Posted on 07/07/2010 9:38:08 PM PDT by The Magical Mischief Tour
Anyone here have GERD?
Reason I ask, last month I started having what I would described as mild to medium chest discomfort/pressure in the middle of my chest and lower sternum and weird aches on my left side arm pit area and in both arms usually just either side of the elbow. Not stabbing pain but aches like you have when you get the flu.
The only "pains" I have in my chest are not deep pains at all, but what feels to be shallow muscle cramp-like aches, something you would expect feel after doing 100 push ups or lifting weights.
No shortness of breath etc...
They came and went for a few days then one evening they hit hard and scared the bejesus out of me so I headed to the ER.
After half the night spent in the ER. Doctor found nothing abnormal with my EKG, blood tests, no sign of heart attack, blood clots or pneumonia. He said it was most likely GERD.
I don't smoke (I collect cigars, yeah don't ask...) and rarely drink and I'm not over weight.
No family history of heart disease. And I undergo a Class 1 Flight Physical every 12 months, and had a Treadmill Stress Test 3 years ago. Which was fine.
But my question to those who suffer from this, is this.
Do your pains at time mimic aches and cramps in the chest, without the burning you would think of with heartburn. And do you get aches and cramps in your arms or any other weird unexplained pains that your Doctors say could be caused by GERD?
I really don't get the burning sensation, but I take OTC Prevacid once daily and have for years to control HB.
The chest pressure and aches come and go randomly, not tied to any one activity such as exercise, laying down or sitting up right. Sometimes exercise even makes the chest pressure go away but not the aches in my arms. I don't know if a heavy mean will cause them as I have stopped eating big meals and opted for several smaller ones.
Its just a strange batch of symptoms, hard to describe and qualify. And to make matters worse the ER Doc told me that GERD mimicking chest pains can make your stress and anxiety level go up aggravating the pain and pressure.
Anyone else have this, can offer up any advice?
Its more frustrating than anything because it hard not to think its you heart when you have chest pains... which causes you anxiety levels to go up.
The other possibility is that you have damaged the cartilage in your sternum. If it hurts when you press right on the middle of your chest, that could be at least part of your problem. Did you stretch or “scrunch” your chest in any way?
Hope you feel better!
Sure sounds like classic GERD, especially since you have a history of it. It gets worse if you don’t address the root cause by a lifestyle change. Taking medications is just covering up the root problems such as being overweight, overeating, eating before bedtime, eating foods that aren’t easily digested, etc. Having a long history of it GERD may mean you have some damage such as a hiatial hernia or scarring of the esophagus.
Thanks for all the info.
I’m thinking of making an appointment with a Cardiologist just to be sure. Then onto a Gastro Specialist.
But yeah the odd aches have me a bit puzzled.
I have it...but also had the same thing you said as well and had a pulmonary embolism.
That pain is also identical to gall stones. Get your gall bladder checked out if Nexium and Zantac together every day don’t help.
Agreed. Cut your carbohydrates. Seriously, if you do have GERD, this will eliminate the problem without any meds. BTDT and I promise this will work.
You nailed it. I had this as well and that helped TREMENDOUSLY. Also had gall stones which caused pain just like a heart attack.
Yea!
I used to have GERD (that’s the proper term to use for Google searches) but by doing what follows, it went away.
Here’s my list:
Raise the head of the bed 6-8 inches by putting books or boards under the headboard legs.
Got a memory foam mattress topper—I no longer toss and turn which tosses the acid around.
Sleep on left side.
No food 4-6 hours before bed.
I also took chewable enzyme (super papaya) tablets to help digest fatty meals.
==
To relieve the burn, I found DGL (short for Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice) at the health food store—very soothing.
Another soother is Ginger root juice. Google that and GERD to get the dosage.
Or, too much coffee. That will make you want an EKG also.
That is true. You seem to know something about this. Angina can occur with a restricted artery but not cause a heart attack. The pain described does not sound consistent with a stomach acid problem. But since I'm not a doctor I can only suggest this person see one soon and carry this further.
Question: What are the symptoms of gall stones? What can you eat to avoid attacks?
Answer: Post prandial nausea and pain. Usually about 30-45 minutes post prandially. Fatty foods are usually worse. Apples and cabbages are also offenders. Occasionally the pain can be felt in the chest, left jaw or left arm. Generally, a feeling of nausea and right upper abdominal discomfort. Jaundice can result if stones obstruct the common duct. There will be marked pain in this situation. Food should be as low fat as possible. Avoid apples and cabbages. However, no diet will completely fix the problem, surgery is the only effective answer.
You say you’re not overweight. Are you takingn bisphosphanates to try to retard the development of osteroporosis? GERD is one of several common side effects.
If so, you might want to stop taking them.
Also: avoid chocolate, tomatoes, tea, nuts, cheese.
You say you’re not overweight. Are you takingn bisphosphanates to try to retard the development of osteroporosis? GERD is one of several common side effects.
If so, you might want to stop taking them.
Also: avoid chocolate, tomatoes, tea, nuts, cheese.
You say you’re not overweight. Are you takingn bisphosphanates to try to retard the development of osteroporosis? GERD is one of several common side effects.
If so, you might want to stop taking them.
Also: avoid chocolate, tomatoes, tea, nuts, cheese.
That too...had that issue big time with t-5, t-6 sitting at a computer desk working all day and night. Yes to what you said as well.
I thought it was acid reflux due to nerves or something, so I would eat Tums constantly.
Then 5 years or so after I retired from the AF, it got so bad I developed something called Schlotzky's (?) Ring, which is like a big speed bump in your esophagus.
It also got worse and worse, but like a typical male, I ignored it, until one day I swallowed some chewed-up steak, and it got *stuck* there.
Wouldn't go down, couldn't choke it up, and let me tell ya, when it gets stuck there and you can't do anything with it, your mind says "this ain't right!" and panic gets after ya. It was stuck there for about five hours (forgive me Lord but God **** it, do something, come up or go down!). That convinced me to go to the doc and get it diagnosed.
Anyway, daily dose of Prilosec keeps it under control, plus my doc makes me get the esophagus scoped every few years, because that acid reflux and stuff opens you up to cancer of the esophagus.
I got a good doc, wonder if ObamaCare (TM) will decide I don't deserve that relatively-expensive scoping now and then.
...and avoid coffee.
Freepmail coming your way....
Diagnosed with both of those too..lol..Christ..I need to get off this thread...my opinions are going to be thrown out the window...best to be checked for them all.
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