heart problems or heart burn???

[what..the?]

I am trying to find out what the difference is between these two, regards symptoms because I am 28 I think my doctor is looking straight past the heart problem issue and going straight for heart burn. I got one of those ecg things done at my gp's and they said it looks ok but again it is always followed by well your too young. I have been a lover of butter for quite a few years, I eat healthy except the butter though so its not all bad. The doctors should know that I have a family history of heart conditions if they looked on my records. But to me I have had heart burn before or what I think heart burn is it is usually when i have just eaten and/or eaten too fast and it doesnt settle well it would be more of a central chest pain like acid.

But this pain as described to my doctor or at least tried to is a left hand side stabbing pain for no reason I haven't eaten recently or anything, it can come on when stressed or when i'm doing stuff. It feels really bad the pain like no pain I have ever felt you just stop doing everything and sit down, it must be the bodies way of trying to protect you, it can be stabbing for 15mins 30mins or more.

Does anyone see these symptoms as heart burn because it would be good to know I can push myself exercise wise.

[Sqad]

You have heartburn.

[what..the?]

great thanks sqad

[Sqad]

A pleasure.

[R1Geezer]

"Heartburn" is sod all to do with the heart, It's just a nick name given to indigestion. The "burn" is the stomach acid getting up to the top of the gullet.

[what..the?]

why does the acid/pain appear on the left side then? how does the acid/pain get over there?

[craft1948]

I used to suffer very badly....all my own fault....with acute acid reflux which used to be a hot pain which spread, for some reason over the left side of my chest...I also used to suffer from panic attacks which have left me in hospital 3 times.
I have now taken steps to avoid the reflux and learned to control my panic attacks.

[Sqad]

Because as the oesophagus descends into the stomach, it first of all veers to the left.

[ethandron]

i'm currently having investigations for probable acid reflux or hiatus hernia too. have had a poo sample sent off and come back clear, and had an ecg on saturday which the nurse tells me looked fine too. now have to wait to see the doc to see where we go from here.
like you, craft, i've been taking steps to avoid acid reflux and have been a lot better, although i take gaviscon every night before bed 'just in case'. have a nasty feeling the doc is going to suggest a scope down to view what's going on.
what...the, i believe it's a matter of ruling things out and i think you should be reassured that you've had an ecg which hasn't shown any heart problems. acid reflux/heartburn can cause severe pain which is often mistaken for heart problems, mainly in older people. if you're really not happy that things haven't been investigated properly, go back and see your doctor and tell him.

[what..the?]

Thanks guys

ethandron, thats sounds like what the doctors telling me he has told me about the tests that you have had done but quite frankly I dont want them and feel if it is acid why go through hell for them just to say its acid I would rather just live with it knowing its acid. If there was another test for the heart however which didnt envolve scopes i would do it just to make sure and then I can really feel rest assured. But to do all the 'bad' tests on you to 'rule things out' I dont think is fair, it basically stops you going to see them to follow recurrances up.

what was the poo test for exactly, what were they looking for?

[what..the?]

on reading about acid relux, heart burn and all other related acid conditions including hiatus hernia under symptoms it says:

•Deep burning chest pain, which may affect the shoulder blades. The pain is made worse by bending forward, straining or lying down. The pain may disturb sleep and can be so severe that it is mistaken for angina or a heart attack.

•heartburn, which is characterised by a burning sensation that rises from your stomach, or lower chest, up towards your neck, and
•regurgitation of acid into your throat, or mouth, which may cause an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth

I never get a burning sensation ever its always a stabbing pain like I said in my question , no sour taste either?

[ethandron]

the poo test was for the helibactor pylori bacterium (H. pylori) which is the most common cause of stomach and dueodenal ulcers in the uk. most people who have it don't even know they've got it and it causes no problems. for me, it was a 'rule it out' test, which it did.
not everyone gets all the symptoms which you list, i don't get a burning sensation or sour taste either, or any regurgitation of acid. i get very strong, severe pain which goes right through to my shoulder blades. sometimes bending down can set it off, sometimes lying down in bed can. sometimes it just comes on by itself. i'm a post menopausal woman and i had an ecg to rule out heart problems because of my age and time of life.
go back and have your doctor explain things to you and set your mind at rest. :)

[ethandron]

i've just read your last post again, and have a completely different opinion about tests to rule things out.
i'm not very keen on the idea of having a scope put down either, but if it will tell me that there's nothing sinister down there, or if they find a simple hiatus hernia, then it's worth having the test done. and if they find nothing at all then that at least points to it being acid reflux and i can then be treated accordingly. in my opinion, there's no point burying your head in the sand, worrying yourself probably unnecessarily and getting yourself so stressed out that you make your symptoms worse...is there? the only thing stopping you going to follow reoccurences up is your own fear of investigations. the doctor is doing exactly the right thing.
as an example, just supposing i have cancer? then delaying any investigations or treatment could have a devastating effect and potentially shorten my life... for the sake of being a bit nervous and worried for a day or two prior to having any invasive tests.

[Eve]

I have had problems with acid and costochondritis (swelling of the muscles round the ribcage) and ribs popping out of place.

These have caused me horrible stabbing chest pains. I don't really get the sour taste or typical heartburn sensation but it is acid.

I started taking lanzoprazole then changed to omeprazole for the reflux and it's so much better now.

If it's bothering you so much then the tests should justify the means.

I had a camera down and it was ok and worth it to try and find some answers.

[Sqad]

what.the is 28yrs old

She has a family history of heart problems and a phobia of having heart disease.

She couldn't care a "toss" about her heartburn.

Excellent advice given by ethandron and jenna, but with respect I would guess that they were older than 28yrs old and do come well in to the acid reflux age.

A normal resting ECG does not rule out heart disease and this is what. the main concern, she doesn't want gastric investigation (rightly or wrongly)

What should she do? In my opinion go back to the GP accentuate her family history of heart disease and insist on an exercise ECG and an Ultrasound.

[ethandron]

.....and that's what i've suggested, twice :)

[Sqad]

ethandron

///Excellent advice given by ethandron ///

and I applauded that advice ;-)

[ethandron]

..and i was agreeing with you and gave you a smiley face too :) :) :)

[Bbbananas]

... and I third or fourth (of fifth, whatever) that suggestion. Family history does have a bearing, even at the supposedly young age of 28.

[Sqad]

eth...you can give me a "smiley face" anytime....;-))

[Bbbananas]

Gissa moon sqad... go on x