Acid Reflux Forum - reflux pain ?

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Q: reflux pain ?

asked by: NeilPage on November 14th, 2008

New User

Hello to the forum.

First post 41yr old male nonsmoker, thin & in good general health.
No history of heart problems in the family.

I asked a doctor on here this same question but noted it takes a while
for a reply, so I thought I'd ask you good folks.

I was diagnosed with LPR(reflux in the throat) around a year & a half ago.
Nexium took care of it along with the required change in eating habits.

After a particularly stressfull period(death of close family member) last
month, I started having burning/tight chest pains. They were bad enough
at one point, I went to the ER.

What worried me was the pain was showing up in my back, left arm &
neck around the collar bone too. I don't imagine the stress in our family
was helping either. I was worried it was my heart.

They did an EKG, bloodwork & chest x-ray. All came back normal. BP was
spiked but returned to normal prior to leaving (also, I had a stress test
done last year with normal results).

The ER Doctor suggested Prilosec OTC & said to make an appt with my family Dr.
After looking at my chart & noting my test results were "unremarkable", he suggested
it was most likely reflux.

He put me on Nexium & asked to see me after two weeks. The two weeks
go by & I'm pain free. At the follow up he suggests I stay on Nexium for
two months & see if symptoms are gone completely.

That was Wednesday & of course THAT night I begin to get bad symptoms again.
I still have them right now(Friday) only night -quite- as severe.
I still get the pain in the back, neck & chest.

Can reflux pain last that long? & can stress affect it THAT much?
I feel my worrying is only making things worse.

Much thanks.

Replies(7)

MandMs

replied on November 18th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

When do you usually get these chest pains?
Does the chest pain begin or increase with exercise or any other type of physical activity, or, it appear more often after meals and when trying to fall asleep?

Stress or anxiety, can elicit stress-related chest pain. That kind of pain is often dull or non-specific and worsens with stress or anxiety.
Often stress can make chest pain from another cause seem worse than it would otherwise seem.
So, it is important to decipher whether chest pain is the cause of anxiety or the result.

Users who thank MandMs for this post: NeilPage

NeilPage

replied on November 18th, 2008

New User

MandMs wrote:

Physical activity doesn't affect it one way or another. I even got a 15
minute jog in the other evening(when it was still bothering me) & no change at all.

It literally comes out of nowhere. It -does- seem more prevelent in the AM hours. (4AM this morning to be specific) Sometimes it's accompanied by
a rapid, pounding heartbeat. My stomach tends to churn alot too.

I know enough about reflux to have adjusted my diet accordingly. As mentioned,
I'm taking Nexium, but it just seems to be taking it's time working.

MandMs wrote:

Stress or anxiety, can elicit stress-related chest pain. That kind of pain is often dull or non-specific and worsens with stress or anxiety.
Often stress can make chest pain from another cause seem worse than it would otherwise seem.
So, it is important to decipher whether chest pain is the cause of anxiety or the result.

Indeed.

It seems to me, the pain or burning occurs & then I tend to focus on it. Maybe 'obsess' is a better word. After the tests at the ER I -should- be able
to rest easy that it's not my heart, it's just the duration of the discomfort(24 hrs at times) & the occasional arm pain is concerning.

I can't imagine stressing about it helps matters.

Your reply was much appreciated, MandMs.

MandMs

replied on November 19th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

You are welcome anytime!

Anxiety is associated with a two to four-fold risk of developing acid reflux disease.
Chest pains, with heart pounding and stomach feeling churn, seem like symptoms of panic/anxiety attack.
I guess you know that panic attacks can appear during night time sleep, too.
I think you have the both issues, anxiety and acid reflux.
Anxiety, makes your pain looking even worse that it is.
If you are experiencing nighttime attacks of acid reflux, they tend to be worse that the attacks during the day.

Best wishes!
Marija

NeilPage

replied on November 21st, 2008

New User

Re: You are welcome anytime!

MandMs wrote:

I tend to agree.

My family Doctor has scheduled a stress test to be on the safe side & he
also rx'd something for the anxiety. So far, that's helped quite a bit. Pain
is less frequent & less intense. I've had two good nights sleep, although I woke
up at 4am to my heart pounding again.

He did blood work to see if my thyroid is out of whack again. I've been
on synthroid for approx 8 years & my thyroid has typically been a non issue. #s are usually right where they need to be.

I suppose I could need to adjust my dosage.

Thanks again for the thoughtful responses.

MandMs

replied on December 1st, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

You can talk with your GP about anxiety and panic disorder.
The first panic attack often follows a stressful life event such as the death of a close family member or friend, a loss of a close interpersonal relationship or after a separation.
Panic attacks are usually followed by frequent ER visits, cause the one who is experiencing the panic attack feels like his/her life is in danger.
Normal ranges of thyroid hormones, doesn't automatically means that the hypothyroidism is under control.
Every person has his own range of hormone levels when he is feeling fine.
You can have normal thyroid hormones levels, and, still experiencing hypothyroidism symptoms.
Anxiety disorders occur in approximately 30-40% of patients with emerging acute hypothyroidism. Severe anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and “free floating anxiety”, or a continuous feeling of being on edge, are all common anxiety reactions with hypothyroidism.

NeilPage

replied on December 4th, 2008

New User

Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday.

Results from the stress test were normal. BP has been ~ 117/76 &
thyroid was "within normal range" but as you mentioned that doesn't
guarantee being symptom free.

I also had a scope to check my esophagus & it showed some inflamation,
but nothing that concerned the Dr. too much.

The Nexium seems to be working better of late too.

Much thanks, MandMs, for taking the time to respond.

MandMs

replied on December 10th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

You are welcome anytime!

Half of the patients who have GERD also have esophagitis (inflammation of esophagus).
In most people, esophagitis is caused by the digestive juices in the stomach, repeatedly moving upwards into the lower esophagus.
People with inflammation of esophagus lining, usually, experience a burning sensation in the lower chest after swallowing hot fluids, alcohol, concentrated fruit juice or hot fatty foods.

Are you experiencing difficulty swallowing foods?

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