Intense upper stomach pain/pressure - Pain Management Message Board

jenl2881 · 03-14-2005, 11:28 AM

For a few days now I've had pressure in my upper stomach area/under my breasts. Basically in the area where indigestion and other such problems occur. I assumed it was indigestion, but the aciphex I took provided no relief. Indegestion and acid problems occur often in my family, but are generally helped by medication or dieting.

The pressure is almost like a weight is pushing down on my chest, and after a bowel movement I now can feel the stomach acid churning and still the pressure. Even relieving gas isn't helping. Last night I woke up with a wrenching pain, almost like from an intense hunger pain. I ate a tiny bit of food, afraid to eat more, and then the wrenching was gone but the pain and pressure were still present.

Any ideas as to what this might be? I was thinking maybe it's my back and seeing my chiropractor, but if it's not I'd rather see my doctor. I can barely afford one, let alone seeing both. Thanks

Streetcar · 03-14-2005, 03:38 PM

Hey Jenl,

I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but you really need to have your dr check you asap. Women have different heart attack symptoms than men and often go undected/untreated because the symptoms they experience don't fit the mold that the medical community has told us to lookout for for years. I recommend that everyone that experiences chest pains that dont know exactly what the cause is, to get it checked out right away. It only takes one time being wrong just guessing to be in the morgue. I know of a couple of females that missed the warning signs and fortunately it wasn't fatal, but they did have a lot worse time because they let it go thinking it was only something like heartburn or stiff back muscles.

Please see your dr. and keep us posted.

Shakespeare · 03-14-2005, 06:14 PM

Hey There!
I gotta agree with Street on this one. BAD Heart trouble runs rampant in my family. I witnessed my fathers first heart attack at the age of 11. I also learned CPR at 15 and have kept myself certified every year. It came in handy during my father-in-laws second attack.

But the SCARIEST attack was my mothers. She felt strange pains in her upper chest and thought it was just stomach trouble beacuse there was no left arm pain or jaw pain. She let it go for 4 days before us kids (all grown now) convinced her to see someone just to be safe. She made an appointment with the cardiologist my father had used. Within 10min of being in his office he was shipping her out in an ambulance.

That was when I got my education on the difference between male and female warning signs. Some women experience the classic ones but others range from high stomach ache that won't quit to upper back pain to constant unexlained fatigue. The worst part is women are more likely to die from their first heart attack BECAUSE their symptoms at atypical.

I am definately not trying to scare you!! There could be other causes for what you are describing. I got a similar terrible pain like you described that woke me from a sound sleep. I couldn't catch my breath because the pain was so sharp. I actually considered I might be having an attack and called the life squad. ( I had been having trouble with a pain like you describe for a few days only not as intense) At the hospital, which is well known for its heart department, I was wrung through the wringer of tests only to find that I had severe constipation!! I had been having bowell movements only it appears that I was not able to clear my bowells completely and so it accumulated in a blockage.(YUCK!!!)

Boy was I embarrassed!!

But the doctors assured me I had done the right thing in seeking help and having my heart checked first. They told me that they would rather see 100 women who get tested and cleared of a heart attack than see 1 come in too late for them to save.

Get yourself checked just to be safe.
Lets us know how it turn out.

The Bard of Ohio

twisten · 03-15-2005, 01:36 PM

I agree with Streetcar and Shakespeare. I think this is something that should be looked into by your doctor. It's best to rule out anything potentially serious. Please let us know what you find out and how you are doing.

Spuds · 03-16-2005, 06:36 PM

Hi, jenl, I had that kind of pain twice once it was pancreatitis, and once pneumonia! There's ALL KINDS of reasons to go get checked out!! And yes, let us know what happens!!! God Bless You Leia