 Cannot lie "flat" on my back w/o pain
I posted this in the back area too, but more thoughts are occuring to me.
I cannot lie flat. Such as flat on the bed, no pillow. Or flat on the floor, no pillow. (I have a number of lumbar spine issues and those cause me pain, but aside from those, this is separate). I get pain/discomfort/pressure in my dorsal area, between my shoulder blades, and in my chest, my sternum area, even my throat. I feel loads of pressure in my face as if I'm being strung upside down rather than just lying flat.
So when I lie flat such as even at the dentists, I "feel" like I am too far back and get the sensation that all the blood is rushing up into my face and cheeks and jaws and throat, etc. Then I get a lot of anxiety because it's hard to breathe and I feel this pressure in my head and chest.
It is not anxiety per se (ie: related to dental anxiety) because I get it lying in my house, on the floor or bed. And, whether I am at the dentist, floor or bed and just put one pillow behind me, I'm fine.
I didn't know if it was spine related (ie: dorsal) or if it was cardiac related (cardiac symptoms are often diagnosed based specifically on someone's ability TO lie flat without pillows), or if could be stomach related (such as GERD or something?) I've read a number of different possible explanations, none of which seem related to each other, (the above explanations are just what I came across on the net or through research) -- so I'm not trying to diagnose, just sharing what info I've come across, however relevent or not, to see what anyone else thinks or what anyone else has experienced in this regard.
[This message has been edited by Merrida (edited 02-18-2003).]
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