Need Advice

[bengal lady]

I am a 42 year old female who has been suffering from chest discomfort off and on for about 6 months.  I had a Cardiolite Stress and Echo done last month and they came out normal.  My doctor said it was probably GI.  Went to a GI doctor and had an endoscope done.  He found Barrett's Esophagus.  Placed me on some meds which are Prilosec 3 times a day and Propulsid 4 times a day.  Had to get off of propulsid because of lower abdomen distress.  I am still having the discomfort on Prilosec and the pain makes my lower gums ache. I am worried that maybe they missed something on my cardiac workup because my GI doctor said that he has never heard of Barrett's making a persons gums ache.  A well meaning friend said that she thought maybe I was having angina.  Could this be a possibility and could it have been overlooked on the stress test?  Or can GI symptoms make your gums ache.  I dont know what to think or do now. I was also told that I had a small Hiatel hernia.  I dont have high blood pressure, diabetes ect...  I do not get this pain on exertion.  It just comes and goes no matter what I do.  The other day, it lasted all day long.  Does this sound more GI than cardiac?  Please give me some direction on how to find answers on what is going on with me.  Thank you for your time.

[marie]

I am presently scheduled to be seen by a cardiologist because of an irregular heartbeat discovered after a dizzy spell/vertigo attack sent sent me to a local ER.  I have had 5 of these episodes since Christmas.  The Er doc thinks the dizziness is due to inner ear because i have had a full feeling in my rt ear and also tinnitus.  I was put on a 24 hr halter monitor because while i was in the ER being monitered, i was having  10-15 pvc's per minute as i was resting in the ER.  I got a call from the cardiologist reading the holter results and he told me to get a referral to a cardiologist from my primary doctor (which i have done).  He said he was alarmed by the holter results of much irregularity and palpitations along with my previous dizziness--btw i never felt anything while being monitored.    I have felt irregular beats before but they never concerened me .  I would like to know what i should expect from a cardiac exam.  Are there tests that should be done that are better than others. What is the protocal for this condition.  I sure wish the cardiologist hadn't used the word "alarmed". THANKS

[Mike]

I had the same thing and they found a blockage in the LAD. Put a stint in to open the artery and then I was fine.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Although I've never had a patient with angina complain of gum pain  angina can cause jaw and neck pain.  Heart problems are less likely in a 42 year old woman but still a possiblity.  I would follow-up with your internist to make sure nothing is being missed.