Anyone else experiences chest pain that radiates to the back with some trouble swallowing?
I have a small hernia as well as GERD.
Hey there!
I do! And it's terrible. At times is like even breathing is an issue!
YES .... 100 times over, yes.
It is terrible at times. When things are acting up I get a dull, ache at the base of my sternum that leads to sharp pains in my chest, sharp pains in my upper back, as well as my shoulders and even the sides of my neck. Everything becomes tender. Even the ribs near the base of the sternum become painful to press as though they were bruised from getting hit.
I had an endoscopy a few months back and was diagnosed with a 2cm hiatal hernia as well as inflammation in the esophagus. My GI did say that when the esophagus is inflamed from reflux, it can cause referred pain to other parts of the chest/back.
Furthermore, I will often experience what I can best describe as a "kink" in my esophagus and throat. It feels like a thud or pop or misfire when swallowing. It makes the whole swallowing motion odd and difficult. It is worse when I lay on my back or right side. It is completely non-existent when laying on my left side. Is this because while laying on the left side, the stomach is below the esophagus and thus the hernia is not pushing further into the diaphragm? I am not sure but I think so.
My GI doctor also said that a small hernia should cause much discomfort outside of the reflux it makes us more prone to having. I am not so sure. I am currently on my second bout of Omeprazole 40mg/day and am in consistent pain daily. A nurse at the GI office said I am in a flare-up.
So in summation to your original questions, YES.
When I'm having the hiatal hernia pain it feels like it is radiating into my breast and it's pretty scary. Always think I'm having a coronary 😟
I too sleep on my left side as I feel helps my symptoms. There's alot if belching as well Urrgghhh! Horrible I tell you!
Belching, yes. This also! I will drink some water and belch 3-4 times as if I just drank a liter of soda. It is not every time I drink, but enough to be annoying.
I was able to drink water comfortably but for about a week now it makes me feel bloated. Stopped all sodas.
Even though reflux is horrible .............and all the symptoms are rotten and of course I don’t want anyone else to suffer.........in a weird way when I read peoples accounts of all their symptoms -I find it really reassuring to know that I’m not alone and that other people are suffering the exact same symptoms as me, and it’s all “par for the course” when one is unlucky enough to have reflux.
I just wish I knew the cause and why I’ve suddenly got it aged 61. Also, so many people talk about trying to get off their PPI’s and so I made a decision to stop my Omeprazole earlier this week................BIG MISTAKE!!
The heartburn, pain in the middle of my back, swallowing issues and burping has come back with a vengeance!!
I’m obviously back on them again and I’ve decided that the alleviation of all my symptoms far outweighs the risks of being on them!!
Good luck to everyone.............and incidentally........before I suffered from this I’d never even realised it was a thing. We’ve all heard of diabetes, epilepsy, arthritis and hundreds of other illnesses but gastric reflux seems to be way off the radar and is just unknown to most people..........unless you’re one of us suffering from it of course!!
It is normal to find comfort knowing one is not alone. I feel the same thing, as do many, I'm sure
And yes, isn't it odd indeed how it suddenly becomes an issue? I had always heard people talk about "heartburn" as something that shows up occasionally when you eat too much chilli at a barbecue. What we are dealing with never even was on my radar.
And like you, my symptoms exploded into my life without any warning. And I am 35, athletic/weightlifter. Never could I have imagined this happening. So yes, it is very shocking when it happens. Thankfully we do have treatment options and forums such as these
I'm 42 and my symptoms started last year in Dec. I first had tests done in January and one of the main concern was that my ph was 5. I stop having acidic food. I also used to do mild work outs at home using dumbbells and stretches. It is said that hernia pain gets worse if you lift weights?
My symptoms get worse when I exercise. Even something as simple as running on my treadmill throws me north... I burp a lot during runs and I get a lightheaded for a few seconds.
And yes this forum has helped me a lot.
Not only do I know i am not alone but I get more information and treatments options.
It's really a therapy!
Thanks NC ...this makes me feel much better. I am on ezomeprazole 40mg daily but the discomfort never goes away completely. I ignore it at times but even in the middle of a conversation with friends and family,my mind keeps searching for the pain. 😔
I feel the breast into my breast too and always think maybe it's my heart!
This is a very sad way of living. Always worried about what is wrong with me.what is it that my doctors are missing? It's horrible!
Hi christelle
yes I too have these symptoms.they are a classic when you have a hiatus hernia and GERD.I’m also on 40mg Nexium and 300mg ranatidine.Not always helping me. I think they deplete all the acid in stomach and you still need some stomach acid.you can get heartburn from not having enough acid. I have now stopped the ranatidine and eating live yogurt throughout the day ( about a large spoonful ) four times a day and probiotics.Which seems to be helping.Also I have stopped all the foods that can aggravate the hernia and GERD.I was diagnosed early January And have suffered like you and all the other folk on this forum.What works for one doesn’t work for others .Its really trial and error. But coming off the PPIs needs to be done very gradual which is what I’m doing and could take months. But I feel they do more harm with long term use.And can cause other unwanted health issues . Once I’m weaned of ranatidine I will try to come of the Nexium.if I’m successful I will give you all an update with details of how I did it.take care.
Yes christelle the breast pain are worrying. I told my doc that during my last visit but when he checked and pressed I felt no pain. Plus the pain smack in the middle of the breasts stresses me out totally and think that it's my heart too!!
I stopped excersing. But when I lift weight of any kind the it unbearable. Even when I pick my niece of 2yrs up!
I have heard a lot about probiotics. Do they help?
A hiatal hernia can certainly be aggravated by heavy lifting or anything that compresses your lower abdomen, such as sit-ups, crunches etc.
My GI doctor warned me against doing heavy flat-bench, chest presses as it demands a certain amount of abdominal tensing which can further force the stomach up through the diaphragm. It is true that I have felt worse when lifting even light weights depending on the motion/position.
And even something like running can cause discomfort, yes. I play basketball quite a bit and have noticed some discomfort during games as well.
Certainly discouraging at times but not debilitating!
A friend of mine with all the same symptoms had been on PPIs for 9 yrs .In January she stopped them all.And started taking probiotics and prebiotics and organic apple cider and live yogurt .All her symptoms stopped she now drinks wine and normal foods.But controls it with the apple cider..when she gets a bit of heartburn.So I’ve started the probiotics and the live yogurt the last two weeks and today has been the best day for me with no symptoms,in spite of eating Food today with garlic, drinking a lemonade and chocolate,all of which I have nor eaten since January.Im thinking your body needs a bit of acid,as I said before all the meds you take for this condition depletes all the acid.But I’m going to gradually stop the meds ,rather than like my friend who just when cold turkey .As I don’t want to take the chance of it backfiring . So I’m not not sure if the probiotics actually are working or the yogurt but I have read that other people get good results.So try them you have nothing to loose but they take about a month before you feel the benefits so I’m told . Hope this info is helpful to you.
Thank you! It is pretty helpful.
So it's best not to lift a thing heavy one can help it. 😕