hi its me again... =) i went to the er last night w VERY ...

It is possible that your pain was reflux esophagitis. This type of pain can be excruciating for people, in fact many people go to the hospital with concerns of a heart attack and find out it is reflux. If they did not do any cardiac enzymes it is likely because you had a normal ekg and your symptoms were so classic for gastrointestinal complaints. Also you are a young female and at your age it is very unlikely to have a heart attack. Unless you have had a hysterectomy or you have insulin dependent diabetes or a very strong family history of heart disease, meaning mom, dad, sister or brother with heart attack under age 50 or sudden death under age 50 then your risk for heart attack or heart disease is very very low.
One thing to consider would be gallstones. Gallstones can cause significant pain that radiates upward to the right shoulder or around the back. This pain can come in waves and be accompanied by nausea or vomiting. A simple abdominal ultrasound would help rule this in or out.
If you do have sever reflux it is important to take medications such as prilosec or prevaced as reccomeneded by a doctor on a daily basis as the amount of acidity in the stomach can take awhile to dissipate. Certain foods can aggravate reflux, such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, citrus including tomatoes, mints, chocolate, motrin aleve ibuprofen, aspirin and eating and laying down within 3 hours.
You should follow up with your family doctor and discuss your symptoms with him/her to figure out what is causing you so much pain.

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Hi Kaceyi: Thanks for requesting me. Good to see you again!

They probably did blood work for cardiac enzymes if they took your blood. An ECG can look normal in the ER. Cardiac enzymes go up after certain hours. That's why there are serial blood tests taken with cardiology patients. Chances are the enzymes were normal.

Get to the Gastroenterologist! I'm afraid of what is happening to your esophagus! It can be sore after all that pain you had - so it still feels like a dull ache. Call the gastro doctor, let them know you are going to go in for a gastroscopy and don't eat anything after the dinner meal. Don't take your morning medications either. Get a morning appointment. If the doctor wants to see you for a consult first, speak to him yourself and tell him all you have went through, especially the 30 day holter you had and the normal ECG.

The percocet gave you some relief because the smooth muscles in your esophagus are hurting!

I am suprised you can even lie down in bed at night. You may have to get one of those "1 1/2" comfy chairs with the ottoman so you can sit up while sleeping.

My esophagitis was very bad. Now I feel things get stuck in there - and even had to have something manually removed by the G.I. I want to see you avoid this problem as the years go on.

To the Gastro NOW! I am very concerned about you and want you to get the best care possible.

Keep me informed. Take care!


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thank u for answering my Q... i am starting to have the same pain agian... its a bruising\shrp\burning pain that ocomes and goes... i took my nexium this morning... i am also starting to feel hot in the face and ears.. is this common for heartburn? the pain was sooo bad i couldn't believe they couldnt give me an answer.. they did not do cardiac enzymes which made me nervous but my ecg was normal..i went to my pcp he's referring me to a new gi dr. he also gave me a prescription for previcid and for somethiwng similar to zantac that he wants me to take one in the morning and one at night.. i hate this pain and it makes me anxious , i just don't kno how to handle it ...

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on October 17 2006 at 7:41pm

GLAD to hear you will be going to a new gastroenterologist. You should sit up in a comfy chair tonight and just relax and watch TV and doze off.

The flushing can come from GERD.

When you get these uncomfortable symptoms, you have to do a bit of biofeedback on yourself. Let me tell you how that is done:

When you get uncomfortable, you have to sit somewhere where it is calm and quiet. You must be sitting up. You take a deep breath in and slowly breathe out of your mouth. Wait a few second and repeat it. Concentrate on your heart beating and your breathing. It should slow up a bit. Do not talk to anyone, do not eat, do not drink. Then think of an ice cream cone - and how you like to lick the dripping ice cream.

What the biofeedback does it relaxes your heartrate and also relaxes your stomach. I learned this from a radiologist when I was having my gallbladder series. He told me it relaxes the sphincters (little valves) from the stomach and small intestine. When food and liquid (yes, I've had problems swallowing liquids at time due to my GERD), I've had to stop eating, be quiet, close my eyes and do these maneuvers. The esophagitis has ruined the motility in my esophagus, so I have to be very careful. That's why I am worried about you!!!

During meals, you have to eat quietly and attentive to your body's digestion. No talking during meals. They have to be relaxed, not in a rush, chew thoroughly, etc. Sometimes I have to vision in my mind how the food is going down my esophagus.

This stuff really works too. I am so damned suprised - I always thought biofeedback was a sort of "hocus pocus".

I think it will take you a bit of time to master these skills, but you are very in tune with your body, so I know you can do it.

Take care!




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