Fibromyalgia Support Group

I'm sure if they are saying "not your heart" that they have checked that out. What I'm wondering is if they have checked other causes of pain where you have it.

First thing that comes to mind is acid reflux, next thing is hiatal hernia. Both of these can be life-threatening if left untreated, because that "heartburn" can lead to esophageal cancer, and the hernia can become constricted and shut down the blood flow to an area of your system, which then becomes septic.

I hate it when doctors brush off their patients. If you're having symptoms that no one has found a reason for, they need to keep looking!

I had an upper GI series and NO reflux or hernia was found. Is that enough of a test for those two things? I've also had a CT of my abdomen.. that looked at my pancreas and that was normal.. oh and an ultrsound of my gallbaldder and abdomen.. normal. Lung xray's and CT's normal.

I use to question if it was fibro, not something else. And on really, really good days, I question that I even have fibro, but then the fatigue and pain will hit me and remind me...yep you have it!

Have you been checked for Costochondritis?

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cos...

Do you take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory?

Have you had a urine test to make sure you don't have kidney stones or a kidney infection. I have had both gall stones and kidney stones and both are horrible. I try and take cranberry capsules and fresh blueberries now to counteract UTI's.

Another thing I had was anxiety. It was after 5 family members were in medical distress (stroke, quad bypass, jaw surgery etc.) and after a year of looking after and worrying about everyone, I had a MELTDOWN! I felt like someone had a big band around my waist and was kicking my heart from the inside out. It was horrible. Hundreds of palpitations at various times of the day. A few days of taking Ativan and voila...gone!

Have you been checked for Ankylosing Spondylitis? It's the fusing of the joints and most of the tender points are in the chest, spine and hips.

http://painmuse.org/?p=77

http://painmuse.org/?p=149

I can understand your feelings. I do the same thing. I fear that the fibro fog is really the onset of Alzheimers but I am only 39 and I do not have the right symptoms. I have also asked my doc if I could have a brain tumor because I get these awfull migranes that sit behind my right eye. He said he was willing to do a CT for me but at this point I think it is just fear. I am like you and get the chest pains eventhough my heart is fine. I have been having them since I was a kid and have grown used to it. The thing that settles me down about the heart pain is making sure it is not going down my arm or causing any numbness in my finger tips. I also check my pulse to see where it is at. Hang in there you are not a hypo just dealing with a very confusing syndrome.

Carrie, I'm not taking anything.. excpet tylenol and IBUP on occasion.Here is a good exmaple. I just had to go out drive. While sitting.. the pain is worse. When I get up and move around it feels better. Now I know they say.. if your about to have a heart attack in most cases.. you have pain upon excertion.. I never do. It's a buring in my upper back..more so today than anything. also my ribs hurt. My OB.. did mention costo.. so perhaps that is what's going on. I don't think it's AS. But you know I have not been checked for either really.. and no one will deal with me anymore. They say I'm a head case.. all anxiety. Really I've been treated in a VERY poor fashion... it's sad.

It's when I am hurting that I realize that I truly have fibro. It's the good days that I wonder if it truly is. I've been through the mill over the last 15+ yrs and have no doubt that it is fibro. Been through the cardiologists who had me carrying nitro for a few yrs. I've gone through several surgeries for other issues and know that they aren't the cause of all my issues. It has to be fibro.

BUT STILL....it's always a nice thought to hope that perhaps its not fibro.

If you have had ALL the tests run...then look elsewhere..have you Tried any of the Alternative Therapies to battle the Pain ?? {Ex: Warm Moist Towels, Massage, Chiro} ? Referred pain CAN in fact Feel Heart Related..your back could be out of place...that ALWAYS causes my Muscles to burn in the area of my back where they are out...a Quick trip to the Chiro, and I am Good...at least for awhile !! I usually get a Massage before going to the Chiro, otherwise they have a hard time to get me back into place..and then come home, lay in a warm tub of water...Ohhh...Life is Good !!

Gas can cause Pain in your Chest...from Shooting stabbing pains to Dull ache sensations...Esophagal Spasms can cause Tremendous Pain in behind the Breast Bone..YIKES !! very Unpleasent Indeed !! are you eating ANY gassy foods ?? are you releasing Gas OK ?? Sometimes I CANNOT Burp...and Ohhh the pains can get Intense !!

I Do hope for you that you Try a few alternative therapies...and that they help you...so you can get on with Life !! I know the Pain of it all...I Know Anxiety Well...

I don't Question the FM itself, I question tho when "Some Dr.s" want to shove EVERYTHING under THAT Umbrella...had I Listened, I would still be sitting here, day after day...with Legs that FEEL like lead..

I have the Muscle Aches, I have the Nerve pain, I have the Sensitivities..THAT to me is my FM...anything Else, I DEMAND Tests for it..

Hi,

I have the acid reflux but not the 'heartburn'. I also had the GI series and it was normal. They are looking for something specific that would be more serious. So, they can tell you its normal but you still have the acid reflux, I had the constant nauseous feeling. With the prescription protonics its no longer troublesome so long as I take the meds.

My son in law had the Costochondritis and he always said it felt like a heart attack, was an inflammation and chiropractor helped him.

Keep reading and trying different things and as you'll see here, try to keep the stress down, makes the pain lots worse.