likely have hiatal and gerd according to my doc. i hear ya on the brush of thing with most docs especially ER . lets chalk everything up to anxiety and sell those happy pills. thats what it comes down to it seems. i believe it is our health and we know our bodies better than anyone and as i've heard from a few people you need to push in getting the testing and treatment you need otherwise no one else will. Your case is a perfect example. again i'm not comparing myself to you my problem is minor compared to yours sorry to say but either way i know i just don't suffer from anxiety alone. i wouldnt be spitting up acid after every meal if it were just anxiety. and feeling constant pain in my chest. anyway i really hope you feel better real soon. how old are you anyway? and as far as stress goes to deal with this stuff have you considered learning breathing exercises and relaxation tapes and such ? i just started breathing exercises and they seem to be working we'll see .
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213398 tn?1202670474
i thought this forum was designed to get support from people. not harrasment. some people are very supportive here can't say that for everyone here though.
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213398 tn?1202670474
ok seriously this is out of hand now!! one more comment from you in my posts  . especially like that one and i will report you for harrasment to the moderators. can you seriously just stop writing me or writing in regard to my post. what is wrong with you ? seriously ? do you have some sort of brain damage? ! as a matter of fact forget it not even one more i am reporting you to mods and i hope they kick you out
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Avatar universal
I know you mean well, but you aren't aware of how serious this guy's OBSESSION is !  One thing he doesn't need is reinforcement that he does have a heart problem.  Your story is sad and I am sure glad you found out what the real problem is, but Michael's is NOT CARDIAC, and may not be GI either, but certainly is mental.  Look at the 2 posts above yours.
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Avatar universal
Pretty interesting stuff here! I just came to this site today by searching something online that was heart related.

A little about my history, which I find very funny.  All my problems, have been somewhat noted on this little section of this forum.

1) I recently had open heart surgery December 1, 2006.  So I do qualify to be on this site.  I was born with congenital heart disease, Aortic Stenosis.  Well, last year, due to the extra strain on my heart over the years, I developed an anuerysm in my aorta.  I was on vacation and was lagging along.  I was getting chest pain, and a tightness in my chest.  My lungs hurt from trouble breathing.  My mom called the ambulance and I was rushed in to the nearest hospital.  My anuerysm was ready to rupture!  They referred me to see my cardiologist immediately.  The next day I called my cardiologist and scheduled an appointment that was a couple days later.  I called my best friend who is an RN and knows alot about the cardiology field.  She said to me, "I am flying up to see you and go with you!"  I asked why!  She said because there are to many mis diagnosis by doctors with miscommunication.  We don't always hear them right , and  they most certainly don't hear us right all the time.  She flew down.  We went in for my appointment.  The Doctor comes in and sits down and starts talking to me.  My girlfriend is listening very carefully.  He asked what was going on.  I told him the chest pain, breathing, blah blah..............He asked about stress in my life at the current moment because he knows that I suffer from anxiety, and GERD and hiatal hernia!  
He tells me that he believes that my anxiety and acid reflux are what is bothering me.  So in my head I am thinking that the ER screwed up, because that is not the first time to hear that.  ER's tend to misdiagnos things and put extra severity into things, because they just want you to follow up with your doctor.  So I am sitting there with him, assuming he has looked at the results the hospital sent to him, and that everything is fine.  Well, my best friend stood up, and said HOLD ON!  She looks at the doctor and said, "I am going to guess that you have not even looked at the test results from the hospital."  The doctor said,"What test results!"  She said, "the ones that are probably at the front desk."  We are here for a follow up, because her aneurysm has expanded immensely.  He looked kinda confused and left the room.  He comes back and said, "we have to do the echo".  He runs the tests and and after said, "I need the day to carefully review everything."  I was very nervous leaving there without knowing what was going on and to know that if my best friend wasn't their, I would have been that sucker that leaves and dead in a week.  The doctor calls me up at 6pm that night and said your anuerysm is ready to rupture.  He said, we need to put you on Beta Blockers and prep you for surgery.  (Great story huh)  

Now, about anxiety.  3 Years prior to my surgery, I developed panic attacks and general anxiety disorder.  I experienced that for three years.  I have to agree with Michael on the issue that just because you have anxiety it does not mean that something else is not wrong.  I know that for sure.  My anxiety started because I was getting pain in my chest and due to my condition it worried me.  My doctor was quite new, as I had recently moved to Massachussettes.  Without even knowing much about me diagnosed me with anxiety and put me on xanax.  An addictive drug.  Not a good thing, because I was an alchoholic and my doctor knew that.  Bad withdrawals without it.  So now he puts me on a very addictive drug.  Well, time goes on, my anxiety gets worse, my chest pain is still there and my doctor would not treat me for anything else.  I was a wreck, because now I needed this drug to get by in my day.  Did I go to other doctors, yes.  But, I found similiar responses.  It's your anxiety.   Crappy situation!  I have been there.  So I got addicted to these drugs, couldn't get off them, was drinking immensely....and still had the chest pain and worried it was my heart because I had no answers.  I did visit my cardioligist a few times, and I had some minor changes, but he said nothing that would cause what I am feeling.  Well, I looked online and did some research, and found that GERD was a condition that explained a good amount of my symptoms that I was feeling.  My next appointment into my doctor, I demanded that he test me for that.  So he did.  I had an upper GI, and the results were, GERD and a hiatal hernia.  When you have a haital hernia on top of GERD, it makes it  harder to handle, because it triples the effects and discomfort.  Is a haital hernia dangerous.  Not really!  Not unless it becomes huge.  In that case, it can suffocate you.  Is that likely and happen often.  No it doesn't.  

So I became a mess, because my doctor treated me for something that he wasn't really sure about.  I had chest pain from the GERD, and hiatal hernia, and he just thought it was anxiety.   And what anxiety I did have was my withdrawal symptoms from coming off of alcohol and needing a drink.  It was a vicious cycle.  Did I know that at the time.  Nope!  Not until years later, I got myself on the right track and said WOW.  So Doctors screw up all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last thing!  I am still an alcoholic (nothing like I use to be) but I will always see myself as I was years ago until I quit. If your smart enough, the point should be well taken.





  
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213398 tn?1202670474
all i have to say is WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                             lol
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213398 tn?1202670474
all i have to say is WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                             lol
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Avatar universal
I mentioned it here because there are a variety of boards I read and post on. (So sorry but yours isn't one of them. I know that you wish it was but you guys just aren't that important to me. I checked that board once a few months ago to see if my guts feelings were accurate and they were. That was all I needed to know. Everything else was easy. The personas easy to pick out.I didn't need to check anything else. I knew that my gut was right. I also posted there for the last time to let you know exactly how I felt about what you all were doing.So it is difficult to understand how you could be confused about my feelings or actions.I was on that board for a few years before the change. So I know that you all feel the same things emtionally that the people on this board do. You ask the same type of questions and have the same type of fears when your hearts' act up but it is all right for all of you. While you act that the people here are whiney and whatever you call them. Yes, that makes me feel indignant and angry.The people here are working through their issues the same way you all on the other board work through your issues.)

So what is my deal with Micheal? I feel that Michael is yanking everybodys' chain. I don't like it. He has been checked out and he has gotten good advice but appears to blow it off. Then asks questions about if he is doomed because he was in a rotten relationship. Talk about FATALISM. Get off it; take control of what you can and start making some good decisions in life. Change the course of your life if what you are doing now is detrimental.

And if I read on one board that he is down to only 5 cigarettes a day and on another one that he calls himself a heavy smoker and these posts are only days apart, I AM going to call him on it. The same way that I would a friend who I see smashed in a bar who has just told me that they are in AA and on the band wagon. I'm not going to pat that person on the back and ask him/her if I can buy the next round.

Now V...be real. The only problem you have with this is that you don't like me. You don't really care about Michael or his struggles. You want an arguement with me. Sorry...but not interested. I am interested in Michael honestly accessing his situation and constructively dealing with his problems...ALL of them, including the anxiety issues which will not simply vanish because you choose to ignore them. Anxiety produces REAL physical symptoms . Both need to be addressed!
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Avatar universal
Over all I think this is an educational tread,  It is a very interesting fascinating way to learn what else can cause heart damage look a like symptoms  when those who went trough on it are telling their stories. Thanks for those who did and I know as I said before Michael will be there one day, but he is still in the process.
Like some people drop the cigarette in a heartbeat, others need a year or more to quit it.
We all have some denial in us, that can be very different. One thinks I am well when not, the other end would think the opposite, this is why these boards are here; to learn from everything.

Tarhel, thanks for the note, same good wishes to you !:)

..When my son was quitting from a pack a day, he said : Don’t tell me , I know I have to and I don’t do it because I've told by you,(thousand times) but because: I want to !!
That is a very important statement; it was for me to learn: pushing somebody to quit anything is not helpful. Ignoring yes, but not pushing.
Quitting always must be an individual decision what ever needs to be quit on! Reading some of you I feel the person who I was in the past. But hey, we are all different and changing, this is why life is interesting.:)

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Avatar universal
Congratulation on your improvement !!!! Thanks for your kind words I almost felt I am some smart person! :)
But Maggie’s last post was the smartest.
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Avatar universal
If anybody knows you sure do right Diana?
Is it your second nature? I would give up on something just to know who you really are. An ID here maybe, a picture or some info, you are making me nervous just to know you are reading still all what I post on an other board. I hate that kind of 'stalking' too, you read other boards and come here to say. Why? At least we are all friends on the old place, I need to salve your hate on us, just don't understand why? It doesn’t make any sense especially because J. said to me he is NOT you! I’ve chose to believe him!  I could of understand if he was playing you, but you must be a real person: a women. I am confused, and that is very rare occasion for me.

And about Michael, what different does it make if he said he *is* not *was.*
Tell me if I am not correct but as I know an alcoholic would say even when quit drinking that he is an alcoholic, until a while.
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Avatar universal
Of course...such a mature, intelligent person as yourself...sure.....lol! Learn the meaning of open foums.
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213398 tn?1202670474
correction . was a heavy smoker. what are you stalking me?
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Avatar universal
You told the people over on the anxiety forum just 3 days ago (10/14/07)that you were a heavy smoker. Which is true? Are you still a heavy smoker or 90% done with cigs.?
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213398 tn?1202670474
very interesting about the refering pain. thanks for the link Deedle
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213398 tn?1202670474
hey thanks for the advice but i'm not really not talking about the heart anymore. just talking to people. and not sure if you noticed but i noted that i'm 90% done with cigs. thank you
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Avatar universal
Michael please trust your doctors when they advise your heart is fine.To keep posting in this forum regarding your so called heart issues will only exacerbate your anxiety which is what may be your real issue.My father and uncles both suffered major heart attacks all related to SMOKING.My dad survived after a stent and 15 yrs later he is doing well at 79yrs old.He HAS a heart issue but he doesnt let it get to him.You dont have one and your still worried.This is not intended as an insult as anxiety can in itself be a major problem.Get off this heart health obsession because it may lead to more and more severe forms of anxiety.This will only make your situation worse.The mind-body relationship is enormous with people making themselves sick worrying And in the long run may create heart issues for you.And please stop smoking!
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Avatar universal
It's called 'referred pain' when you feel the pain somewhere other than the source of the pain. Check out this link for an explanation of how stomach problems can cause pain in shoulder.
http://anatomynotes.blogspot.com/2006/10/referred-pain.html
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213398 tn?1202670474
no i've got an appointment for endo. thanks about quitting smoking. i'm almost there down to like 5 cigs a day from about 30 a day. that is so weird i still don't understand how the stomach can make cardiac symtoms like pains in shoulders by armits and sometimes down the arms. i can see why cardio would make those symptoms but why the stomach. weird
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213398 tn?1202670474
wow it sounds very complicated. do you think there is any chance of homeopathic remedies that can help reverse it? any idea what caused it to begin with ? you really need to get checked up. forget the $$ . its your health
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Avatar universal
No, I didn't have a hiatal hernia.They knew I had acid reflux, just kept trying to treat it with medication. They tried every medication they had available, just nothing worked. And yes it can feel like heart problems. Chest pain, arm pain, etc. My reflux was so bad the valve between my esophagus and stomach was totally open. Tried all the things like raising head of bed on blocks, sleeping propped up on pillows, etc. To rebuild the valve, they pull up your stomach and wrap it around your esophagus, creating a tight seal to stop the acid from going into my esophagus. It had already started to errod. Supossed to have an endoscopy every year to check to see if there are any changes to the cells. It had already had some pre-cancerous changes. Unfortunately I haven't had that done since the surgery. I know, dumb me, but it is a procedure that costs around $2,000., and I can't afford it. And yes, the not being able to vomit is dangerous. I had a discectomy and neck fusion in June, and they injected morphine for pain after surgery. I started retching so badly in about 2 minutes, they had to keep injecting me with anti-vomiting stuff all the rest of day, and spent night in hospital. They were worried about me rupturing the fusion they had just done. For a year after the stomach surgery I kept anti-emetics on hand to prevent voimiting. It can rupture the new valve. I still keep stuff on hand. When I try to vomit, sometimes it feels like I'm going to rupture my stomcah. It has happened to other people. Necessitating another stomach surgery. Mine was called a Laparascopin Nessan Fundiplication. It's not fun. You need to see a gastro-enterologist. Good luck. Treatment is important, as GERD can lead to other issues.
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213398 tn?1202670474
did you have just GERD or hiatal hernia too? did it give you cardiac symptoms as some people describe? pvcs? why can't you vomit? isnt that dangerous? i mean if you get food poisoning or flu and can't vomit? what happens then? why did it take so long to diagnose? sounds like me a little bit.
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