Chest pains not heart esophogus?

[Nanook 2]

Well had fun last night due to chest pains I'd been having for the past few days and was told by my primary to go to the ER. This one was close to me and not where my bariatric surgeon is.

Anyway because of what I've read here etc... I kind of had the feeling it might be my esophagus but hospitals always make sure it's not your heart. So after a night of what you can imagine they check for when they rule out the heart my heart was healthy and was sent home today.

Now I have to call my bariatric surgeon to see if it's my esophagus and/or lap band related. The PA at the hospital told me that just because I didn't get the acid up to my throat didn't mean I wasn't having acid reflux or some type of issue like that or a hiatal hernia.

Anyone go through a similar situation trying to figure out what is wrong and if so what do they do first? It's been a year since surgery and as I've stated many, too many times, I never did well so maybe this could be why. I've also never had any x-ray etc... of my stomach/esophagus since my surgery. Any help would be appreciated Nancy.

[Nanook 2]

Jack, I don't know if it matters but I was unfilled 2 weeks ago, completely. This has been going on straight for 4 days. I really haven't eaten in about 2 days and still am getting the pain right in the center of my breast bone and they come every 2 minutes and leave It's been that consistent for 4 days, maybe 5. I had this same pain over a month ago but it seemed to stop and wasn't as constant.

They put me on a nitroglycerin patch (3) in the hospital which gave me a bad headache and so I ate two frozen yogurts and that was it other than Water or tea because I felt like crap due to the headache. That's why I haven't eaten.

I've had the pain before where I was tight and didn't chew enough or ate too much and vomited so I know that pain and this is not that pain. Its more of a darting that comes and goes fairly quickly. Even though it's not the typical heart attack pain they still had to go through all the tests to make sure as I'm a woman who could have one but didn't and it's been ruled out by all the testing.

It's not my bariatric hospital and this PA knew a bit about these surgeries and also the esophagus and he seemed to think it had to do with that somehow but of course I'm going to call the bariatric group I see tomorrow and see what they'll do. They've never offered any type of fluoroscope before and I even asked once but somehow I have to be proactive this time and demand what I need to have done. They are affiliated with a hospital but I basically am not sure what I should expect them to do and want to make sure that I get what I need done.

I've been consistent with meeting with my surgeons prior to this unfill and getting fills or unfills due to the issue at the time. I see a tech most of the time but when I've had issues I've asked to meet with my surgeon.

So basically what I need to know is what tests would they be doing because the PA at the hospital mentioned acid in my esophagus, hiatal hernia and stomach ulcers possibly. My primary had me on a baby aspirin for my heart and the PA was concerned also the aspirin may have done some damage but it's coated, but I don't know.

Sorry to be such a wordy birdy but I was trying to get out the info the best I could. I don't have typical acid reflux and never have so I never considered it an issue for me and was surprised that it's a possibility and what could causing the pain. Also I've read about spasms but I'm not eating so I don't know if you still have them if you're not eating. Anyway thanks again and hope I made some sense, Nancy.

This is the first time I've ever been scared since I was banded because I don't know what's going on inside me!

Edited September 8, 2008 by Nanook