Chest pain and tightness in neck - Digestive Disorders Message Board

GirlinWayside · 12-01-2004, 10:38 AM

I'll try to make this short as possible because I know that people tend not to read long posts. I have been having these symptoms for quite some time. I have been to see a cardiologist and was diagnosed with PVC's and PAC's. But he tends to think that my problems now are NOT heart related. I have been having chest pains and tightness in my neck on the left side. I also have severe heartburn and sometimes reflux - all times day or night - not eveyday but most everyday. What has promted me to think it could be digestive is the other day I was having chest pains and a little while later I ended up throwing up my lunch (sorry, TMI) and the chest pains subsided for a while.
I guess what I really need to know is has anyone else ever had tightness in your neck due to digestive disorders?? If so, were you diagnosed with something inparticular??

imvic46 · 12-01-2004, 11:16 AM

Hi There,
I had the same symptoms as you. I had heartburn for years treated with over the counter meds. After a while, they stopped working. I started having the tightness in the chest and left side of throat. I went to the hospital thinking it was my heart. I also had night reflux and spasms that I thought we heart palpitations. ( they actually were). Anyway.....the hospital said they thought it was a problem in my GI tract. I was diagnosed with GERD. I now take Nexium and all symptoms have subsided about 90%. I also have IBS constipation which aggrevates my symptoms. Try the medicine Prilocec OTC for two weeks. I think you will see a dramatic difference. If not go get an UPPER GI done. It will diagnose you. JBy the way.....The tightness in chest and throat is from swollen esophagus. Just out of curiosity..do you have problems with your sinuses as well? And how about anxiety? Let me know how you do.
Vickey

GirlinWayside · 12-01-2004, 11:49 AM

Hey Vickey, thanks so much for your reply. It really eases my mind knowing that someone else has had the tightness in the neck and chest like I have been having. I was starting to get ****ed at my cardiologist - I was thinking he was just sending me back to my FP because I owed him some money! Ive had these symptoms since 2002. I got pregnent in May 2003 and they kinda came and went for the next year. they have just now started getting worse again - they started while I was on the Atkins diet - now IM guessing the extra fats in my diet aggravated the condition.

imvic46 · 12-01-2004, 01:58 PM

Fats usually tend to aggrevate gallbladder conditions. Stay away from chocolate, coffee, soda, (anything with caffiene) and spicy foods. Dont eat for 3 hours before going to bed, and raise the head of your bed by about 6 inches . Acid belongs in your stomach, not your esophagus, and can cause serious damage to it. Please try the prilosec.It is not nearly as strong as Nexium (perscription), but if it works you will at least know what you are dealing with. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor which keeps the acid where it belongs. Even if you dont feel the acid (burn), you could still be regurgitating in your sleep. It all sucks!!!!! It took me four years of going to emergency rooms to finally find a diagnosis. Hope this helps
Vickey

lannen · 12-01-2004, 02:27 PM

Hey Girls. I too get the tightness in my chest and throat. I do have issues with my sinuses and since all of this digestive crap has started (almost 3 yrs ago) I find myself feeling anxious as well. I do find that Prevacid has helped wite a bit. Protonix did not work for me at all. Vicky, I'm curious as to why you asked about sinuses and anxiety? Is there some correlation?