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Please describe your GERD chest pain for me! and do you have palpitations?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/31/2011 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
If you have throat symptoms I would be careful with anything acidic or risk serious flare up.

IF you have normal GERD, you could try ACV.

Personally throat symptoms have to be the worse thing anyone can experience. If you drink soda and it bothers you, you prob want to avoid ACV.

Jesse
Posted 8/14/2011 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
For years I thought all my chest pains were due to weightlifting exercises that I was doing.

The pain was under my armpits, back, and always along the ribs. The pain seem to happen randomly.

But now I know that it was from certain foods and drinks that I was consuming.

No more sodas,coffee, fruits,chocolate,vinegar,tomatoes,peppermint, etc.

Now I see a direct cause and effect from what I put into my mouth.

I am taking some heartburn products from the health food store to heal my esophagus.

 

Posted 8/19/2011 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
My chest pains for years landed me in the ER thinking that I was having a heart attack and dying.
My pains radiate into my shoulders, neck, center of my back between my shoulders and my left arm will feel like it is tight.

I was given the anxiety diagnosis for many years. Now that I am discovering all of the Gastro issues I have had I am also learning to deal with these other things that have cost me a small fortune in medical bills and have also made me REALLY have anxiety!
Posted 8/20/2011 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Davinci 817,
I went through exactly the same thing. I have been on anxiety medication and to the ER several times before I was properly diagnosed. After all the testing for GERD I was told I needed the surgery especially because the stomach acid that bothered me the most was bile and there is no medicine that works to reduce or get rid of that. I was scared to do the surgery and waited way too long to have it done. I looked hard for the best doctor in the area and then went to see him three times waiting a year in between visits. I finally decided it was the only way to find relief and I am so glad I did it! I have had my ups and downs with my recovery but overall it has been easier than living with GERD. I had a hiatal hernia and a LES repair and I am recovering well on day 28, just over 3 weeks from surgery.
This forum has helped me so much that I am hoping I can help others that are going through the decision making regarding the surgery and those who are recovering from it as I am. Clearly it was the right decision for me to have the surgery done but it is very important to find the right surgeon and follow his orders for how to eat and drink afterward. Good luck making your decision.
Glasslady
Posted 8/20/2011 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Glasslady, I am so glad to read you are doing well from your surgery. At the moment I am in a holding pattern being fresh out from Gallbladder removal. It must be my lack of a GB causing me to continue with problems (sarcasm).....sighhhhh. Wish they would just listen and work on fixing it rather than bandaging a problem. Good thing is that I am in control now. I will not take it is all in my head for an answer anymore!

Curious, did you have GB removal as well?
Posted 8/21/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
No I didn't. I asked about it and the doctor's felt my GB was fine, it is my sphincter muscles that are weak and they did not recommend fixing the one between the stomach and small intestine because my stomach would not be able to expell the gas. So, now I still have bile in my stomach but it isn't coming up my esophagus anymore. Now I just have to watch my fat intake to minimize the bile in my stomach.
Good luck with your GB surgery. I hope your recovery is fast and complete.
Glasslady
Posted 8/21/2011 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting. So the bile is dumping over into the stomach vs. the intestines because the sphincter isn't working well? That bile fluxing is a nightmare. Went to the ER two weeks after GB removal with the worst burning ever in my life. They laid it off on something I ate. The surgeon told me it was bile dumping and then fluxing. Like plain old stomach acid fluxing wasn't bad enough lol.
Posted 9/7/2011 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Oh jeez!

Hi Guys, so glad I found this forum. I've been having pains in the left side of my chest, acid heartburn, a feeling like pressure or lump in my throat, super sensitive gag reflex(cause of the weird lump feeling I'm guessing), pains in my left shoulder armpit and arm for a few months and not only all that but I had almost a year ago an sphincteronomy endoscopy where they put the camera down your throat. I had this because I had gall stone trapped. I'm only 23 but gall stones effect nearly every woman on my moms side of the family inc a cousin who's in her late 20's.
Recently the pains have becoming worse and have me really anxious because I'm overweight and drink too much(depression) thought I was going to DIE. I have severe problems with anxiety and depression so mentally I was wrestling with the idea that it could all be in my head. I'm almost a nervous wreck. When I was 17 I was prescribed these pink strawberry flavoured tablets that were for heartburn. I was having severe heartburn at night because I wasn't eating due to severe fear of chocking. Now I don't really eat that much during the day but after a few beers I get a huge appetite and I'm no longer so afraid to eat so I eat a lot really late at night and things like takeouts. ALL the bad stuff. And BREATH! phew

Do you guys think, that given my history and symptoms, that I'm most likely suffering from GERD???

P.S I'm worried because I just started getting my life back together and in 3 weeks I'm moving waaaay up north nearly to another country i.e Northern Ireland. I in live in Ireland. To be with my long term BF and go to college. Aaaaaahhhhh I don't want to have severe health problems especially heart related :(

Post Edited (Murr) : 9/7/2011 1:11:03 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2011 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
It is possible Murr. If you have had heart burn problems in the past and other GI issues. First thing you probably already know is to lay off of the alcohol, then go see your Doctor. Most of my anxiety has cleared up since GB removal and treating my GERD with Diet. Doesn't mean this is your only issue, there could be other reasons for the anxiety but doesn't hurt to explore that option.

If you are having symptoms of Acid Reflux, you will want to avoid fatty, acidic foods as well as carbonated drinks, caffeine, mint just to list a few.
Posted 9/7/2011 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Murr,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  Congratulations on your move and I hope it works out to be the best thing for you.

The following link may help you with your question, " Do I have GERD?"

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=1483795

I would kindly suggest you see your physician before you move so you will decrease your anxiety by having a medical screening exam.

Again a warm welcome and hope you stick with us.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 9/8/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Add me to the long list of GERD sufferers!! Reading all these threads makes me depressed in that so many people hurt and can't get the proper help. I'm in the same boat. I have anxiety/panic for the past 3 years due to stress and life changes (divorce, new baby, work, etc.) Like some many I went to the ER one night after having a rush and chest pains. They said it was anxiety due to stress. I've been in therapy for my anxiety, not helping much, and taking meds. I'm on Wellbutrin and Klonopin. I also went to a heart dr to get a battery of tests to rule out heart problems. I have no heart problems in my family history. EKG, Holter, stress test....all good. Yet I still feel crappy and still believe I may have a heart attack, yet after all these years it never has happened...I'm 39. My GF is a nurse and she reassures me my heart is fine and anxiety and panic cannot give you a heart attack.

I had an endo done as well and I was told I had GERD. I was prescribed Aciphex. I took it for some time but then I stopped (not sure why). The last few months the chest pains have really made me more panicky. It's like the most of you...I have a tightness in the center and left of my chest. Frustrating. I'm taking Prilosec but don't see much help. I want to go to a different heart doc but that will only fuel my fear I think even if it comes back positive.

There are so many meds out there and I read a lot about them. I hear horror stories of all sorts about GERD meds. But I understand that meds react differently with people. I went through Celexa, Zoloft, and Paxil until I got to Wellbutrin.

I'm due for my yearly physical and wonder if I should go back to my GI doctor and update him and see what he says. They found sores in my endo and I worry that by not taking the right meds I'm making it worse and things can go downhill. I wonder if I should start up my Aciphex again and stop the Prilosec since the Aciphex heals and treats GERD.

Thanks for listening...anxiety and GERD is a horrible combination that I know a lot of you have. If you have success in helping both please share.
Posted 9/9/2011 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Bev, there is a good write up done by a retired cardiologist. He goes by RLR on many of the health forums. He has his own forum "heart Palpitation Forum" aka "Chemical Forums". I think he visits the UK site "no more panic" as well. Thought I saw someone post he is on Healing well too. He has a 6 part write up called HEART PALPITATIONS 101. He describes the relations of palpitations to GI issues. It might make you feel better about what you are going through. At the worst of my GI issues my anxiety was extreme. Where as I used to use a portion of a script (30 pills) for Xanax in a year, went through a whole bottle in a couple of months. Now that my GB is out, the anxiety isn't as bad but when my GERD flares up my chest starts to race.

I feel like acupuncture, CBT, meditation/hypnosis have helped me through the emotional stuff as my GP and Gastro work with the physical stuff. I'm sure I am 80% better than I was 3 months ago but would love to lead a normal life again. The main thing is to watch the diet and keep the GERD down, the anxiety seems to improve with that.

Good luck!
Posted 11/7/2011 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all, like all of you I have experienced many of the symtoms. I am 40 no and I have always had acid reflux, it's just never been this bad. I recently developed a tooth ache so I went to the dentist, he prescribed a antibiotic (that I had taken many times before) and a pain med I have never taked. Torodol/Ketorolac and some other one. One day after taking these meds I have the worst pain in my esophagus. I cant hardly eat anything. I even tried chicken noodle soup and it hurt going down. Very painful. Thank god I had an old bottle of Xanax to get rid of the anxiety thoughts of major health issues. I felt fine before I took the pain meds so I am sure it's related, the problem is I stopped taking the meds and have been drinking antacids and just started on Prilosec. Its been one day off pain meds and on the antacids no relief yet. Scary as hell though, I have to force my self to eat.
Posted 11/7/2011 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and I am new member. I woke up this morning determined to find some online help for my condition. Last night I had another episode of acid coming up from my stomach and I woke from inhaling it. Gasping for air I felt like I was drowning. I had this same issue the night before. And have had this going on for many years but usually just a few times a year. Now I know what the triggers are. Eating the wrong foods after 7pm. Like chocolate, tomato anything, spicy food and alcohol. Coffee aggravates this also.
And I know that I turn over in my sleep to my left side and this is when it happens. Along with the gasping I now vomit up a bit of food and clear liquid.
I have been told that I may have a hiatal hernia. When the stomach protrudes up and opens its contents with acid into the esophagus. I also have heard that the muscle relaxes because of the type of food I described above and that is when the stomach contents come up. I guess I really need to go to a gastro doctor to get this looked at.
What are the long term results from having this condition? Cancer? Yikes! In the meantime I have to pay attention to the diet and times of eating.
Posted 11/7/2011 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
your condition sounds serious and needs your attention. Yes. I think you should go to a gastro doc to have it sorted out. And in the mean time. Try the various diet and lifestyle tips for controlling the symptoms.
Posted 11/11/2011 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone with pain ;) I am having a whole list of issues, and after many visits in different hospices, I saw the dr that won my issues right over today. He listened, I listed, and for the first time, I feel like i'm headed in the right direction. I too have breath-taking, skipped heartbeats (a quick fyi, your heart beat is effected due to the fact that your esophagus directly touches your left atrium, the part controlling your rhythm), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing, upper AND lower esophagus in my case), extreme weight loss from 125 down to 105 in a little over a month, difficulty breathing, extreme chest pains on the left side, also in my upper back, night sweats, burps that lack any acidity hints, and lower esophagus sphincter pains. He says it sounds like 3 things (all3, not 1 of 3): esophageal spasms with extreme scarring of my lower esophagus [caused by chronic heartburn that I never felt (did you know you cannot feel the lower 1/3 of your esophagus?)], with a possible hiatal hernia. So off to the gi I go next week to rule out esophageal cancer and stomach cancer, since those are the same symptoms. To fix: antacids (prescription strength), and stretching my esophagus back with a balloon-type procedure that will need to be repeated through my life. i'll keep you updated though! Good luck to all of you, I know I've needed it a few times or more on this journey ;)
Posted 11/12/2011 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Wanted to add that I had 4 babies within 5 years, and spent most of my pregnancies puking daily...so that could easily explain the esophageal scarring (all of the stomach acids coming up my esophagus for 5 years! So while I have not had heartburn, I definitely could have damage.
Posted 11/13/2011 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to All the New Members - please feel comfortable starting your own thread - see topic New Members must read. :-)

I am locking this thread as it is now 4 pages long.

Kindly,

Kitt

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