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From: mark
Date: 12/21/00
Time: 07:24:17
Over a period of two months I have had chest pains in the upper left side of my chest. The first time it happened I had the pains from my chest, under my left arm, and around to the back. I also had heart palpitations, and had a very nervous feeling. I went to the ER, the checkin nurse said that my pulse was very high and they brought me right in. They drew blood, took a chest x-ray, and an EKG. They also gave me a shot of Toridol and Pepsid. The ER doctor said that it was not my heart and that he thought it was either chostrocondritis or acid reflux and sent me home. He also told me not to have an coffee or soda and to stay away from spicey and greasy food. Two days later I went to my doctor. He agreed with the ER doctor and put me on Protonix. He also did blood tests to check for bacteria and he did a lipid profile, which all came back normal. Two weeks later I was sitting in class and I had another attack. My chest got very sore and my pulse increased. I got very hot and slightly nauseous. My father had to come pick me up (I live an hour away), as I felt very unconfortable in the car and did not think I could drive for an hour. My upper left chest burned and my left hand was sort on numb. When I got home I did not feel like going to the ER again and I had a doctors appointment the next morning anyway. I went to the doctors, and in the waiting room I started getting the chest pain again. They brought me in and the doctor did an EKG. He compaired it to the one that I had in the ER and saind there was some difference between the two and sent me to see a cardiologist. The cardiologist said that the difference in the EKGs were normal,and that he did not think it was my heart, but he wanted me to have an echocardiogram and stress test anyway. I went for the echocardiogram which was normal. I went back to my general doctor and he sent me for an Upper GI, which again showed nothinng, He then sent me to see a gastroenterologist. He sent me for a Chest CT scan, which was normal and an upper EDG. The EDG showed some bile reflux and gastritis. The gastroenterologist told me to continue the protonix and also gave me hyoscyamine. He also told me to stay away from things like coffee and spicey food. I felt pretty good after that, but last night I got the burning sensation in my chest again. I called the gastroenterologist and he told me to take an aleve and to see if the pain goes away. He seemes kind of unsure about what else to do. He also asked about anxiety and stress. The aleve seemed to help a little, and this morning I only have a slight pressure feeeling in my chest. I have been staying away from coffee, spicey and oily food and soda. I only have been drinking milk and water. I still have to go for the stress test in a week, but like I said none of the Doctor's think it is my heart. I am really not too sure what to do now. I am very active, I work full time, and I am working on my Master's degree. I don't feel any stress from these things, but I am not sure if it is subconcious. I was wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms and what they did to relieve them. I am afraid to drive long distances, and I do have to go to class tonight. I don;t know what to do.
Thanks in advance!