Should I go to the hospital? (Update)

cc431

georgie4682

 And what could this be?

Last night I had what I thought was heartburn.  I took some Tums, but they didn't work.  Then it stopped and when it came back it was an absolutely horrible pain right in the center of my chest.  It lasted for maybe a minute and went away.  It then came back a few more times last night before I went to bed.  It hurt so bad I was just hunched over trying not to cry.

It didn't happen at all throug the night, but then this morning it happened once.

I would hate to go to the hospital and then they tell me nothing is wrong.  And if it doesn't happen again, I don't know if it is even worth the trip.  What do you all think this could be and is it serious enough to see a doctor? 

Do by any chance drink the high caffeine energy drinks that seem to be everywhere, like Red Bull or Amp?  Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol can all play a factor in the heartburn.

Nope.  I don't drink a lot of caffeine, no energy drinks, and I don't drink any alcohol.

But it seems that the Doctor could only come up with heart burn.  He gave me some pills to take before every meal and sent me on my way.  They did do an EKG and he gave me a drink that made my mouth and throat very numb.  He also told me to stay away from spicy foods and alcohol.

On the plus side, I haven't had any more pains today, but that might be because I haven't eaten anything yet.  So, here's hoping for no more pains!!

I hope you don't have any more pains, but in case you do you might want to write down what you eat and drink for a few days. My sister went through something off and on for MONTHS and she treated it as heartburn .....until her gall bladder had a total meltdown and she ended up in the hospital having it removed that night.

I'm crossing my fingers for you.

georgie4682

cc431

georgie4682

 And what could this be?

Last night I had what I thought was heartburn.  I took some Tums, but they didn't work.  Then it stopped and when it came back it was an absolutely horrible pain right in the center of my chest.  It lasted for maybe a minute and went away.  It then came back a few more times last night before I went to bed.  It hurt so bad I was just hunched over trying not to cry.

It didn't happen at all throug the night, but then this morning it happened once.

I would hate to go to the hospital and then they tell me nothing is wrong.  And if it doesn't happen again, I don't know if it is even worth the trip.  What do you all think this could be and is it serious enough to see a doctor? 

Do by any chance drink the high caffeine energy drinks that seem to be everywhere, like Red Bull or Amp?  Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol can all play a factor in the heartburn.

Nope.  I don't drink a lot of caffeine, no energy drinks, and I don't drink any alcohol.

But it seems that the Doctor could only come up with heart burn.  He gave me some pills to take before every meal and sent me on my way.  They did do an EKG and he gave me a drink that made my mouth and throat very numb.  He also told me to stay away from spicy foods and alcohol.

On the plus side, I haven't had any more pains today, but that might be because I haven't eaten anything yet.  So, here's hoping for no more pains!!

Sorry I missed this :)  Been away for a few days interviewing.  It sounds to me like classic heartburn with esophagitis.  What they gave you that numbed your throat was what we call GI coctail and is usually just mylanta and xylocaine jelly or some combination.  Heart burn frequently has pains that come and go in that way especially if you have an associated ulcer or esophagitis.  Do stay away from spicy foods and alcohol for awhile and sit upright for at least an hour after eating for a while.  You may want to follow-up with your regular doctor and be evaluated for endoscopy to rule out H. Pylori if your symptoms return. Honestly, it does not sound like biliary disease (gallstones) to me at all and I see a LOT of gallbladder disease in my specialty (lap chole is the bread and butter of general surgery).  Usually with symptomatic cholelithiasis or cholecystitis you have right sided pain in your abdomen.  Epigastric (middle upper) abdomen pain can be from gallstones being stuck in the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis) or when they pass by the pancreas and cause pancreatitis.  If you have either of these conditions, you would be much sicker and have nausea/vomiting and continued pain.  It's possible to have gallstones looking like you do (thin and young) but exceedingly rare.  Usually gallstones are seen in people with the F's (fat, fertile, forty).  When thin people have gallstones, they typically run in families.  I'm glad you are feeling better :)  Did they by chance check some labs?  If you have any concern about gallstones, and I honestly probably wouldn't with the information you have provided, you can do a RUQ ultrasound to rule it out. 

ottoluv

Sorry I missed this :)  Been away for a few days interviewing.  It sounds to me like classic heartburn with esophagitis.  What they gave you that numbed your throat was what we call GI coctail and is usually just mylanta and xylocaine jelly or some combination.  Heart burn frequently has pains that come and go in that way especially if you have an associated ulcer or esophagitis.  Do stay away from spicy foods and alcohol for awhile and sit upright for at least an hour after eating for a while.  You may want to follow-up with your regular doctor and be evaluated for endoscopy to rule out H. Pylori if your symptoms return. Honestly, it does not sound like biliary disease (gallstones) to me at all and I see a LOT of gallbladder disease in my specialty (lap chole is the bread and butter of general surgery).  Usually with symptomatic cholelithiasis or cholecystitis you have right sided pain in your abdomen.  Epigastric (middle upper) abdomen pain can be from gallstones being stuck in the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis) or when they pass by the pancreas and cause pancreatitis.  If you have either of these conditions, you would be much sicker and have nausea/vomiting and continued pain.  It's possible to have gallstones looking like you do (thin and young) but exceedingly rare.  Usually gallstones are seen in people with the F's (fat, fertile, forty).  When thin people have gallstones, they typically run in families.  I'm glad you are feeling better :)  Did they by chance check some labs?  If you have any concern about gallstones, and I honestly probably wouldn't with the information you have provided, you can do a RUQ ultrasound to rule it out. 

Thanks so much!  This makes me feel better

Actually my mom and one of my sisters has acid reflux and take meds for it, so I guess I could have seen this coming.

I do know that I should see the doc for a number of things, including dizzy spells that I occasionally get(I saw a Dr. about this once before...he ran some tests and then told me that it was stress).  I never actually feel stressed for long periods of time (usually just in the moment), but apparently I am...

But thanks for all your help and I'm so glad that I'm ok...for now at least.

wow...I just came off sounding really unhealthy...

georgie4682

wow...I just came off sounding really unhealthy...

My wife just went through the exact same thing, but nothing over the counter was working.  Our doctor prescribed the newest and probably most expensive meds now available for the heartburn and our insurance refused to pay.  Many insurance companies now require "cause" and want people to try the cheaper meds first.  So, the doctor ordered an Upper GI.  The test results revealed a 'Traveling Hiatal Hernia'.  Apparently there is nothing you can do about it put only be careful in regards to diet, caffeine drinks, alcohol, smoking, etc.  I do hope you are feeling better and hopefully it will all pass soon.

CC