Gerd/Heartburn pain felt like heart attack

Hi all, this has happened to me twice, once 2 years ago and yesterday, my chest hurt like crazy, burping seems to take the edge off, I have terrible eating habits, drink only soft drinks and smoke, now it feels like there is a lump in my throat, and on top of this I have anxiety also, so I'm pretty much a wreck......I have noticed on a few occassions when I am laying down I can feel food coming back up my throat, it has woken me up a couple of times, andI get allergy headaches so I take a lot of aspirin powders and wash it down with mountain dew...I know changing my habits would help a lot, but has anyone else has chest pain really bad from this?

I have absolutely thought I was having a heart attack. My husband says it's probably muscular, and earlier in the day I had worked in the garden, so I figured he was probably right. But, in January I had bladder burch, hyterectomy, and intestine/rectal repair surgery, recuperation was very long, I could not lift anything over 8 lbs. for 4 weeks. I got that same intense pain in my chest, I know it wasn't muscular, I know I hadn't overdone. I, myself, am going to my cardiologist and make sure, I am one who wants to make sure it isn't something really bad. I am post menopause now and have the same odds as a man to have a heart attack.   That pain sure can be intense, I really find it hard to believe it is muscular or heartburn and hurt that much. It's down right scary! I don't want to say I'm glad someone else has had the same thing, I am at ease that I'm not the only one would be more what I mean. If you haven't already, you should check with your cardiologist to make sure it is GERD or heartburn and not something more serious.

 If you are having what feels like a tight throat, are you having trouble swallowing? If you are having trouble swallowing, see your Doc ASAP.

    My Father started with heartburn, hiatal hernia surgery, Reflux, then had trouble chewing things small enough to swallow. Saw the Doc who did an Endodcopy and Xray, he had esphogal cancer (which also turned out to be stomach cancer as well).

    Back in the stage leading up to hiatal hernia, he felt like he was having a heart attack 'cause the pain in his chest was so intense when he would swallow, or had just swallowed.

    It's on my mind 'cause it is the anniversary of his death. I hate thinking about 'cause it makes me mad. If the first doctor he saw about this heartburn stuff had sit him down and told him, if you are so scared of getting cancer ('cause my mom died of cancer, not stomach or anything, ovarian) stop smoking, stop eating fatty foods, stop drinking so much, eat more fruits and vegetables, if the Doc had only taken the time to sit him down, look him eye to eye, and said, "Your diet is going to lead you right to cancer's door, let's change it now before it becomes an awful problem." I think even he would have made the changes. He would have gripped the whole way, but he would have done it.

    Check it out, go to Google, type in Mayo Clinic, search their database for "Hiatal Hernia" you'll see it all, causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment. Once you see it there, you'll know it's real.

    Best of luck,

                Gremma