What about the chest pain and heart burn...?

Carsten_DK · Mon, February 2nd, 2004, 11:00 AM

Hi people.

John wrote in his faq that he was experiencing heart burn and cheat pain, was just wondering if anyone else are having/have had those problems - and more importantly is it possible to make it go away?

I have personally had major cheast pains etc. and as a result I have completly change my diet and started working out... but only minor improvments after 3 weeks!

- even if the pain don't go away - I've still lost about 3-4kg, so its worth it

Regards
Carsten

BillS · Mon, February 2nd, 2004, 11:11 AM

I was having pains last year.. mainly due to MUCH stress around my business. Add to that too much coffee and the fact that I had let myself get out of shape.. both due to MUCH stress around my business..

Anyway, my pains were more like slowly growing spikes in the middle of my back.. lasting 20 minutes or so. Had this several times and a very dizzy spell the last time.. so I went to the doc and he did some tests.. ekg and etc.. found nothing.. wheW! Blood pressure was a bit high as well and my cholesterol was a bit higher than usual.. so the deal was stop the coffee and get back into shape. I haven't had the pains since then.. (looking around for some wood to knock on..)

Carsten_DK · Mon, February 2nd, 2004, 11:19 AM

Well... thats nice to hear. NOT that you were in pain, but that there is a chance this will go away!

BTW I where in the ER once because of the pain, but after lots of testing they found that my heart was fine... Couldn't tell me what to do though...

Teg4e · Mon, February 2nd, 2004, 10:41 PM

I'm not terribly out of shape, (6'1", 185lbs., ~20%bf), but I used to get heartburn from the pizza, wings, beer, and other college food I used to eat. It was only mild, and could be cleared up easily with a few tums, but still it was annoying. I've since changed my diet to one modeled after John Stone's, and the heartburn's completely gone away. I didn't think about it until I just read your post.

Skipernicus · Sun, February 8th, 2004, 11:19 AM

I'm of the opinion that you should never ignore chest pains. It's not just big fat guys who have heart attacks, nor people past a certain age.

Teenagers, women, thin people - pretty much anyone can have one.

I'd say that you should talk to your doctor about it. And have a physical once a year. If you have insurance, it's pretty much free, and it may save your life.

Besides, if it's reflux, you might get some relief from medication. Play it safe!

Carsten_DK · Sun, February 8th, 2004, 12:04 PM

Thanks for the advice! I already saw my doctor about it (which in Denmark is free) and he told me, after examing me, that the pains was caused by three things:
1) A little overweight
2) Very bad working position (sit in front of a computer 10 hours a day)
3) Very poor fitness

So my question to you quys is really: How long should it take before the pains go away?

Ansett · Sun, February 8th, 2004, 08:31 PM

Carsten,
There is no easy answer for your question of how much time it will take before you stop experiencing chest pains from gastrointestinal insults. It may take as long as it took for you to create the conditions which allowed it to happen in the first place. Or it may stop after you lose a few more kilo's. One thing is for certain though, it won't go away unless you make a change, so you may as well keep up the good work.
Something you can do in the meantime is avoid certain foods that encourage the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus to relax - these include foods containing caffeine, tomatoes, mint, chocolate, and alcohol. Also, avoid fatty and fried foods (you are probably doing that already for your diet). Keep your posture straight when sitting at your desk, too.
We have an over the counter proton pump inhibitor here in the US called Prilosec OTC that works really well for me. Do you have anything like that in Denmark?
Your pain could also be coming from the pancreas or gall bladder. Did your doctor check for gall stones?

Polaris[DK] · Mon, February 9th, 2004, 05:31 AM

Carsten - Stop drinking a gallon of coffee every day!

Andrew M · Mon, February 9th, 2004, 08:38 AM

Hi All.

Chest pains, especially central pains should never, ever be ignored.

Pain = something wrong.

Hopefully it will turn out to be something simple like a muscle pull, or indigestion, but please remember that plenty of people in their 30's and some in their 20's end up having heart attacks, then needing bypass surgery. That REALLY puts a squeeze on your bench-press I can tell you.
If you have a family history, you EVER smoked/currently smoke, have an iffy cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure, then chest pain should probably be assumed to be something nasty until proven otherwise. I have met far too many people through work who ignored symptoms for far too long, and may have avoided some damage if they had acted sooned.
My father even bloody waited longer than he should have (we only found out after the fact of course).

Just remember that there is no real cure for coronary disease, only symptom controls of varying type. Prevention is everything.

Andrew.

Carsten_DK · Mon, February 9th, 2004, 12:39 PM

Polaris[DK], buddy, how well you know me - I'm trying to cut back on coffee now aswell!

Andres_M and the rest of you, thanks for your replies! I'm going to the doctors office tomorrow to get the full exam and hopefully I'll report back that it was nothing

(otherwise you'll have to listen to my weining...

)

Carsten_DK · Thu, February 12th, 2004, 06:37 AM

Just to keep you updated, my doc thought it might be some acid reflux... I'm one a two week trial period....

Dr.Evil · Thu, February 12th, 2004, 02:31 PM

How can I get rid of coffee.... I am sleepy and my head
says something like mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Please help me

Carsten_DK · Thu, February 12th, 2004, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Evil

How can I get rid of coffee.... I am sleepy and my head
says something like mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Please help me

Switch to tea

- or diet coke if you need the caffein....

jahozer · Wed, March 3rd, 2004, 11:59 PM

since I gave up soda and started eating clean, my nearly debilitating heartburn has all but vanished.

skmyers · Thu, March 4th, 2004, 12:37 PM

I pretty much gave up soda as well and started exercising. Heart Burn and all pains associated with my stomach are gone.

Stephen
http://www.boredskm.com

FireForEffect · Fri, June 4th, 2004, 02:07 AM

I have been experiencing chest pain the past few weeks. It is on my left side and actually painful to the touch. Like I have a chest bruise or something. Maybe acid reflux, I don't know. I have also noticed my voice has been cracking lately which is weird. I am not hitting puberty again I hope, especially since I am 30! ha.
I think stress is taking its toll. I have been out of work for TWO months and cannot find a job, I am freaking out. VERY stressful.

Carsten_DK · Fri, June 4th, 2004, 05:26 AM

Dude - stress is the worst!

nals · Fri, June 4th, 2004, 08:42 AM

If it's painful to the touch I would doubt it to be acid reflux. If you've never had reflux it might be hard to distinguish. Best way to describe it is a burning sensation straight down the center of your chest (where your esohpagus(sp?) is). So if your pain is off to the left I wouldnt think it to be reflux.

Also, I'm told sharp chest pains can be caused by gas. Since the intestine runs right up under your rib cage. Not sure if that's completely accurate. Once again though, since yours is painful to the touch, this may not be the case.

FireForEffect · Fri, June 4th, 2004, 02:24 PM

Actually I have both, burning pain and painful to the touch. I am pretty sure this is reflux after reading the symptoms. I felt nauseaus last night after I ate. The painful spot on my chest is small, like I got punched by a little tiny fist. Weird. It has been ongoing so it cannot be gas. It might be a muscle bruise or something. Oh well, since I don't have a job right now I cannot afford to go to a doctor anyway. I HAVE to find work soon. The stress of being broke is killing me! I moved cross country and left a good paying job. Now it seems no one is hiring. A few months ago I was blowing hundreds on whatever- now I am so broke I cannot afford much food let alone protein powder. Ah, that's life. Luck O' the Irish!
It is surprising what stress can do to you.