Can pain from acid reflux be confused with heart pain?

[Tesss]

Hi
This thread really struck home with me. Palpitations, chest tightness, fast heartbeat etc are all related to gerd and lpr - the acid going up the oesophagus irritates the vegas nerve and there are also nerves relating to the heart which it irritates - causing the symptoms you have been getting. I have found that Drs dont' really know about any of this stuff, all they seem to know is heartburn.

Hairon, I have recently been suffering also from lightheadedness, shakiness and what feels like low blood sugar and lots of fatigue, and dark circles under the eyes. I am relieved that it is probably the gerd as it doesn't seem to be anything else. Let me know if they find out anything.

One thing that really helped me is to sleep on a wedge - I am elevated on a slope to about 12". I still get the acid reflex, but sleep better now, at one stage I was getting just a couple of hours sleep, now I am usually getting 6-7. What a difference!

Tesss

[katidid95]

I have my first appt. with a cardio tomorrow because of heart palpatations that started 2 weeks ago. The first night I had terrible indigestion and my heart starting racing then subsided then racing again several times. I also felt very anxious like adrenaline was rushing through my body. I went to the ER, but they said my heart was fine. I was okay for a few days, then it started up again and has been non-stop for over a week - every day, the symptoms being worse at night and early morning, with a high HR of 70-90 (normally mine is low 60's) with these surges every 15-30 minutes all night. I am losing sleep I can hardly eat and my stomach is very acidic. I've given up caffeine and alcohol. My GP gave me Atenolol until I could get in to see the cardio, but all it's done is slowed down the symptoms, but I'm still getting the waves. I was convinced something is wrong with my heart, but after reading some of these posts, I'm wondering if it's GERD. I hope my Dr's can figure this out. Any suggestions when I see the cardio and follow up with the GP? BTW I'm 46, a runner, slim, always have been healthy. My father died at 64 of a heart attack, but no other heart disease in the family (he was a smoker).

[Johnmerlot]

Hairon,
I have all of the same symptoms. Have you found a diagnosis yet?

-John

[Godiswithyou]

I hate to do this..but I am going to repost my prior statement to someone else..just in case you havent read it...this is scarey but happens more often than people realize..and it happened to me....Let me tell you..you can take all the stress tests and nuclear tests in the world..and that wont give you an accurate picture!! I have had every cardiad test available and they all came up perfect..until now..To make a xtra long story as short as possible..for 2-3 years I had started having pvcs and various pains. I had visited many emergency rooms and bothered my PCP often. I was given all the cardiac tests available other than a catheter. I was told that my heart was fine because I passed all the test and to stop worrying..it was all in my head. Last week I was admitted to a hospital for chest and arm pains and after a stress test that showed I had a heart of a 20 yr old. (ha!) and two days..they sent me home. The following tuesday I went to a cardiologist I had never seen before and was having the same pains..he would not let me leave the office. He called 911 and sent me to a different hospital and did a catheter on me that afternoon. I had a 90% blockage and had to put 3 stints in. That was 2 days ago. I am 39 years old..somewhat oveweight..and quit smoking more than a week ago. This whole thing has scared the bejeezus outta me. Now I am home and very much afraid of each pain that I get..such as jaw..back..arm..I dont know what to do. I had posted earlier on this site about "Could all those tests be wrong"? the answer...YES!!! The only foolproof test is a cardio cath..and then I still wonder..even when the stints are put in..what are my risks now? Next step...pyschiatrist? My biggest dissappointment..is how all the prior doctors made me feel it was in my head..but I knew...and thank God I persisted or I may not be writing this now. God Bless you.

[earck]

On the opposite end of the specturm from the above post. I have been put on Prilosec and some anti anxiety drugs. Alprazolam and Zoloft. 95% of my symptoms and pain has gone away. I stilll get the occaisonal pain in my chest but it will more than likely go away when the Zoloft starts working (it takes about a month). It appears that I started with acid reflux and the atypical symptoms (chest pain) made me very anxious and stressed. As soon as I started taking the Alprazolam things felt much better. Hope you figure out what is wrong, i know the hell you are going through.