chest tightness behind sternum/anxiety!! - Digestive Disorders Message Board

CoryK · 04-28-2003, 07:11 AM

I have read so many posts!!! Starting to go crazy!!!

I just turned 30 and for the last 3 weeks I have had a tightness in my chest right behind my sternum. It comes and goes. It makes my breathing feel labored and this causes me great anxiety. I have had an EKG and a chest X-ray and was told I have nothing wrong with my heart and the doc said my lungs sound great and are clear. I tend to believe that this is either acid reflux/GERD, possibly hiatial hernia or like my doc said costochondroitis. My upper stomach sometimes feels bloated and I have been burping more than usual, however I have NEVER EVER tasted acid. I still cant determine if food helps or hurts my situation. I began to take 30mg prevacid two days ago, but today I have eaten No food and still feel the tightness behind my sternum. Big breaths can make the feeling even tighter. My doc said he is more concerned with my anxiety than the tightness. Can anxiety be exaggerating this condition and who has any idea as to wht this can be. My entire days thoughts are consumed with this and I am desperately looking for answers. How long does prevacid take to work if I do have a reflux/GERD problem. If anyone has had anything like this, please respond. Thank You Very Much
CKaplanek@msn.com

JBlaze · 05-04-2003, 09:28 AM

Man it sounds like anxiety. I use to have bad chest pains, and trouble with breathing. Then I started blacking out. I went to the Hospitial and had every test run, they said I was fine. Then I went to two different doctors and let them run tests. They said I was fine. I went to another Doctor and he ran some tests and sat down and talked to me for a couple of hours. He said it was Panic Attacks from anxiety. I got on Paxil, and started to write down what I was doing when I felt that way to pinpoint what was trigging it. Anxiety attacks are rough, and only get worst if you don't treat it. You could have something different then me, but I hope that helps any. Take care.

cathy2752 · 05-04-2003, 09:45 PM

I dont think it all from anxiety...Two things come to my mind and Ive had both....GERD or Gallbladder disease.....I woudl ask for an ultrasound to rule out gallstones and if thats not it they could do a hida-scan with CCK to see if your gallbladder is functioning properly....If its not that I would see if your GI Spec. will do an EGD to see if it is GERD related, everyone that has GERD has a hernia, but the flip side, is that you could have a hernia and not have GERD...I would get more definite answers and yes anxiety does make those symptoms worse. I wouldnt just assume it was all from anxiety until I get everything else checked out.....Take care...........Cathy

Katie G · 05-05-2003, 10:23 AM

Hi - ditto for what Cathy says. Rule out digestive issues before blaming it all on anxiety. Also, if your doc prescribed Prevacid without even doing EGD to diagnose GERD, then find a doc who will determine or rule out GERD. I'm so sick of doctors just prescribing anti-reflux meds without checking for it.

Good luck,
Katie G