I've had this pain in the middle of my chest now for about 3 days... It's not constant and at first I thought it was indigestion but now it's going on for this long I'm not sure. I feel it when I take a big breath and then when I lay down; last night I hardly got any sleep because of it. I also feel it when I swallow...

Any ideas? If I'm still having it on Monday I'm going to call the doctor and see if I can go in and see him. It's just got me kind of stressed out because of it being where it is.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 09:29 am:

Definitely call the doctor, but I'll bet it has to do with your stomach more than your heart. I do understand your concern, because for women especially, one of the symptoms of heart problems is "indigestion". You'll feel a whole lot better after your doctor sees you and starts the diagnostic process.

By Kaye on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 09:43 am:

I would def call the doc too.

It could be a number of things though. When you stress you build up gastric juice and they can go into your esphogus. Also your lungs are housed in sacs, they meet at the sternum, those can be inflamed, due to illness or stress. Everything is just right there, so it really could be anything.

If it were me I would take some tums and see if that makes the pain go away. Tums will neutralize those stomach juices.

By Bea on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 11:30 am:

It sounds a bit like spasms of the esophagus. That can be caused by stress. Get to your doctor to find out.

By Heaventree on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 12:47 pm:

I have reflux and often get chest pains even when on my meds. My pain is right in the middle of my chest between my breasts and sometimes stops me in my tracks. I call them my mini-heart attacks. It's not a burning sensation but feels like a deep internal pain. It can last for a few seconds or a few minutes. It does go away after a few minutes. Sometimes it's really quite scary. I just went to the hospital on Monday to have a Barium Xray to check things out. The doctor told me that the pains in my chest were probably due to my reflux problem and he also mentioned that people who suffer from reflux often wake up with a stuffy nose. I also get inflamation around my ribcage so when I take a deep breath it hurts, I usually just take Advil for this.

Hope you are ok, call your doctor just to be on the safe side.

By Marcia on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 04:57 pm:

Cori, the same thing happens to me. I notice it more when I'm stressed out. I take prevacid almost daily now, so it rarely happens anymore.

I have also had pains like what you're describing, Christylee. Normally I get that from very tight muscles in my shoulder blades that radiate right through my chest. Worrying makes the pain so much worse!! If you have tried an antacid with no luck, try some robax platinum. I normally take it at night to help with that kind of tightness, but when it's horrible I take it a couple of times a day.
Hopefully the doctor will have a quick answer for you!!
I hope you feel better!

By Christylee on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 12:21 am:

Thanks everyone, I'm calling the doctor first thing in the morning. Tonight is has been alot worse but I'm trying to hold off until the morning (no medical insurance for ER visits and last one cost me $3000 that I don't have). I've been eating rolaids like it's candy and that doesn't help at all so I'm leaning it NOT being gastric issues such as the reflux or just indigestion. I've had a couple friends say that they felt this way and it was gall bladderish (is that a word) but after reading some online tonight I'm definitly calling first thing in the morning.

I'll post once I know what's going on or if I can't I'm sure Emily or Rayanne can do it for me as well.

Thanks everyone!