Strange chest sensations as part of IBS

Hi all,

   I have IBS-D, which is wonderfully controlled with calcium.  I have a question for you.  I have never had pain from IBS.  What is the absolute worst symptom for me besides incredible bloating is constant chest sensations that feel like there must be a small animal living in my chest!  For a long time, I thought it was irregular heartbeats, but it's not.  It's the sensation of rapid pressure changes in my chest.   Maybe it's gas that presses on my intestines, which press on my diaphragm, which presses on my heart, and then it suddenly  moves, and changes the pressure feeling??  It's a VERY uncomfortable feeling.   Have any of you experienced this?   These symptoms are also controlled with 1200mg of calcium a day, but if I skip one dose, those feelings return.    I haven't talked to anyone who has had this symptom, and it makes me wonder what's really going on!  When I'm not using the calcium, it actually takes my breath away.  Any ideas?  Hopefully it isn't really a small animal in there!   Thanks.

Hi

I have some chest pain for almost 2 months and I am suffering from IBS C. 2 months ago when this symptoms started I was not sure what it really is so I went to a cardiologist and did all the check ups like echocardiogram, stress test, carotid duplex, holter monitor and some blood work, the only thing they found was a very mild aortic insufficiency which my doc says it has nothing to do with your chest pain cause it is very mild to cause the pain and he thinks that the pain is coming from the stress, he sent me home with some antidepressant. after taking those for 14 days I still have pain in my chest, not only pain but also sometimes it is pressure mostly on my left side under and above the left breast and somtimes in the middle of my chest. now I realized that when I have this pain I also have some spasms lower from my chest around stomach area which moves all around my abdomin and it reaches to my chest area. that's why I think all these pains and pressures which I tolerated for 2 months are coming from my IBS. so I have appointment with my cardiologist in two weeks and I want to tell him about my new discovery. hopefully he confirms that this  pain is because of IBS not because of any serious heart problmes.

Cathy -

Is the funny feeling in the centre of your chest, in the middle of the breast bone? And is it a strange, almost fluttery sensation? If so, I think I might have the same thing. I also suffer from IBS.

Cathy -

That sounds like what I've got. I can feel something 'moving' when I breathe. It seems worse when I lie down.

This is the second time I've had this now - the first time I tried to relieve it by burping, like you said. It did seem to make it feel a little better, but it didn't get rid of it entirely.

 

Hi Filmguy,

   One night after going to bed, I was having alot of fullness in my chest (from my GI tract), and was having alot of irregular heartbeats.  I finally changed from laying on my left side to my right side, and they all went away!   My cardiologist has said that some people only have their irregular heartbeats in certain positions. 

Hello CathyA,

Yes, I have found that changing position can reduce the irregular beats. I also have periods where about every 5th beat is slightly delayed and then harder than normal. Use of caffeine or decongestants makes this worse. I've found that if I get more exercise that this funny fifth beat goes away or at least is not noticable.

Good luck with the tests.

While I don't have solid evidence of it, it also seems that my blood pressure goes up during IB episodes, but I have only tested my blood pressure a few times during an episode. Has anyone else noticed this?

Your right 7Lil, stress would account for some increase but even when I'm not feeling stressed, at home relaxing, my pressure can be up 10-20 points during a bout. My feeling is that it may be the result of increased adominal pressure pressing against the heart, thoracic aorta, or inferior vena cava. Just a guess. Has anyone else tested their blood pressure during a IB bout?

 

Post Edited (filmguy) : 5/16/2005 2:36:35 PM (GMT-6)

Sarita -

I've been doing similar things to make me feel better, like jumping or jogging on the spot. You do look a bit silly when you're in the supermarket though...

I think it's my body's way of making me do more exercise.

Do you know why you get them and why you've had them so long?

Hi Nikki,
I'm wondering how old you are? The reason I ask is I know of several women who, when they start going through menopause (and that can be from late 30's on), start feeling weird chest/esophogus/neck sensations. Lots of things can be heriditary, so I wouldn't be surprised if you "inherited" it from your mom.
I definitely go through spells of this, and I'm pretty sure it's connected to my hormones. (as are panic attacks!). Of course, you want to be sure it isn't your heart, and I'm glad you're seeing the doctor next week. I think some of us are very sensitive to sensations in our GI tract and chest. The same is true for the heart. My cardiologist said that some people can be having TONS of irregular heartbeats, and never know it........and some of us can have them, and feel like they're going to knock us over.
I'm also wondering about reflux with you. My esophogas goes through spells of being weird too, and can make for alot of strange sensations.
When I started going through perimenopause, I would get these weird sensations in my chest......especially at night, where there would be pressure in my chest, then a strange, tingly, warm wave would quickly go outward through my whole body. It's easy to freak out with these things!! So much has calmed down for me since I've gone through menopause. I could always tell when my hormones were misbehaving, because I would get heartburn so easily.......and all those other weird symptoms. If you think it might be reflux, just try not to eat foods that make it worse (chocolate, tomato products, caffeine, etc...........all the good stuff!), and see if that helps. Also, try not to lie down for several hours after eating.

Hi Nikki,

   I understand how easily it can be to get carried away with thinking certain symptoms are fatal!  I have fibromyalgia, which has tons of funky symptoms.  I guess the only reason I don't freak out with all of them anymore is because, after having them for so long, I realized that I'm still alive, and nothing bad has happened!   I think that happens to alot of us who have chronic physical problems.   We finally catch on that, even though they are all a real pain in the butt, they aren't going to kill us!

   If you had an ultrasound in February and it was normal (except for the cysts), you don't have anything to worry about.  I, too, had a transvaginal ultrasound to rule out ovarian cancer, when I was having all this bloating, etc.    It's good to check these things out.  But I've learned that once the tests are normal, then we have to believe them!   I find it totally amazing that we can have sooooooo many symptoms that feel "fatal", but that aren't!     

   Also, with my female hormones, I've found it amazing how, at certain times of the month, my physical symptoms can make me go crazy.......thinking I'm dying.  When those hormones aren't causing problems, then I just don't worry about the symptoms.     Do you have any other medical problems?

    Yes, you might have something serious, but the probability of that is very low.  Just try to believe that what you're feeling is driving you crazy, but it's not fatal!    I'm sure you'll be reassured after your doctor visit.  Are there any foods that might be causing you problems?  Might you have alot of yeast in your system?   I think we really underestimate the problems that certain foods can give us (like sugar and carbs and wheat and dairy).

    Anyhow....hang in there, and try to believe that your symptoms are very annoying, but nothing life-threatening.   Good luck at the doctors.

Hey guys,

              I am a 25 year old male and its about 4a.m. now and I can't sleep because of exactly what you all are talking about.I take spells when I am not regular and this seems to be at it's worst at this time. Cathy your comments we're exactly what I needed to hear. Its really scary because the first thing you think of is " i'm having a heart attack" and it really feels like you could be laying on the floor in a few seconds. Thanks alot guys....it really helps to talk about it as i do also have a severe panic disorder.

                          Mykey

i do understand the breathing wrong thing someone mentioned too, its almost like you hold your breath because of the pressure......this is all so bothersome. I am going first thing in the morning to buy some calcium. was it 1200mg you said??

Well not sure if all of you in the group are aware of ALOE VERA?
For the past couple years i started to comedown with yours truly IBS...I think i brought that onto myself when i would go out on the weekends and get drunk then hurl all my acid juices out of my stomach....needless to say that was not very smart....One day my mother suggested that i drink Aloe Vera in it's purest form...Right from the plant itself mixed in a mango or pear juice..( whatever flavor you want).. Well to my surprise that evening... i was to the point that i couldn't take pain.( bloating, winded, suffocating, lack of air due to the pressure IBS was puting on my body and heart....Oh yeah I had Had open heart surgey when i was kid...So my anixety level was not doing so hot. So i went ahead told her to make me the juice with aloe vera...she began to cut the plant... Got what was inside the Gel-solid substance about 3 inches of the plant... then placed it into blender with mango... I drank it i started to feel i sensation like heat leaving my body for the first 3 mins...Then my bloating started to go away slowiy...i then felt my burning feeling in my stomach, Muscle spasms, and the winded feeling to disappear as well... I was like WOW i finally found something that actually works that is not a drug!!!!....I think if i keep to straight regiment of drinking the aloe vera...I think it will heal me faster than any drug ever would....



then next day i didn't feel that bloated, or winded from bending over and picking up my shoes. Oh yeah almost forgot it IBS pressure also caused my to cough alot and make it worse..because before that would hurt like you can't even imagine....

Oh i never had this when i was young ...I'm now 37 and Stress , Eating a poor diet also had big factor of not getting rid of this...thought i throw that in also......