Question about chest pain

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8monthslater

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I am having what my GI thinks is a reflux problem (no testing has been done yet). He put me on Nexium and it helped somewhat, but not completely. I have had pain in my chest and feel short of breath often. I feel like my lungs are being squeezed if that makes sense. I also feel like I am drowning in acid in my throat. I am constantly clearing it and coughing. My voice is hoarse. Well, I decided to experiment last week and quit taking Nexium altogether for 5 days. Things got worse and now I am sore in my chest (below sternum) and it hurts all the way through to my back. My shortness of breath has come back too. I started back up on Nexium last night so hoping I'll start to feel better. I have all sorts of problems that may be relate. My ears get blocked, hurt and ring and make humming sounRAB (wierd, I know). My tongue feels nurab a lot. Just wondering what you think. My doc referred me to Mayo, but it is out of network so my insurance won't cover it. I don't know what to do next. I have a call in to my doctor to discuss what testing I should have done. Any suggestions or comments? Thanks.

BTW, 40 year old female, normal weight, eat well except for 1 cup of coffee and the occasional glass of wine. All of this started and has become progreesively worse since my daughter was born 2 years ago (2nd child).
 
I have had many tests done -- endoscopy, colonoscopy, 24 hr pH test, mamonetry, chest x-ray, ultrasound of abdomen, ultrasound of throat, h Pylori blood test, thyroid blood test -- and I am still in the same place as you, believe it or not. All my tests basically came back as being fine, except for a small hiatial hernia. I've been to various doctors -- family, GI, two ENTs -- and the advice I've been given is to stay on Nexium. My symptoms have gotten better on Nexium, but I still have an annoying sore throat and hoarseness, and my right ear fulls blocked at times. Sometimes I still have chest pain and back pain, but a lot less now. It seems the PPI drugs are the only way doctors have to deal with this problem, unless you are really bad, in which case they might consider surgery. I've made some lifestyle changes too, like trying to avoid trigger fooRAB like citrus and tomato and caffeine. {I admit I don't follow it 100% though).
You might want to request an endoscopy, to make sure there isn't any damage to your esophagus. I'd say this is the most important test to have.
Hope you feel better now that you're back on the Nexium.
Kassie
 
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