Hi,
I’m not sure if this is the right place for my question, but it seems like the closest fit.
Once a month or so, I experience what I can only describe as gassy chest pains. There’s a tight fullness from the middle of my chest up to my throat (likely in my esophagus). It feels like I need to burp to relieve the discomfort, but I can never manage to find enough relief.
The discomfort gradually turns into significant radiating pain—dull in some areas, sharp in others—around my chest and throat. Swallowing only worsens the pain, which is frustrating as my mouth produces excess saliva that I need to keep expelling.
These symptoms make it nearly impossible to sleep, especially since they often occur at night. Lying down exacerbates the sensations. I find some relief by sitting or standing while leaning slightly forward, but it’s minimal. Holding my breath during a pain wave helps me cope better than breathing normally.
The pain typically lasts for several hours, and afterward, I often feel a knotted sensation in my stomach for most of the day.
Since this started happening more frequently, I began logging my meals to identify triggers. Some recurring foods seem to include fatty red meats, chocolate, and possibly dairy.
I initially thought these symptoms might be related to GERD, but the pain I feel is more achy than the burning or acidic discomfort usually associated with it.
I’ve tried Tums, Alka-Seltzer, Gas-X, and warm water during episodes, but nothing seems to help except for time. While I know stress can exacerbate these symptoms, I’ve experienced some of the worst episodes when I felt completely relaxed.
I’ll admit my diet isn’t the best—I don’t eat much fast food, but I also don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables (especially fruit). I take a daily multivitamin, though.
I have a pre-existing heart condition (ventricular leakage after a balloon valvuloplasty for pulmonary stenosis as a child), but I don’t think it’s related to this issue, as I doubt heart problems would cause a burping sensation.
As a 30-year-old male, I understand that others face more serious health issues, but these episodes are quite unpleasant. I would appreciate any insights or advice on what I might be experiencing and how to treat or prevent it.
Thank you!