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heartburn or heart problem?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Tomatom
Tomatom

I really can't decide which (if any or both) I have.

I've been prescribed omeprazole for the past year for abdominal pains, which I've taken on and off during that time (6 packets of 20mg - taking 40mg a day). Normally I'd just take two weeks' worth to clear the pains but last time I developed 24/7 pains in my abdomen, base of spine and thighs so the GP game me another 14 day course. Looking back I think the second course caused me problems - dry mouth, constipation, loose stools, malabsorbed food in stools and very dark brown stools.

Towards the end of the second course I started getting mild chest pains. Since finishing the omeprazole the chest pains have got horrendous and are getting worse, there pretty much 24/7, including my upper back, under my left armpit and often radiating down my left arm. They get much worse every evening and I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack several nights a week. They're always in the centre of the sternum or a few inches to the left. I've been to A&E three times and had the paramedics out three times.

I've read online that omeprazole rebound acid can be vicious. Just hard to know if this is the problem or my heart. I feel tired all the time and dizzy after walking sometimes that makes me think heart, but am burping a bit and having abdominal pains sometimes that makes me think heartburn. The chest pain tends to be localised to the centre and left, can be a little uncomfortable to touch. it's also best in the morning and early afternoon and worse in the evening. Can acid reflux be this bad? I've never had it before in my life (I'm 44).

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Tomatom
    Tomatom

    Posted

    Just to add, pain doesn't get any worse if I cough, breathe deeply or bend over.

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 Tomatom

      Posted

      I get pain like this so it could be related. I would suggest a chiropractor. For me part of it is stress and anxiety so I tense up. Even in my sleep I am tense. I wake up with such a pain in the middle of my chest and back and arm. I can rub the front of my shoulder in the muscle just above my arm pit and feel the tension. Deep massage helps too.
    • Tomatom
      Tomatom janelle59755

      Posted

      Thanks. I've been to an osteopath once, was thinking of going again. Probably should give a massage a go too, just to see.

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 Tomatom

      Posted

      I know how you feel though. I swore for a month I was having a heart attack. It was a pitiful month. Chances are if it was your heart not only would the doctors found something but you would have had more symptoms like fatigue or weakness. It sounds like muscle spasms so a chiropractor or massage would help. 
    • Tomatom
      Tomatom janelle59755

      Posted

      Unfortunately I have got massive fatigue at the moment, I could sleep all day! Hopefully it is just a muscle spasm
  • shawnee39116
    shawnee39116 Tomatom

    Posted

    I know anti acids take good things out of your body, do you think you could be deficient in something? That's one reason I hate taking them all the time, makes me feel weird

    • janelle59755
      janelle59755 shawnee39116

      Posted

      It would take years for that to be a problem. I have been on my prescription for 2 years and have had no problems other than them not working any longer. I have seen some folks on here on anti acids for 10+ years.
    • Tomatom
      Tomatom shawnee39116

      Posted

      That's something I've wondered, I asked my GP for vitamin B12 and magnesium blood tests that were done on Monday, I think he may have checked for a few other vitamins and minerals too.

  • norma04599
    norma04599 Tomatom

    Posted

    Strongly recommend endoscopy if you haven"t had done. Ask gastro doc to check for Coelias disease as well as reflux.

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