Having symptoms and Do not know what it could be

[mycademan]

I started having symptoms of chest pain, loss of appetite, left arm pain and stomach pain went to the ER and diagnosed me with acid reflux. My symptoms went away and came back stronger my chest was hurting so bad so I went back to the ER and this time they said I had anxiety so they gave me xanex and my symptoms got a little better but then all of a sudden I got real sick again I could not even get out of bed my back, chest and under arm and left rib cage was hurting so bad my blood pressure was up so I went back to the hospital because I have no insurance and this time they said I had a urinary tract infection and called my chest pain a typical chest pain. So here I am almost a month and a half later and after 4 ekgs and 1 cat scan of my lungs with contrast and contrast of my stomach and still no answers except for I have a small hernia in my stomach. My pain comes and goes but my short of breath is a constant thing day after day I still have stomach pain and I take prilosec for any kind of acid reflux I might have I was wondering if anybody has had any of these symptoms or any clues to what this may be thanks for reading


This discussion is related to Shortness of breath, chest pains, back, list goes on....

[NT77]

I too have/had all of the symptoms you describe + many more. Migrating pains in the chest - between the ribs, right shoulder pain which radiated into neck, everyday acid reflux, bloating and unable to burp, chronic cough, lump in throat, list goes on... Never had loss of appetite tho.

This has been going on for years, but the last one completely freaked me out: inability to fully yawn, and constant urge to do so. Very unpleasant and scary.

Now it looks silly and ridiculous, but I seriously believed I possibly have hiatus hernia, or lung cancer, or pneumothorax, or a swollen spleen... you name it. Was becoming a hypohondriac...

As it turns out, I'm allergic to gluten, and it's been 35 days since I'm off it. Acid reflux completely disappeared next day, chest and rib pains within 10 days. Inability to fully yawn is still here, but less frequent. Burping too. I've noticed yawning always comes after burping, and burping comes after drinking coffee or eating fresh salad. I'm pretty sure it's all connected somehow. I'll wait one more month and if the burping doesnt go away, I'll stop eating carbohydrates for 10 days. Guess it just takes time for the body to repair itself, after it's been damaged for so many years

[Red_Star]

My mother had all of your symptoms (and many more) due to taking an acid blocker (nexium) for her severe GERD and severe LPR.  A simple test (see below) showed she had severely low stomach acid (high acid is not common as stomach acid lowers with age!). Her symptoms went away including the GERD and LPR) when she changed to betaine HCI with pepsin supplements (increases stomach acid) and digestive enzyme supplements (helps with digestion).

Try the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder) test...

The following steps help to determine your stomach's acidity:

1. Perform this test first thing in the morning on an empty stomach (before
eating or drinking)

2. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of baking soda into an 8 oz glass of cold water

3. Drink the solution and start timing

4. Record the time until you first burp up gas

5. Perform this test for 5 consecutive days (or longer) at the same time each day to give a better estimation of your stomach’s acidity

Time until first burp:

If you burp immediately and excessively your stomach acid level is probably too high

Under 2 min: indicates normal acidity

2 - 5 min: low normal acidity

Over 5 min: possible hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid)

No burping indicates possible achlorhydria (no stomach acid).

[bonijokrauss]

I have been having these types of symptoms for year. I have been through every medical test there is to go through, and I have given up. If you tell someone what is happening, they say, better go to the Dr. It could be your heart. Drs say it isn't. I have chest pain, that can be anywhere and it can shoot from one side to the other. I have under arm pain. I have arm pain that can mild to irritating and can be in my elbow or go down to my hand. I have back pain that can wonder and range from a dull ache to sharp stabbing. I have neck pain, mostly on the left, that can be achy or sharp that can radiate into my throat.  I too have acid reflux and after reading the first response, I am going to go gluten free for a while and see what happens. I can tell you that my digestive tract doesn't work properly sometimes and when I eat, my stomach will bloat and I can't burp or anything. That gets really painful and I have allot of chest and back discomfort when that happens. It happened yesterday after I ate chicken pasta salad. (gluten) However, it doesn't happen every time I eat a gluten product, but it certainly is miserable. I know that when I get sick to my stomach, or have stomach upset and pain, I tend to tense up and I'm sure that makes the other pain (chest, arm, etc) worse. Might be a vicious circle. But, I relate to your pain, and I hope you find answers and relief. If you do, please let me know. I have never found a solution. Thanks and God Bless

[NT77]

Acid reflux is caused by gluten. If you stop with Prilosec and go completely gluten-free there will be no more acid reflux.

I suspect chest and rib pain will gradually go away too, but reflux will go away the very next day.