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What to do when you have really bad pain and you don't want to end up in the ER again !!!

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 11/13/2015 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with gerd. I have all the symptoms but also other scary ones. I feel right now pressure in my chest pain in the left upper side of my chest , back, ear , neck, and also in my left armpit area( more like in in the breast area) I can actually touch it and it hurts. I have been in the past 3 months at the ER had 4 EKGs , blood work 5 times, and a Xray. Doctors tell me my heart is fine. It is hard to just remain calm when you have even heart flutterings around your left side area. Have any of you felt those pains ? I do not smoke , drink, I am not over weight, I do not have cholesterol or diabetes. I am sitting here panicking, crying because I really do't know what to do anymore. I have an appointment with the gastroenterologist in 7 days !! This is horrible
Posted 11/13/2015 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
I've had that! It's terrifying! My GERD causes palpitations ( skipping beats ) I'm on an event monitor right now, my cardiologist gave it to me to put my mine at ease. Maybe ask if you can get a Holter monitor to help put your mind at ease as well! Also, try using a heating pad.
Posted 11/13/2015 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Lotus Indigo:

A couple of questions for you - Do you suffer from anxiety? How were you diagnosed with GERD?

Sharon
Posted 11/13/2015 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
I had exactly the same symptoms, at the time I didn't realise they were all related to Gerd. I had collarbone, left breast pain, tenderness in my armpit, puns and needles down the left side, ear pain, facial pain along with airway symptoms of reflux. I had to have a heart monitor too as my ectopic beats were picked up on an ECG prior to surgery. My palps were always noticeable when Gerd was at its worst. Gerd can irritate the vagus nerve which somehow affects the heart also. I had a scan and was given a clean bill of health and the cardiologist reluctantly told me that ectopic beats can be related to stomach issues and also allergies or sensitivities to food. It still amazes me the amount of symptoms Gerd can cause.
Posted 11/13/2015 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
my early symptoms [about a year] started with shortness of breath, at random times, and got worse. i to was in excellent shape. chest x ray showed hernia, barium swallow showed very large hernia, ct scan and into surgery. interestingly enough very little re flux. 2 months before surgery as the hernia got larger, so did the pain in my chest, and that in enough is scary. you panic, you hope its not your heart, but it is a warning sign and needs to be diagnosed. my unreparied hernia, was even preventing one of my lungs from expanding. get answers, options, and hopefully a fix. the body hates to be broken, and soooo dose the mind.
Posted 11/14/2015 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for all of you who have replied! It really makes me feel better than the omeprazol !

Sharon Z, I have had anxiety all my life.I was diagnosed with it 8 years ago. Really bad panic attacks, but somehow I always manage to do everything even with those. I had panic attacks to the point of not sleep , but never like this. I think a panic attack you think you are about to die, but don't have anything is just in your mind. This is a little different, is pain that doesn't go with or without the anxiety. I was diagnosed by my primary care doctor, and on the 4 times I have ended up in the ER they all said the same.

Mulisuh, Maybe I do deep down I believe I don't have anything in my heart, but it is so hard to remain calm as I swear the pain in the upper arm is so horrible. I am waiting for my doctor's appointment , I am tired of my specialists he only saw me for 15 and gave me more omeprazole. Omeprazole does nothing for me.

Trotters , It is a horrible thing!I work in a law related job. I am at my work and I feel like so scared because of the throbbing pain. My eyes are even like irritated , like the white part does not look normal. I have not end up at the ER because I downloaded this app on my phone that measures your pulse. When I am supper panicking I use it ( i know it makes no sense) It keeps me calm at least. I am shocked ! I can't believe a stomach related issue can cause so much. I truly appreciate your comment. I have been panicking all day.

aero1, I will definitely ! I am sick of them not doing anything. The other day when I was having like a palpitation. It is like a something palpitating on my left side of my chest( sometimes it happens in my back and stomach) I was tired of my family members looking at me like I am hypochondriac, so I put my mom's hand so she could feel it. She was too scared ! I was like FINALLY !!! someone I am not going crazy that is how it feels. a panic attack just gives you the feeling of a racing heart but not palpitations that you can actually feel. I am just waiting for my doctor. I am not ok , I can feel it and I am not waiting . Thank you
Posted 11/15/2015 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
The palpitations can be completely benign and happen to many people with panic and anxiety disorders. I am a licensed psychotherapist and had a practice specializing in treatment of anxiety and panic. I worked with a cardiologist who did most of my screenings. We discovered that many people with anxiety disorders manifesting cardiac symptoms have mitral valve prolapse, which is a benign condition you are born with. It can cause many physical symptoms, such as premature beats. This is not dangerous at all. How old are you? I began getting symptoms in my teen years; hence, my choice of professions. My cardiac symptoms were so uncomfortable until I started behavioral cognitive therapy and was put on a low dose beta-blocker. If you want some recommendations for books, let me know. I believe you are going to be fine.
Posted 12/17/2015 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for answering. I think is has to do with my anxiety. I learned to check my pulse and most of the time my pulse is fine i just feel like there is something wrong. I weight 117 pounds, I have no diabetes, no high blood pressure , and no cholesterol. I think my gerd gives me weird sensations but because i have anxiety I over react. I just had a panic attack because since I get gas like a gas pressure in my chest I felt like i could not feel my heart beat and i checked my pulse and I could feel it. IT was for like 3 sec but I totally panicked. I think I will take some anti depressant because I just really feel stressed out about this. I 25 years old. I have always been an anxious person with panic attacks, but most of the time I ignore them. Until I got gerd! it is horrible :(
Posted 12/18/2015 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
Lotus,

Just chiming in because you sound a lot like me. Anxiety and health problems do not go well together. No no they don't. Im in the midst of trying to nail down a diagnosis. I have many similar symptoms as you do. Mine are
-horrible chest pain...worse when lying down.
-palpitations -mostly PVC's
-short of breath
-left arm pain
-back pain
-some ear pain
-neck pain
-my chest hurts if I talk too loud tho.

I think I may have pericarditis though, not Gerd. I was supposed to have an endoscopy done on Monday but decided against it until I have a proper consult with the GI. I see another cardiologist tomorrow. I've had about 12 ECG's, echo, chest CT, stress test. All good (get result of Holter tmw). Anyways, my point is, I know you are scared. I panic constantly. And sometimes I don't know if my anxiety is causing the palpitations or if I am.

I'm curious about this palpitating feeling you said you sometimes get in your stomach. Is it like a bunch of little palpitations one after the next? Like a spam all most?

Anyways, as I said, wanted to chime in and just say I can relate. You sound so much like me. Wish I could help but just know I'm here scared too lol
Posted 12/21/2015 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
Bobbi_007,

Thank you for answering. Yes ! it is like flutters and it moves around sometimes on my chest ,left or right side. Yes! anxiety makes everything worse. I get palpitations and my heart goes to 120 bpm. It usually happens when if do any physical activity , even the mildest thing it takes me a long time to recover. It happens when I go up the stairs or carry something heavy. I don't feel like fainting is more as if i had run for 2 miles and it takes me a long time to recover. It never happened to me until I began having gerd issues. I get the most random symptoms and that is what bothers me he most because I ask my doctor and he says he has no explanation for it. It bothers me because he says it could be anxiety. He makes it seem like I wake up everyday and I decide to feel bad. Like I make stuff up !!!! Lately I have noticed tingling sensations in my hands and like my veins look bluer and more notable. I believe it is nothing related to my heart because after 5 EKG ! An Xray , blood tests they told me everything , no clots nothing, nothing on the endoscopy , I have nothing according to them!! Tomorrow first thing in the morning, I am getting an appointment with another doctor because ok, maybe its all gerd or anxiety but I still need the right treatment. Omeprazole is doing nothing!

Pericarditis ? I guess it could be if you don't get belching and it all happens after you eat. I hope you get to the bottom of what is going on. I understand how you feel and thanks for the support. It is very very frustrating to experience all of this and have doctors ignore you. I hate doctors , i hate feeling bad , and i love food. I just want to feel better again.

Take care

Post Edited (Lotus Indigo) : 12/20/2015 11:18:37 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/21/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)

lillye said...
The palpitations can be completely benign and happen to many people with panic and anxiety disorders. I am a licensed psychotherapist and had a practice specializing in treatment of anxiety and panic. I worked with a cardiologist who did most of my screenings. We discovered that many people with anxiety disorders manifesting cardiac symptoms have mitral valve prolapse, which is a benign condition you are born with. It can cause many physical symptoms, such as premature beats. This is not dangerous at all. How old are you? I began getting symptoms in my teen years; hence, my choice of professions. My cardiac symptoms were so uncomfortable until I started behavioral cognitive therapy and was put on a low dose beta-blocker. If you want some recommendations for books, let me know. I believe you are going to be fine.

And the palpitations can also be a sign of something more serious. While what you are writing is highly probable, we don't know what the OP's specific condition is.

My esophageal spasms were causing my SVT (a specific form of rapid heartbeat). My first two gastroenterologists and my first cardiologist thought they were NOT related to my GERD. Then I went and saw a specialist, a cardiologist who specialized in SVT who ran a multitude of tests on me. He is the foremost expert in our county when it comes to SVT and other types of heart issues and stated emphatically that people should have their hearts checked.

I didn't find this out until I saw my fourth specialist, so even the medical experts miss things. While the OP's heart palpations might be benign, they should still get them checked out.
Posted 12/22/2015 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply. I am going to see my family doctor tomorrow because I just can't wait for an specialist.I did not sleep , I went to bed at 4 am!! I will make an appointment still with another specialist and maybe I should go to a cardiologist. Like you said I think is Gerd related because the palpitations go away when I feel better. Whatever it is I should not have to tolerate it. I want to be healthy and at least be able to go visit my sister , get the three levels of stairs and not feel like I am breathing through a straw and horrible heart palpitations. I can't stand the left arm pain, the only reason why I don't run to the ER is because after 5 EKG , I honestly don't know how can it be something related to my heart !
My diet, I don't eat chocolate, coffee, tea, anything acid, no tomatoes, no alcohol , onions and no spices or condiments. I also don't drink soda.I don't like red meat so I have lost 9 pounds without wanting to in these three months ,I weight right now 115 pounds. I like food , I just want to eat well and feel better. :(
Posted 12/22/2015 10:15 AM (GMT 0)

Lotus Indigo said...
Bobbi_007,

Thank you for answering. Yes ! it is like flutters and it moves around sometimes on my chest ,left or right side. Yes! anxiety makes everything worse. I get palpitations and my heart goes to 120 bpm. It usually happens when if do any physical activity , even the mildest thing it takes me a long time to recover. It happens when I go up the stairs or carry something heavy. I don't feel like fainting is more as if i had run for 2 miles and it takes me a long time to recover. It never happened to me until I began having gerd issues. I get the most random symptoms and that is what bothers me he most because I ask my doctor and he says he has no explanation for it. It bothers me because he says it could be anxiety. He makes it seem like I wake up everyday and I decide to feel bad. Like I make stuff up !!!! Lately I have noticed tingling sensations in my hands and like my veins look bluer and more notable. I believe it is nothing related to my heart because after 5 EKG ! An Xray , blood tests they told me everything , no clots nothing, nothing on the endoscopy , I have nothing according to them!! Tomorrow first thing in the morning, I am getting an appointment with another doctor because ok, maybe its all gerd or anxiety but I still need the right treatment. Omeprazole is doing nothing!

Pericarditis ? I guess it could be if you don't get belching and it all happens after you eat. I hope you get to the bottom of what is going on. I understand how you feel and thanks for the support. It is very very frustrating to experience all of this and have doctors ignore you. I hate doctors , i hate feeling bad , and i love food. I just want to feel better again.

Take care

I can totally relate. I have very bad anxiety and panic disorders. I have gerd, today the doctor just diagnosed me with gastritis too. I have a thyroid problem. And other things as well. What is really annoying is that the doctors ignore us because of the anxiety and panic diagnoses, as if we can't ever have any real condition. They reluctantly had to acknowledge the gastritis today, after I refused to leave without getting proper tests, and I wasn't gonna hear them say that it was just anxiety again.

After bloodwork and xrays. They needed to give me fluids, and meds. Then I got this new diagnosis. Stay on them. That is the only way to really get the answers.
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