Hi Percycat,
I know EXACTLY what you're talking about
!. I'm 58 and am in menopause, but during perimenopause it was absolutely horrible. In fact, I had to sleep upright in a chair for 7 months, until the symptoms subsided. A PPI and a beta blocker ended up helping alot.........but after 5 years on PPI (aciphex), I discovered that it had caused me 5 years of horrible headaches too! I've been off both of those for several years, and was doing fine. But lately, my ovaries started hurting again, and sure enough, I'm feeling strangled again! Last night was really scary. I feel full in my chest, neck and head. I'm going for allergy testing this week, but I'm sure they will be negative.
Now I'm totally believing that for alot of us women, our hormones might be the culprit.
I can't take any pepcid either, because of the allergy testing coming up.
Isn't it a bizarre feeling? I'm feeling like all my clothing close to my neck is strangling me. Its really bad when I lay down for bed. It definitely helps to avoid eating alot and avoiding certain types of foods. I just can't figure out if the problem is in the stomach, esophagus or where.
As long as I know it isn't something horrible (like a tumor), I can deal with i t. And thinking that its hormone-related, it gives me encouragement that it will pass. Hang in there!
P.S. I've also noticed it can be made worse by my working in the yard, leaning over, which made me wonder about
a sliding hiatal hernia.
I also notice when I feel it so bad in my neck, I also feel very bloated. Its like my entire GI tract is swollen. :(
Post Edited (CathyA) : 4/13/2008 10:56:58 AM (GMT-6)