Waking at night with chest pain and other symptoms
Posted , 2 users are following.
I'm 63, F, and over the last few months I've woken at night (maybe 6 or so times) with extreme chest discomfort and a feeling of being profoundly unwell. A few times it passed and I could get back to sleep but a few times it hasn't and I've ended up in the ER after being up all night. But all they do there is check to see if you are having an active heart attack and this has always been negative.
Other symptoms at the time:
tingling in arms and hands, upper chest, neck, face, head (VERY weird feeling, stops me from concentrating on anything else) - this can stay for hours
upset stomach (a bit of nausea but I never throw up, instead have mild diarrhoea)
heart palpitations (I have had both PACs and PVCs on and off for years)
The chest discomfort is mid-chest, spreading outwards to the shoulders. It feels like tightness but it's hard to describe. This can keep me up all night, and the last episode I had (last night) is still affecting me now - the following evening - which is the longest it has ever persisted. I've no idea how I will be able to sleep tonight. I've had no appetite today, have barely eaten.
I had a stress test a few months ago and did not pass (monitor showed unusual readings), but since I was not feeling anything physically at the time, they wrote it off as an anomaly. My family doctor thinks I may have GERD and wants me to go on PPIs. So far I've resisted this due to the potential side effects but I'm feeling I may give them a try to see if they help. I don't know if I have a heart issue like some kind of angina, or if this is a digestive issue. I do have some bloating and other digestive issues on and off. Gaviscon seems to help when I have belching etc. and I'm being careful with my food, have ruled out eating/drinking the usual suspects.
When I don't have these bad nights I sleep really well, but when I'm having the episodes they do seem to coincide with some nights of poor sleep. Just wishing for some answers!!
0 likes, 1 reply
claudiopaulo caelai15478
Posted
Hi caelai, sorry to hear that you're going through this. I'm having same of the symptoms you are feeling. Also new findings this night, see https://patient.info/forums/discuss/how-i-cured-my-acid-reflux-naturally--402930?order=oldest&page=39#topic-replies
Hope you can find useful info on here. Just rule out any other medical issue and maybe focus on LES/hernia and impact on vagus nerve.
Let me know what you think, and please share your feelings.