Hi All,
This is my first time doing this so I want to try to be as detailed as possible, as I have gone through several doctors and am simply not satisfied with my current situation and honestly don't know what else to do.
It all started about one year ago when I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I couldn't breathe. I went to the ER after about 2 days I was having a hard time breathing, always feeling like I was short of breathe. He gave me a inhaler which did not help, then after a few days my symptoms went away and I had this feeling of air trapped in my chest/throat and I was constantly forcing myself to burp in order to relieve these symptoms. He referred me to a gastroenterologist, with whom essentially determined and diagnosed me with some gastritis and GERD/Acid reflux.
Tests I have done:
- upper endoscopy (showed some gastritis/inflammation and acid reflux)
- 2 stool tests to check for h. pylori and other bacterium (both negative)
- esphogeal manometry and (2) 24hour pH tests (one without nexium and second time after maxed on nexium, twice a day. showed I was swallowing a lot of air and had acid reflux)
- swallow test? forgot what it's called but I drank liquids and they saw how it went down through xray.
Nothing has helped. I was prescribed prilosec, nexium, etc with no relief. I still take 1 nexium a day now as when I stopped, the forced belching would bring acid up and burn my chest/throat.
My doctors are now trying to prescribe me Zoloft in order to "suppress" my brain and feeling these symptoms, but I am hesitant as I assume this would only mask the problem, even if it worked.
I just CANT GET THIS FEELING TO GO AWAY. I am constantly belching, my chest is extremely tight, etc. Is it anxiety? I don't feel anxious.
ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED. PLEASE HELP... THANK YOU.
Tony
Also, I am a healthy, 26 year old male. I regularly go to the gym and lift, but because of this problem it's harder for me to do cardio exercises like running as it bothers my breathing/uncomfortable.
It could be anxiety, and even if the medication initially works it could be the placebo effect. You can always give it a try but do not continue using it if you see no improvement or little inprovement. Stary away from benzos unless you have no other option. God bless!
Could it really be anxiety though? I don't feel anxious. Is it subconcious?
I'm no expert, but based on my own experince it could be anxiety. In my case which is not the same but I did have lack of air and chest pain they said it was reflux/gastritis for 2 years, in the process they said COPD, asthma, cardio related and finally anxiety. So far after 4 years they have no clear answer, and symptoms change with time. They even took out my gall-bladder which made no diffrenece because I have no stomach issues or pain. So basically I'm not much help to you, but if anyhting do not take benzos unless you have no option, and do not let them take out your gall-bladder because other issues will come with it. ;-(
Yeah I checked out a lung/heart doctor as well and he said there are no issues...
Hi Tony
I can identify with you to a certain extent, my problem has been my throat for the last year,
it always feels like something is stuck and I have to clear it, which makes it worse. I hate to eat, because it makes it worse too.
I was diagnosed years ago with Gerd and hiatus hernia, used to take Galvescon (spelling) for 2-3 years, slept elevated, eventually it went away all these years.
Presently my doctor thought it's all from sinus drip, but he did say to take Pepcid AC twice a day along with sinus medicine. It's not working and this Friday, when clearing my throat I brought up a bunch of.....well, I guess food? I call my doctor tomorrow and demand tests, because I'm getting anxiety over it and feel like I can't breathe. I will let you know what was done or what meds I will get. In the meantime listen to your body, it will tell you what medication feels better and if you
just need to go back for more tests. Don't let a doctor tell you to "deal" with it, because they will say that.
All the best,
Lancie
Do you eat a lot of tuna?
I don't think it's anxiety but I think they say that when nothing they try works. I think the answer is to use antacids in a crisis but not long term and try and come to terms with the idea that life has changed. I'm finding this very difficult. My chest tightness becomes painful as the day progresses. So constantly massaging (which produces burps and helps a bit) and lying down (which makes it a lot better but upsets my arthritic neck) then sitting up again. Not very relaxing! Every days a struggle but I don't think the medics have an answer so the only choice is psychological pain management. Good luck!
i'll share my issue let me know if anyone identify with similar issue.. I like always something is in my throat and small noises appear when i like try to move air through the throat softly.. similar noise/feeling appear when i swallow my saliva.. also i sometimes feel the dots under my tounge... nothing hurt just annoying.. anyone else?
=
Me too Dean. The noise I feel is due to the mucous membranes. I also have slight pain when I swallow saliva and a feeling of something swollen in my throat.
Hello, I am 23 years old female, had hiatal hernia and GERD, had toupet fundoplication and it has been two months after the surgery, I was constantly burping before the surgery and getting food out of my system by doing it, was a constant torture couldn't eat anything, and after surgery I am exactly in your situation, I feel like air is stuck in my chest and I am constantly trying to pull it out and it is worse after I eat, I only eat blended food and one time my surgeon told me to eat it without blending and I got even worse and almost threw up, but ended up throwing up a lot of air. I was taking nexium then zantac but it does not seem to help, when I take it I am unable to burp and my stomach and lungs fill up with air and I feel like blowing up and finally after torture of two or three hours it gets out but burping doesn't go away. My surgeon also prescribed me Zolaft, but as I read amongst many side effects there is chest pain and I think it will make things worse, moreover like you I think that it is a physical problem and pills will only mask it. Please help if anything changed for you, I need advice I am going mad.
Wow. Someone who is going through what I am too. I also am going mad. Constant feeling in my chest/throat sucks. I swear it was never like this before my endoscopy. Hopefully you get answers and can share!
Healthy 23year old male and have a similar problem. It caused a lot of anxiety for a while because I feels like something is pushing on my chest/throat. I've tried antacids, ppis but the only thing that seems to work is eat smaller amounts and try to increase the acid in my stomach. Still an issue but not nearly as bad as it was by doing that
Dear tonujyoo,
I just found your post,pls tell me if any outcome you have... I had a same problem and more, something was pressing on my chest,reason was calcium supplement intake... i stopped and was treated by Enzoorazole for 1 month(i even checked my heart,did holter to be sure was not heart) 3 days ago i started Calcium and bone vitamins inteke again and i have the same,woke up at night with same burping-pressing felling. Tightness of throat. Waiting for your reply...
Hi Tony,
After reading your post and a lot of the replies, it's good to know I'm not alone. I'm a 25 year old and by the doctors terms "healthy male". I've been forcing myself to burp to try and relieve the "air" or "gas" or whatever it is that is causing the pressure in my chest, and the uneasy digestion of my stomach for a couple years now. I was prescribed 20mg of prilosec which I thought helped a little at first, but soon my body became resistant. Went back to the doctor a couple weeks ago and he prescribed be 40mg of prilosec which made it worse, and yesterday for the first time caused me to puke after just drinking grape juice...
I've had a CAT scan and the doctors say everything looks normal, so my next step is to go to a gastrologist, but after reading this forum, it sounds like no one has has any benefit from doing so.
At this point in my life, I'm scared to eat anything because almost everything I do causes my horrible symptoms, which in turn keeps me up at night, and has causes me to lose a lot of weight. Bowel movements are normal, it's just the food entering my stomach that is such a hassle. It feels like it gets stuck at the bottom of chest/upper stomach and won't fully enter my stomach.
Please help if anyone has found a solution to what seems like a very similar situation we're all going through..
I also have the same exact feeling ... I been to alot of doctors and them telling me i had gerd gave me alot of hope because i was always thinking that i eas having a heart attack...didnt know at the time that gerd mimics a heart attact...Right now at this moment i feeling bad on the right side of chest area..it feels like im just full of air in my chest but it seem to go away for awhile after i pass gas or burp...i was referred to an cardiologist to have a camera put up my nose to go in my stomach and to go go an neurologist but i dont have any insure and the price is $347 without insurance so im having to fral with this without medicine until i can be able to get some insurance so kind of way so yes i do understand....All i can say is pray and ask god to heal the sickness... I do everyday.....
you probably have esophageal stricture, its when the esophagus narrows and food can barely enter. i have the same issue man, and its honestly a struggle just praying to god i somehow fix it.
Hey I have similar symptoms. I was diagnosed with acid reflux years ago. I have a constant center lower right chest pain that radiates back to my right shoulder. Feeling of food stuck on right side chest where the ache is. I am always burping and can feel the gas coming only from the right side. Anyone else have these symptoms? Never thought gas could cause shoulder pain
Have you had any luck in getting over this? I am experiencing something very similar to this. Please let me know if you’ve found something that worked for you.