Chest pain from GERD that causes anxiety

[Bondstreet1]

Hi All, I’m a 55 year old male and this is my first post. I have been really fit most of my life and a non smoker. I had an MI 3 years ago. My rehab went extremely well and eventually I got myself fit enough to walk at a brisk pace for 2 to 3 hours a day with my dogs. Unfortunate I had another MI in December 2019. They also discovered that I had a pulmonary embolism (PE) in my lung. The diagnosis at the moment is that the PE might have caused the MI or the MI caused the PE. I had a angiogram cancelled in December due to a bleed at my eye from the increased blood thinners. The cardiologist suggested that I let things settle, start cardio rehab and take it from there wether I need an angiogram. I also suffer from severe GERD (Reflux disease) for the last 4 years which causes chest pain and shortness of breath. These symptoms cause me a lot of anxiety. I have attended A&E a few times with heart attack symptoms to be told it’s due to the GERD. I’m genuinely embarrassed to continue to attend A&E with chest pain as I know how stretched the NHS trying to deal with genuine cases. The frequency of my chest pain from GERD also makes hospital visits preventative as I’d be there most days! I’m trying to push on treatment for GERD with my GP as my quality of life is being ruined. Does anyone else have a similar situation or advice?

[roundthehorn]

I am in a similar situation to yourself, the pain from GERD and ANGINA are almost identical. If i get concerned about the pain I take two puffs of my GTN spray and if nothing changes I take Peptac which works for me. At the beginning I kept a diary of the foods that affect me most and either try to avoid or medicate with peptac after the meal. Good luck.

[Bondstreet1 in reply to roundthehorn]

Thanks very much Roundthehorn. I’ll give that a go.

[mahol]

I have similar symptoms to you several years ago I had severe Gerd and my medication was doubled to 80mg +gaviscon as reqd. I've a hiatus hernia for 20+years. It was when I was walking to the shops one day I had an angina attack. In hindsight I had angina for almost 2years.The worst for me is at night fast asleep I have an attack, what I do is take gav. Advance, wait 5mins if pain still there use my spray, if pain still there as it was last week I got down to A&E. It was Gerd but as you say I Don, t want to go again, I have my pre-op assessment on Wed. this week for triple bypass. I agree with you not knowing what it is is so upsetting. I hope to be in surgery within 3weeks.Since diagnosis it is now 21wks waiting, scans. etc. Anyway all the best and good luck I understand.

[Bondstreet1 in reply to mahol]

Hi Mahol, thanks for your reply. It’s great to hear from others who have an understanding of these symptoms. All the very best for your upcoming operation.

[TuckBox2]

Mine was the other way round, I suffered GERD for many years and had a fundoplication in 2010, it was a great help and I rarely had any GERD symptoms. I did occasionally have esophageal spasm and was always told to go to a&e to have this checked. I was on Esomeprazole (Nexium) and Ranitidine and stopped for a couple of years after the op but am back on them both.

Last August I thought I was having another spasm, tried a few tricks that I found usually helped (20 fast sips of ice cold water, usually gives me hiccups and stops the spasm) but should have realised the pains were different this time, when I eventually took myself to a&e this time I was having a MI heart attack. I was in hospital 3 days and had a stent fitted and been OK since.

[tunybgur]

I also used to suffer minor acid problems, but my wife had to take antacids every night and she used to try to sleep sitting up.

We tried various medications and were swigging gaviscon on a regular basis, but the best solution we found was a daily glass of kefir, this has pretty much solved the problem for both of us.

We make it ourselves, it's really cheap and simple, get some grains (available on the internet) and just strain them every day and refill, simple, takes a few minutes every day and is much cheaper than commercial kefir or yougurt.

Good luck

[Bondstreet1 in reply to tunybgur]

Hi Tunybgur, thanks for your reply. I’ve not heard of this but I’ll give it a go and post back with the results.

[Stu888]

Hi, A lot of Polish shops seem to sell Kefir at nearly half the price that supermarkets sell it for (same brand) e.g Sainsbury’s sell 1 litre for £1.50 which a small Polish shop sells for 85p so it’s worth checking if you have polish shops in your area.

[Bondstreet1 in reply to Stu888]

Thanks Stu888👍

[dunestar]

Hello Bondstreet1. I have a slight hiatus hernia and have been diagnosed with GERD but it's pretty much under control at the moment. In my case it's all about what I eat. A book which really changed things for me is "The Acid Watcher Diet - A 28 Day Reflux Prevention and Healing Programme" by Dr Jonathan Aviv. With me I have to watch fats as well as high acid foods. I've found eating early in the evening helps - nothing later than 7pm. Small meals is also a factor.

[Bondstreet1 in reply to dunestar]

Hi Dunestar, that’s great thanks.👍

[kingsizexx]

Hey Bondstreet1 what did cause this trouble? Some of my friends had same thing from smoking weed, but I dont think the weed was the cause, because it all comes from head, you know. I tried to suggest them something, it is some kind of herb that relieves pain and allows you to chill and analyze the problems from kratomgallery.com . But you know what.. never do drugs unless you are sure in yourself, as they can be good in some situations, but if you are not capable to handle all the shit that is gonna fall upon you(mentally) then you are screwed, just like my mates.

[Bondstreet1 in reply to kingsizexx]

Hi Kingsizexx,

I’m not sure if it was the heart meds? I have been taking the Kefir (Chuckling Goat), changed my diet to vegetarian and I’ve noticed a massive improvement.

[Bloodredroses]

Modern Blood thinners like Rivaroxaban can cause GERD as harsh on stomach . Make sure you take it ( I have my 5 mg statin at sane time , WITH A THICK DRINK, I always have a SLIMFAST Chocolate in skim milk (as lower calories ) whisked frothy . No later than 7 p m then a meal even soup, as can’t take pills or eat first thing in mornings. That helps . Has you G P not prescribed LANSOPRAZOLE ( I have Zoton fasten as easily digested dispersive for my stomach. NHS at G P will try to prescribe any generic LANSOPRAZOLE, as cheaper . I fight that one . I was told if GERD should take that w dry day . I don’t if don’t need . Depends on food type .

I got shallow raspy throat breathing, got tef to a respiratory Specialist . ( A very good one ) As thought it was asthma , ( also get breathless if pollen pollution allergies .) specialist told me my oxygen was fine lung function fine . GERD cause , not lung function. To have a hot shower on the throat to get rid , if I am not showering at that moment I use very hot facecloth on thrust chest for 30 mins . Fixed it for me. The GERD acid reflux causes LARYNGEAL SPASM . ( not that but sounded like . Lol.).IN MY CASE ITS A BREATHING RESTRICTION coughing to try to clear throat and a high pitched whistle (STRYDOR ) See google articke below . Hot water fixes it . It did for me . Even very hot washcloth if not shower . Raspy breathing goes. So the GERD MEDS , Slimfast milk drink with blood thinner meds . No msg chillis , but I love ginger and take turmeric (with the Slimfast . ) no spicy , no falafafel indigestion food . Kefir small glass every day plain or flavour Sainsburys . LANSOPRAZOLE , heat on throat chest. Rarely get the raspy shallow throat breathing anymore .oh and MUST SLEEP WITH WEDGE GERD PILLOW , like a fkat pyramid shape. Off Amazon with washable covers and a spare. I bought a brand called Hedgehog ( good quality ) not soft sponge . Plus 2 normal pillows on top of it . 1 above the other in height not on top of each other as you fall off when sleep . That helps tremendously . Never sleep flat . Acidic fruit not good, have a fizzy Vit C instead . Diluted . If you are not at home and take your pills or run out of the Slimfast powder or milk , just buy a ready made Slimfast drink in small Bottle . Avoid blood thinners statins any pills on less than full or full of Slimfast type drink which coats the stomach . GERD REFLUX is bad for heart , avoid it at all costs , things should improve . Did for me . Good luck .

White on black google article

[Bondstreet1 in reply to Bloodredroses]

Hi Bloodredroses, thank you so much for taking the time to write this post. I’ll definitely try the slimfast drink as this was also mentioned in a previous reply as being really helpful. Have a fantastic weekend!🌞😁

[Bloodredroses in reply to Bondstreet1]

Thanks , yes that was my previous reply lol ( any thick drink will do)