Burning and pressure, non-stop

[jessruns]

I hope for some insight soon!

I have had chest pains off and on now since having knee surgery Dec.11th.

I have panicked with these pains and I've been to ER twice , I have had 2 EKG's, and Echocardiogram,a nuclear stress test, and another image done on my heart. All came back normal. Also I've had numerous blood tests. Needless to say it's not my heart.

I'm 36 and up until my surgery I was an avid runner, and fitness instructor, so I was very healthy.

Since having my last panic attack a week ago ( brought on by this chest pain,burning) I have been put on Paxil, lowest pssible dose and my tension over my pains has decreased.

But my pain has not, my chest constantly feels like it's either being squeezed and/or I have a burning in the center of my chest, that sometimes goes up higher to the collarbone but never really feels like it's my stomach, the pain is right between my breasts to be exact.
There is no rhymn or reason for it. I eat a bland diet, I have cut out all caffine and pop, I only drink water. Tums do not help.

I have been to the dr to check for heart related problems so many times now I feel crazy for going to address this . But it's aggravating. and keeps my mind churing, bad for trying to nip this panick attack nonense while it's still new.
Does this sound familiar? Constant burning and or pressure?
Thanks in advance, Jess

 

[DMBF]

Hi there
It's a vicious cycle, this reflux and anxiety! I have had reflux for 2.5 years now (am 41) and recently, developed some new symptoms in my back. I started thinking the worst and started, as well, taking 10 mg Paxil to get me over this hump until I have some more tests on Friday. It sounRAB like you could have reflux--the problem is that everyone seems to have different symptoms. Some people with reflux don't have any symptoms! But a burning, pressure where you describe "can" certainly be reflux. I would try something stronger than TUMS for a few days (Gaviscon?), and see what happens. Sometimes, when you get irritated inside, you need something even stronger, even though you are eating what you think is a bland diet. Even bland things can cause reflux after it's started. Try acidophilus--I've heard some people, starting out with this, can have great relief from taking acidophilus. Also elevate your bed (put books under the head of your bed frame). Is your pain there all day?

 

[jessruns]

I'll have to get with my dr on ths one, now that I'm on a prescription med (paxil) I'm afraid of drug interactions, I've always been that way!
I notice the pressure and burning starts when I'm anxious and or sitting.
I've had a lot of heart tests done, though my heart does beat harder and faster when I feel this pain , which then makes my pain worse, I have to realize it's not my heart. So I started reading thru this reflux board hoping to find other who post similiar symptoms.
I've been known to get gas trapped up under ribs and hit hurts to breath. But this feels different. It doesn't jab me it's a gnawing and burning. The more stresses I get over the pain the sharper the pain gets.
I'll take your suggestion to my dr when I see about this.
Thanks for your input!

 

[Emily12345]

I was glad to read these symptoms from other folks...For the past month, I've had a constant pain in my chest, right between my breasts. It first happened out of the blue after I had an anxiety attack two days before (something that had never happened); I imagine the pain was a direct result, or perhaps the anxiety triggered reflux to the extent to cause the pain.
After two days of feeling a lump in my throat, I started having pains in my chest. Freaking out a little (I'm only 28 and quite active and healthy), I went to the doctor, where I got an EKG that came back perfectly normal.
The doctor prescribed me a proton pump inhibitor, that seemed to help. He also gave me some low-dose xantax to help lower anxiety when I feel the pain coming on worse (I hate feeling like I don't know what is happening to my body).

I'm now taking two Prilosec a day to equal a prescription dose (as recommended by my doctor). I've had some days where I had no pain at all, but slipped up by trying to go for a run (which caused a raw-type pain for a few days) and drinking a few drinks more than I should have one night, which hurt me for a few days.

I notice the pain more when sitting for a while (car is the worst), or with a dry throat. I've been belching quite a bit more as well, outperforming my boyfriend

I'm hoping this will go away; I've never had any reflux symptoms and hate that it's affecting my healthy lifestyle!! I'm going back to the doctor in a month.

 

[lala52]

emily:
You are definitely not alone. I have had these problems for years. The lump in the throat is what i first experienced years ago. I went to an ent dr thinking it was my throat. He told me it probably was acid reflux. I did not understand at the time how that could be. A few years later i was very anxious and started feeling very heavy in the chest. I went to the cardiologist and everything was fine. I went to my regular dr. and he had me take an upper gi series. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. I did not treat it at the time. The lump in the throat came and went here and there. The heavyness in the chest bothered me on occassion. I went to a chiropractor and he would put the hernia back in place. Recently things have changed. About 5 weeks ago i started to have very very bad indigestion and chest pain, and pain between the shoulder blades and pain in between the breasts. I got very nervous and went to the cardiologist again. He sais it was not my heart. Oh, i forgot, i also had shortness of breath. I went to a pulmonologist and he said everything was fine. I then went to the gastro dr and he put me on nexium. I have been on it for almost 3 weeks. I has helped but not 100%. I just had an upper gi done again, and the technician told me the hiatal hernia is up there. Sometimes they see it sliding, but this stayed up. So i have an appointment with the gastro dr, for a follow up in 2 weeks. We will see what he says. One of my problems is that i don't want to take this medication. I hear it is a horrow to go off of these PPI's. Plus there are side effects. I have been researching and some people are talking about some natural ways. I already take apple cider vinegar, but that has not helped. I started that a long time ago. I also take probiotcs. So the bottom line is that you should go and have tests taken to see if you have acid redflux or a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia can cause acid reflux and so does stress and anxiety. Good luck and let me know what happens. LaLa