Help with symptoms?

[MorgansMomma]

Now, this really has nothing to do with babe...but...I keep having this "attacks" and I am wondering what is the more likely explaination.

I get a burning sensation in my chest (right at the breast bone), often followed by a pukey feeling. Sometimes, I feel nauseas, when I do vomit the feelings goes away. Most often, it leads into a very painful attack, it actually feels like a heart attack (I'm talking severe chest pain, tightenings).

I've had EKG's performed during the attacks, they've come back normal.

I've eaten greasy or spicy foods on the days I've had these attacks. However, on other days where I have eaten foods that were spicy or greasy I did not have these attacks. Also, eating bread lesson's the attack and usually bring relief. As does taking an antiacid like Diovol or Maalox.

I was given three possible ideas, Gall Bladder, Ulcer, Acid Reflux.

I had some heartburn with my pregnancy (I gave birth in August).

I am leaning towards acid reflux for two reasons:
1. When I eat bread, it lessons the pain, if it was an Ulcer, I am told the bread would increase the pain?
2. It doesn't happen everytime I eat grease, only on some occasions, if it WERE a Gall Bladder problem, I was told my vomiting would consist of green bile (which it doesn't) and I would have these attacks everytime I ate any kind of grease (but I CAN eat grease on some days and not have any problem whatsoever)?

Any thoughts would be highly appreciated. Again, I apologize because I know it doesn't involve my babe, but I can't seem to find any help anywhere. I will be sent for tests, but it could take months to set up the appts, and I am at the point where I am terribly afraid to eat anything.

Again, I thank anyone for their help!

[Arduinna]

Could an allergy be involved?? Have you tried keeping a diary with what foods you are eating and possibly how you are feeling emotionally on a daily babis to try and find a connection.

Sorry no expert here, but those were the things that immediately came to mind.

[LeShea]

Keep your head of the bed elevated approx 4-6 inches. Don't lay down right after eating and lose weight if you are heavy. Eat smaller meals more frequently.

[Piglet68]

They left one out: gastritis.

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and usually a precursor to an actual ulcer. You can think of the ulcer as a hold in the stomach, and gastritis as a sore or sores that haven't broken through (yet).

I had this for many years and it went undiagnosed b/c it didn't "sound" like an ulcer. I didn't even have any pain or unusually frequent heartburn, but I would get these very strong bouts of nausea that would send me running to the bathroom thinking I was going to throw up.

To "self diagnose" you can buy histamine-blocking drugs OTC now. Choose one with ranitidine or cimetidine. You might even ask your doc for a free sample of something like omeprazole (I think the brand name is Prilosec). If taking this medication makes you feel like a whole new person who has finally gotten their life back (I speak from experience) than that is most certainly what you have.

There is a treatment for ulcer you may have heard of: H Pylori therapy. Thus named b/c it attacks a particular bacteria believed to cause ulcers. I had a progressive doc who recognized that it could also be useful for gastritis and other related illnesses. I went on the therapy for 2 weeks and basically have not had anything like those problems since.

Good luck! I know how miserable it can feel.

edited to add: acid reflux could also fall into the above categories. the newest agent out there, Nexium I believe is the brand name, is a derivative of omeprazole. They and the histamine blockers both inhibit the production of stomach acid, but through different mechanisms.

[Jish]

Just moving this to Health and Healing hoping you get more responses there.