Question:
Anyone else having horrible pain located at top of sternum?
For the past 4 or 5 months, I wake up in the middle of the night with a horrible chest pain located right at the top of my sternum. Usually, it only last 20 to 30 minutes and then goes away until the next round, which is normally 3 to 4 weeks later. However, this last time, it lasted for 3 hours. It hurt so badly that I almost had my husband take me to the ER. It feels as if I am having a heart attack. I asked my surgeon about it & he said it was just part of the healing process. But I am beginning to think differently. It hurts so bad, that it brings tears to my eyes. And nothing helps, not pain killers, pepcid, nothing. It just has to go away on it's own. Has anyone else had this & what could it possibly be from? Open RNY 11-26-01, down 107 pounds and at goal of 130. Thanks... — Lori M. (posted on November 19, 2002)
November 19, 2002
I never had this nor am i in the medical field, studying to be though
and just a thought have you been checked for a hiatal hernia, you have some
of the
same symptoms.
— Tammy N.
November 19, 2002
Did your doctor check for gallstones. Pain is usually an indication to
further evaluate the situation. Get a second opinion.
— Marian B.
November 19, 2002
I get this pain once a week or so. The only thing I have found that helps
me is Gas-X. I take one and the pain is gone in a couple of minutes. I am
10 months post op and it still happens to me without warning. I carry gas-x
everywhere I go.
— Kim B.
November 19, 2002
I am pre-op, surgery date is 1/7/03. I have had this pain for years and it
is due to my GERD (acid reflux). It bothers me a great deal at night.
Perhaps you should check that with your PCP if you haven't already. Good
luck!
— sherry H.
November 19, 2002
This is Lori again. I guess I should have added that when I had open RNY,
my surgeon removed my gall bladder & fixed my hiatal hernia, so it
couldn't be any of those two things. I am just really stumped.
— Lori M.
November 19, 2002
hiya! i have the same symptoms...i wake up some nights with almost a
crushing pain at the top of the sternum -- i've figured it out to be gas.
so i sit upright for awhile and can usually go back to sleep after 30
minutes or so. interesting comment about it possibly being a hernia...i
would think the pain would come no matter what time of day, not just night
time.
but i understand about how bad the pain can be...freaks me out sometimes!
let me know what you do about [email protected]
{{hugs}}
kate
open rny 6-14-01
pre op: 268lbs
goal: 135lbs
current: 126lbs
— jkb
November 21, 2002
i had surgery 6 months ago and ive had the same pain since ive been 2 weeks
out. i finally found out what it was and it is an ulcer. my surgeon
perscibed me protoxin. and now i very rarely have an attack. it is common
in 1-2% of pateints after surgery but it runs in my family so i guess i got
shafted. ask your surgeon about an ulcer and see what he or she says good
luck!!!!!!!!!!!11
— danielle R.
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