Chest pain?

I was diagnosed a few years ago with inflamation of the gullet and have been taken prescribed pills when needed. I had had horrific chest pain and been woken up with it a couple of times and then referred for an endoscopy, and given the above diagnosis.

I did once get severe chest pain, felt very hot and was feeling sick and I did worry it was a heart attack, yet once I vomited I was okay.

For the past couple of months I have had a heaviness in the chest radiating into the back and also pains when walking fast and a constant feeling of being uncomfortable around the stomach/midriff. My body has spread and I have been bloated for a long time with a lot of wind. I saw my GP on 10 March, had an ECG that morning, to rule out heart trouble, which it did, had blood tests on 14 March an an endoscopy on 17 March. Howzat for quick service on the NHS. I have now been diagnosed with a sliding hiatus hernia, but they also found a small nodule inside the hernia. The only thing is they don't explain things to you, just give you a report with the findings and you have to wait for 2-3 weeks for the histology to come back. I am staying calm - it's pointless worrying. At least my bloods have come back normal. So here's hoping!

Best of luck to you

Hurrah! At last, someone with almost exactly the same symptoms, diagnosis and experience!

I have had Tietze's Syndrome (the severest form of Costo-Chondritis) since I was 18 - I'm now 38 (39 in a few weeks to be precise!).

I have also had stomach problems since I was prescribed diclofenac (only in the last 6-9 months I think) for neck, dental pain and it also helped the chest pain a little. I had the endoscopy at the beginning of Feb, and an ultrasound to see if there are any gallstones last week (no results from the ultrasound yet), but the endoscopy gave me a diagnosis of a Hiatus Hernia, Gastritis, and otherwise relatively OK. They took four biopsies which I received a report about today by post - luckily no H.Pylori.

The doctor did say that the Diclofenac (NSAID) had caused the H.Hernia, however, having read up a little more, I think a lot of it would be to do with heavy lifting, as I run a mail order toy company, and there's been plenty of that going on!

Will write more when I get a chance, any questions, feel free to ask away.

Tietze's pain and symptoms were very very much alleviated by being pregnant and for about a year or so after giving birth - not a lot of help if you're a man!

Elaine

:-)

Went back to GPs...He was amazed at the concoction of medication I was taking and said that I should never have been taking the prescribed medicine from the hospital along with what I was already taking!..His words..\"..that lot will almost defininately give you stomach ulcers\"!!

So, I'm to continue with my painkillers and lansoprazole for a month and see if my reflux and chest pain settle any.

I can categorically state that neither of them have got better AT ALL so far, in fact I'm contemplating resorting to the morphine again...it's almost unbearable and having a huge disruptive influence on our family life.

Luckily, I work at the hospital and I'm going to ask if I'm able to have some more steroid injections. Although it's not a cure at least it may alleviate it enough for me to at least cope with life!! I have my 40th birthday coming up at the end of April and want to enjoy it with my family and friends..not sat up in an armchair and them all coming up to me for a chat!! It'll be like an audience with the Pope!!

Good luck to everyone and try and stay positive..I know it's not always easy but as I've said before...there is help for us. Even if it's only communicating through this medium!

Best regards to all.

Hi all you sufferers!

I have suffered from a hiatus hernia for nearly 5 years, experiencing very frightening chest pains radiating into both arms, back and up into my mouth. I have been taken to hospital on 4 occasions believing I was having a heart attack but proven to be ok after undergoing various tests including the treadmill.

I have had an endoscopy (not a pleasant experience) to confirm that I had a small hiatus hernia, (god help anyone with a large one) and ulcers in my gullet caused by the acid coming up an burning it. I am now on omeprozole and domperidone as lanzoprazole wasnt working and after my most recent trip to hospital after a really bad attack I was advised by the doctor to take painkillers and gaviscon which I now take after each meal and before I go to bed.

I feel at the end of my tether with it, I try to eat small meals with nothing that will irritate it, I dont smoke or drink, I sleep propped up on 5 pillows and sometimes feel I am being very unsociable when invited out for a meal or drinks. When I have an attack it can last for a few hours and leaves me feeling a wreck for a few days.

I recently was having a conversation with my brother in law who had his gall bladder removed about a year ago and he asked me to describe the pain and symptoms I had, when I told him he said it was exactly what he was experiencing before he had his gall bladder removed and since then he has not had an attack at all and eats and drinks what he wants. I returned to my doctor and explained all this so he sent me for a scan and low and behold I have a number of large gallstones and I am now waiting to see the consultant.

It might not cure the pain but if they are willing to remove my gall bladder it is worth a try, anything to get rid of the pain and get my life back. I am even thinking of going to a chiropracter to see if they can do anything as I have so much pain and tension in my neck and shoulders. I dont think I fancy having the op on my hiatus hernia having read all the comments from those who have had it.

Good luck to you all I hope things get better for you.

Kind Regards Christine

hi there., i was so glad i found your post as your symptoms are so similiar to mine, th epain in my chest being unearable and i am unable to

do anything about it, i have also found myself at A&E 3 times in the past month, the heart is checked and that ok and i get sent home.

However i have just beem diagnosed with hiatus hernia, and i cant beleive how painful this is, i am kean to know how your symptoms are tnow and what treatment you have had and any advice please.

[quote:4f773e1df3=\"Stinger \"]I'll try and summarise my experiences over the last year: (Bearing in mind an upper GI endoscopy four years ago diagnosed a hiatus hernia.) I have regular pain relief injections after Tens machine and acupuncture had no effect.

May last year ambulance because I had the most horrific chest pain whilst trying to get out of bed..I didn't manage it. The paramedics gave me gas and air to relax me in order to get me into the ambulance and to hospital. I was off work for about seven weeks..diagnosed with costochondritis and Tietzes syndrome. No reflux medication given not even mentioned actually. Frequently sleeping propped up in armchair as it's too painful to lie down.

Phased return back to work, seemed ok but got twinges every now and again. Just advised to keep taking painkillers and NSAIDS.

Six weeks ago, same pain, back to doctors, painkillers and time off, same reasons.

Two weeks ago, ambulance for same pain in hospital again. Lansoprazole given as well as a differrent NSAID and morphin sulphate.

Still off work...my query now is my chest pain to do with the hernia and not costochondritis? Off to my GP on Friday to query him!

Anyone any similar pain?

Thank you and don't suffer in silence...there's help out there![/quote:4f773e1df3]

Hi fellow sufferers,

I am 63 & have had my hernia for 1 yr & been to A&E 4 times last winter. Was in hospital in Jan09, due to the pain & nausea. Diagnosed with h/h in Mar 09. Have all the symptoms that you all have. Was fairly well during the summer months, but by 1st Dec (cold weather started) it all came back with a vengeance. Does anyone else suffer more in the winter? I had bad pain in my back, stomach, shoulder & left arm; the week before Xmas & called out the doctor. She prescribed Ranitidine (twice a day) along with my regular Omeprozole 40mg a day. This has helped a bit & I just about got through Xmas. I now dread Xmas (which I used to love) as I have to watch what I eat (& when). I don't drink or smoke, but I feel for those of you who like a drink at Xmas! I have printed some of these items off to show my consultant when I next see him, as he seems to think that a h/h causes no problems!!!! Surely in this day of modern science, they can come up with a cure (other than surgery - which doesn't seem to work), for h/h - or more effective drugs. Keep smiling everyone - we are all in this together.

I have had problems with reflux acid for the last 3 years now, I am a 42 year old male. I first realised that something wasn't right when driving for 3 hours to the airport to a business meeting, I had a severe pain in my chest, started sweating and felt nauseous and thought I was going to pass out.

I stopped at a service station and had something to eat and immediately felt better, although this repeated itself whilst on the way to an airport for a meeting \"stress\" maybe...?

I went to the doctor as I was suffering from acid and pains in my back along with the sweats and feeling sick, unfortunately my GP couldn't offer untrue diagnosis although a fatty liver was diagnosed and he suggested that the back pain was muscular, which I disagreed with.

I asked to be referred to a specialist as had an endoscopy which by the time I was seen the acid had reduced although he did suggest that I had inflammation.

I suffer with it all the time and eat antacid tablets like they are sweets to help sustain the discomfort, my back pain is still severe and usually starts after I have sat for some time, either through driving or whilst in prolonged meetings, seems to be a thread here?

I have also recently being diagnosed with gout I'm not sure if this is linked, I would love to know what is wrong with me to enable treatment.

Any ideas??

Im so confused i have been told now by 3 doctors that my chest(stomach)back pain had nothing to do with my so called tiny 3cm hiatus hernia(absolutely kills) but is in fact my stomach acid..? but have seen lots of comments from people in pain with hiatus hernias.. am i just getting thobbed off by the docs..??