34M, moderate smoker.
Since Nov 2025, after taking metoclopramide + fluoxetine, I had what felt like a panic-like episode. Not long after that, I started developing symptoms that haven’t fully gone away.
Main symptoms:
Ongoing squeezing/pressure in the middle of the chest
Sometimes an electric shock-like feeling on the left side of the chest
Dull discomfort in the jaw/teeth area (no dental cause found)
Jaw can feel slightly sore when pressed
Symptoms happen both at rest and during activity
This has been going on long-term without fully resolving
No shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, or sweating
The chest symptoms feel more like angina than a panic attack.
Mental health / medication background:
After the first episode in November 2025, I switched from fluoxetine to escitalopram, and also took a short course of benzodiazepines. Fluoxetine was thought to possibly be too activating for me.
After this change, I actually felt a bit better for 1–2 weeks.
But in December 2025, I suddenly had a strong episode of tight squeezing chest pain, which scared me a lot. Since then, the chest pressure has continued in the background.
I’m also being treated for an anxiety (panic) disorder with escitalopram.
Even with my anxiety history, I’ve never experienced physical symptoms like this before, which is why I’m confused.
Heart tests done:
ECG: normal
Heart ultrasound (echo): normal
Stress test: very good performance (12.4 METs), completely normal with no heart issues and no symptoms during the test
Blood tests including troponin: normal
Doctors said heart problems are very unlikely.
Stomach / digestion tests:
Small hiatal hernia (grade 1)
Inflammation in the lower esophagus (reflux)
Mild gastritis
H. pylori infection (currently being treated)
Current issue:
Even with treatment, I still have chest pressure and dull jaw discomfort, and I can’t figure out what’s causing it.
What I’m trying to understand:
Based on what’s been checked, possible explanations I’ve read about include:
Acid reflux / GERD-related chest pain
Hiatal hernia discomfort
Esophagus sensitivity or spasms
Muscle or chest wall pain
Nerve-related referred pain (possibly explaining jaw discomfort)
Anxiety making physical symptoms feel stronger or more intense
Main question:
What could explain this combination of:
chest pressure that feels like squeezing
dull jaw discomfort
normal heart tests (including stress test and troponin)
mild stomach/esophagus findings
no other typical heart-related symptoms like sweating, dizziness, or nausea
and the fact this feels different from my usual anxiety symptoms
Has anyone experienced something similar or have any idea what direction I should look into next?