Sharp shooting pains

Hi Clarky and Welcome to the HealingWell Cardiac Forum!!

There are so many things that can mimic heart disease that at age 23, I will hope that this is not what you are up against already!  However, with that said, you certainly don't want to take chances and I would strongly advise you that if you are having chest pain, along with left sided jaw, arm back, or neck pain that you head for the Emergency Room and get yourself checked out thoroughly-including a stress test!

Do you notice any SOB (Shortness of Breath)?, Tight feeling in the center of your chest/sternum area?  Do you have any nausea?  How long does this pain last?  Does it come on after exercising all the time?  When you're sleeping? 

One of the biggest mimics of Heart Disease is GERD or gastric erosive reflux disease.  When you drink alcohol this can really bring this particular problem on.  The gastric acids actually come back up the esophagus causing such irritation of the esophagus that it will literally wake you out of bed, causing chest pain and left sided arm pain in some cases, too.  I know, because I do have GERD as well as heart disease.

I would suggest cutting back on the alcohol to see if this helps you out.  If not, then don't fool around and like I mentioned earlier, get to the ER!!  Please let me know how you are doing, and keep us posted here!

Teri

Clarky, you probably do need to be seen again by your Dr.  One other test that I can suggest just to rule out GERD or reflux disease is a Barium Swallow.  It's fairly simple-you drink something that shows up while they have you lie down and X-ray you from the throat down to the stomach.

If that is negative, then I would agree that you need more heart testing done to see what's going on!

Good Luck and Best Wishes to you!!  Teri

Please keep us updated!

I'll give you my straight-out opinion....and you can take it for what it's worth. I'm a recovering alcoholic. I've been sober for over 13 years. I don't say this to brag, just to state the facts.

When I was drinking, I had all sorts of symptoms. Heart arrythmia, pains in the chest, more gastro-intestinal problems than I want to list...and the list went on. I kept drinking anyhow. When I drank, it numbed the symptoms...or at least I got to where I didn't care about them.

I finally got sober at the age of 44. Many of the pains and complaints went away when I stopped drinking for good. Some didn't. I went on to have the 1st of 3 MIs (heart attacks) at the age of 49. Since then I've had 2 more MIs, my gallbladder removed and quadruple bypass surgery. At the moment, I'm considered to be 100 percent disabled due to Coronary Artery Disease (CAD.)

I have no idea how much of my medical issues (if any) were caused by my drinking. But I know that drinking masked the symptoms and caused some of its own. At least today I can pretty much attribute cause and effect with the things going on in my body...I don't have to wonder if it's an extra bad hangover or acute alcohol poisoning (not always fatal...but darned unpleasant.)

One of the things that kills many alcoholics is esophogeal hemmorage. When this happens, a blood vessel in the esophagus bursts and the alcoholic bleeds to death while vomiting up his own blood. Not a pretty picture. But it does happen.

I know that when I was drinking, I didn't want to stop...period. I wanted to be able to continue to drink, hoping that I'd be able to keep it under control, or not caring whether I did or didn't. I only quit when I came near enough to death to see white lights coming toward me. No, I'm not kidding. It was the first of several near-death experiences I've had and when it happened, I got the message that I had to change my ways. Simple as that. I went to AA and haven't had to drink since. It hasn't always been easy...some times have been rough. Not in fighting the craving to drink, but facing life without the aid of alcohol. Quiting drinking isn't hard. Living life on life's terms is.

If I were in your position, Clarky, I'd see if I could go 90 days without a drink. That's about how long it takes for the effects of heavy drinking to completely clear the body. In AA they say, "stop drinking for 90 days. Then, if you're not happy, we'll happily refund your misery." If you could do this, you might just be able to see what symptoms remain and what goes away. It's up to you, of course. I'm just glad that I don't have to drink today.

Best of luck to you.

Hi michael, welcome to healing well forum, we are happy to have you join us here.  If you are having any kind of chest pain at all then you should go to the ER or get to your doctor ASAP.  Never let any kind of chest pain go unchecked.  Even though you say you are only 28 keep in mind there are lots of people out there that are this age with some pretty serious heart problems.  I was 31 when I was diagnosed with Sick Sinus Syndrome, Septal Defect and Bradycardia which I got a pacemaker for.  I am now 33 yrs old and it is still a shock sometimes to think that I have a pacemaker to keep my heart rate up.

Plus, you mentioned a big thing in your post here...you have a family history of heart problems.  So, that means you could be predisposed or have a higher risk to heart disease.  Please if you continue to have chest pain get it checked out.  Let us know how it goes and feel free to keep posting here...take care

Just to let you know that if it is GERDS related, it might take more than a week for the medication to work really well and sometimes you have to try different medications to find the one which works best for you. ?? Frustrating! Good Luck

 

Thanks Hopes! My sharp pains are not as consistant as they were so I am HOPING that iits due to the GERD medication and therefore GERD related. I will keep everyone posted! Sure doesnt feel like it would be GERD, it feels like it should be heart or chest related.

Hey Els, I wanted to say that one night I was having severe chest pain. Before deciding to go to the ER I called my primary doctor who was on call that night. I described my symptoms to him and he asked me to press on my chest where the pain was coming from (which was under my left breast). He asked if I was able to bring on the pain when I pushed. I said no and he said then its not an emergency. Have you ever heard of this self test before???

hi

I have same problem . sudden sharp pain anywhere  on left side of chest since 1year .some time sudden pressure for a second .some time pain like a sting.I m checked by cardiologist, ct scan is done every thing is normal.I had esophgeal spasm last year . I do not what could be the cause..............plz  plz let me know----------

king1234 said...
Clarky

I have similiar problems. I have had sharp shooting pains in my left chest under my breast plate, that seems to dart around (not localized). The pain will come out of nowhere and last for a second. I have had these every single day for 2 months straight. I had an EKG and Echo and everything came back fine. They think it is GERD and they gave me meds for it. We will see if it helps after a wk of taking it, if not I am back to the drawing board. I do not get heartburn so I find it hard to believe that I have GERD. I am under a lot of stress, and prob drink about 2 bottles of wine a week. I am a 32 yr old female who is very in shape so I do not know what could be causing this. Pls keep us posted

I am 23 and have very similar symptoms aswell. Sharp pains in the left of my chest, dull heavy feeling on my chest, numbness down my left arm, starting off mostly after alcohol. Now if I drink, they seem to last weeks at a time.

Have seen 3 different doctors, had various EKG's, BP tests, X-Rays, but all have came back negative. I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux, but I seem to be last on the hospitals list of priorities due to the fact im still waiting to be contacted by a gastro specialist.

I am currently taking Omeprazole which sometimes seems to calm me down, sometimes not. Generally I dont really feel I am getting much better, and recently it has been waking me up early morning.

Obviously im very concerned as I am convinced it must be my heart, and everytime I get these pains and palpitations, I fear for my life - Which sounds extreme, but is sad but true...

Any advice?

In a new turn of events I went to the doctor today and have been prescribed beta-blockers, I think my Dr thinks its anxiety, im not really sure though because at the time it started I wasnt anxious at all...

Generally very confused and worried now!

He didnt really say alot, he just said try them for 10 days and see how I feel, but I think im going to want to see him again alot sooner than that. Yes, the beta blockers seem to help a little so far, but as soon as they wear off my palpitations get bad, last night i couldnt get to sleep for nearly 2 and a half hours, its was absolutely horrible and very scary.

My symptoms have pretty much escalated from a nigglinghaviness in my chest to occasional sharp pains, and a sort of dull feeling of weakness in the left side of my chest. Like something isnt quite right, and at any moment something bad could happen. Aswell as the weakness in my left arm, occasional light headedness.

Ive had ECG's, but nothing seems to show up. But im worried it seems to be getting worse so I am considering going to the hospital yet again and getting more tests. I just wish I could see a specialist so they could tell me what was happening...Very very frustrating

hi, mattuk

dear please let me know how is your pains?