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Avatar universal

chest, shoulder, and arm pain; light headed/dizzy, and extremely tired after eating most meals

My husband CONSTANTLY has lots of disomfort and pain after eating most meals, especially if he has to go up or down any stairs, this has been going on for over 5 years.  The pain goes through his chest, across his shoulders and down his arms. He gets light headed and/or dizzy; his breathing is labored; he must lay down and is usually very tired/exhuasted - many times he will sleep for 3 or 4 hours.  

He is a heart patient and also has controlled diabetes (non-insulin).  He has had 2 heart attacks, 11 angiograms, 4 angioplasties, and 5 stents placed in his LAD & 2D in the past 30 months. His 2nd heart attack occurred during surgery on his shoulder.  2 of his stents were 100% blocked with blood clots. We are told it was brought on by having been off his medication for a week prior to having surgery).

So he is always seeing and being monitored by either his cardiologist or our GP.  But neither doctor feel that the problems he is having after eating has anything to do with his heart. But they can not explain why it happens either.   Any hints as to why this happening or what he can do to prevent it would be greatly appreciated.
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Avatar universal
Ditto.  I went to the ER as well about 2 weeks ago, with the same symptoms. It was really scary! They did an EKG, chest x-ray, blood work, and urinalysis, and everything came back normal, except for a very slightly higher count in white blood cells (but this was the same as the last time my blood was tested, so they think it's normal for me). They gave me an IV drip of saline and had me drink potassium, and I felt much better, so I chalked it up to maybe just dehydration. Well, I went on vacation to Hawaii this last week, and two days into the trip, it happened again. Was on my way to the ER when I threw up and suddenly felt fine, like all the symptoms had just disappeared. So I went home and slept. Now for the whole past week, though nothing has been anywhere close to those two times, I've felt weak, and a tightness in my chest like I'm just not getting as much air as I do normally. I've been feeling pretty nauseous too, like the idea of food is just gross, but I try to keep my stomach full at least with normal meals or breakfast shakes (and no, I'm not pregnant...that's the first thing they checked). I'm tired of feeling so weak and on the verge of passing out all the time! I'm only 24. Any ideas or updates?
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385286 tn?1200087919
hey. this has been happening to me every day for the past 7 days. do you have any idea ? have you found anything yet?
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Avatar universal
I admitted myself to the ER last Thursday because I wasn't feeling well. My heart was racing, I was shaking, felt light headed, like I was going to pass out. The EKG came back normal, the blood work came back normal. They gave me ateral for anxiety. But I still have a heavy chest and sometimes feel lightheaded and funny. The nurse said that nothing shows signs of anything wrong but if this continues into next week, to call back. I just feel like something is wrong but cant figure out what.
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Avatar universal
I am not an MD..but my gut feeling (and some knowledge of anatomy) is that this is related to his heart.  It sounds like after he eats, blood is being diverted from his head (hence lightheadness/dizzy) but also his chest & heart (angina like pains) After a person eats- blood is mostly needed in the gut to help digest the food, so I can understand a heart patient experiencing problems after a meal - especially a heavy meal. It is also work to digest all that food, so your heart beats faster and works harder.  Tell your husband to eat small meals and not do any exertion after eating. It's probably not a good idea to have coffee with meals because of the extra stimulation of caffeine.  I'm sorry thats all the input I can give you. You might want to try asking the cardiologist this question in the cardiology forum for a professional opinion. Good luck and I hope your husband feels better.
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