I went to the ER the other day because I had a sharp burning pain in my chest. The ER doctors ultimately had no idea what it was for sure, and they diagnosed a reflux problem. I am very familiar with heartburn and acid reflux, and this is not that. Additionally, it isn't responding to the reflux medications they gave me, and several of its characteristics conflict with that of a reflux problem.
The pain is right behind my sternum, maybe 1-2 inches above the xiphoid process, but it spreads out a little around this area. This pain shoots to my back at times. It's worsened when I eat something (I've found since this started that when I chew the food extremely well and chase it with a good bit of lukewarm water, the pain is less likely to occur). The pain doesn't just occur upon eating - it sometimes happens for no apparent reason at all. Mostly, though, it is caused by eating something. I believe this is why the ER diagnosed the reflux issue.
I'm starting to wonder if I've somehow cut or damaged my esophagus. I can't remember eating anything that would cause damage to it, but I do tend to eat very quickly, so maybe a piece of harder food hit it the wrong way and caused a cut.
Other random info: There has been no bleeding. It doesn't hurt when I swallow. The pain is in the same location every time (though sometimes it's really bad and seems to spread to my back, and sometimes it's just localized in the area behind my sternum). Hot liquids make it really hurt, but cold ones generally don't cause pain. Plain room temperature water seems to be the only thing I can have that doesn't cause any pain whatsoever. Sometimes during an episode of pain, if I lean back and stretch out my neck, extending my throat, it seems to lessen the pain.
Does anyone know what this could possibly be?
The pain is right behind my sternum, maybe 1-2 inches above the xiphoid process, but it spreads out a little around this area. This pain shoots to my back at times. It's worsened when I eat something (I've found since this started that when I chew the food extremely well and chase it with a good bit of lukewarm water, the pain is less likely to occur). The pain doesn't just occur upon eating - it sometimes happens for no apparent reason at all. Mostly, though, it is caused by eating something. I believe this is why the ER diagnosed the reflux issue.
I'm starting to wonder if I've somehow cut or damaged my esophagus. I can't remember eating anything that would cause damage to it, but I do tend to eat very quickly, so maybe a piece of harder food hit it the wrong way and caused a cut.
Other random info: There has been no bleeding. It doesn't hurt when I swallow. The pain is in the same location every time (though sometimes it's really bad and seems to spread to my back, and sometimes it's just localized in the area behind my sternum). Hot liquids make it really hurt, but cold ones generally don't cause pain. Plain room temperature water seems to be the only thing I can have that doesn't cause any pain whatsoever. Sometimes during an episode of pain, if I lean back and stretch out my neck, extending my throat, it seems to lessen the pain.
Does anyone know what this could possibly be?