Acid Reflux or Heart Problems?

justsomeguy2004 · 02-18-2007, 01:57 AM

I'm sure this question comes up a lot, but I gotta ask anyway. I'm a 21 year old male who everyday suffers from chest pain. (I plan to go to the doctor this week). About a year or 2 ago I was very scared that it was a heart problem, so the doctor had done an echocardiogram on me, and some other test involving suction cups on my torso. Appparently they said that all was well. Even so, I can't help but feel something is wrong. When I go to the doctor I'll ask for a test confirming it's Acid Reflux, or not, but for now I believe it is, the symtoms are there anyway. I find it odd though that everytime I eat a big meal, my heart seems to beat a lot faster very soon after, and without putting my hand to my chest, I can feel my own heartbeat, its rather scary. The chest pain isn't only in the middle though, but anywhere between both armpits, and it's not usually a dull burning pain, but a sharp piercing pain, like something is pinching me from the inside. Is that normal for Acid Reflux or not? Even considering that, my heart is healthy enough apparently to allow me to run 1-2 miles every night, so I don't kno what to think. It's on my mind every day for hours, and it's stressing me out a lot! I'm in a constant state of fear that I'll have a heart attack at any time.

akfr0zen · 02-18-2007, 03:47 AM

I have had acid reflux for at least 15 years, the pain you describe doesn't sound like acid reflux to me,just the way you say it travels so much, but I think symptom can vary on different people.
I had gall stones that felt like a heart attack,ask the doctor to check for that, I thought I was either going in for gas or a heart attack and it turned out to be gall stones. Good luck, I hope it is something minor- Jennifer

justsomeguy2004 · 02-18-2007, 03:28 PM

I'm wondering if it could possibly be heart related...considering where it is I feel the pain. More often the pain is ranged from the left nipple over to the left armpit, and from the right nipple over to the right armpit (usually on the left though), and it isn't as often that the pain is ranged between the two nipples, and the center of the chest. Considering that range, I would like your opinions on whether or not it could be heart related. Oh btw, the other test I had, I remember, was an EKG, as well as the echocardiogram, which both were said to be normal.

Ladybiker · 02-18-2007, 04:46 PM

I'm female, 55. My problems started out the same as yours I think. Began with what I thought was the heart -- palpitations, etc. Mostly on the left. I went to cardiologist, had EKG, nuclear stress test, echogram of the heart, everything but a heart cath. Doctor put me on small dosage of heart medication for heart palpitations (Atenolol). Anyway, long and short of it is, I went back to cardiologist (same one) thinking it was my heart, she did other EKG -- normal, etc. I felt stupid as she said there is nothing wrong with my heart. So I went to gastro doctor. He did endoscope. Normal, except for H Pylori infection in stomach, treated with antibiotics.

I continue to have what I feel like is heart pains, just under the left breast and just below - sometimes it feels just like a pinching or twisting, it hurts, I get sick to my stomach, etc. I can feel twitches throughout that area and sometimes they travel a little to the right or below. Gastro doctor ordered HIDA scan on gallbladder. I just had that done this past Friday. Haven't gotten the results of it yet. But I'm so scared. My friends, and I feel like my husband, are so tired of hearing me complain.

My pain seems to begin exactly 2 hours after I eat. I'm terrified to eat -- anything -- even soft stuff. Starts out with the pain under the left breast, like pinching twisting, etc., and it feels like the heart -- it's not muscle -- now I'm getting sick to my stomach. This has gone on so long. I'm so tired of it and scared. The gallbladder is on the right -- but all my pain is on the left -- Right now I don't know what my problem is either. Gastro doctor says it could be something called "nutcracker esophagus" -- he may have to test me for that which I understand is an uncomfortable test. But my pain seems lowers than my esophagus, and it's not right after I eat -- it's about 1.5 to 2 hours.

I know this is a long note, but I can relate, and guess I'm hoping if anyone else has these problems, and what it was.

smurfy33 · 02-19-2007, 07:41 AM

justsomeguy - My heart races after I eat a big meal and sometimes it scares me but I try to ignore it. I also get chest pains in various locations which are usually sharp, fleeting pains. I'm 33 and I've had some workup on my heart which has been normal. I'm sure mine is related to my reflux but I also have anxiety which can also cause chest pain that is not related to the heart. I think you should see your doctor just to set your mind at ease but your pain sounds just like mine. Take care.