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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Pain in chest?
        
(Message started by: flavin on Mar 8^th, 2004, 9:49am)

Title: Pain in chest?
Post by flavin on Mar 8^th, 2004, 9:49am

I have been taking Verapamil for the last 3 days and I have a really bad pain in my chest. Feels like really bad heartburn. is this normal? Is there anything I can do to get rid of it?

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by JDH on Mar 8^th, 2004, 10:02am

Ummmm, I think I'd see your Dr asap. Chest pains are nothing to play with.

Jim

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by flavin on Mar 8^th, 2004, 10:09am

I'm going to call him today about it but i didnt want to have a visit if it was the norm.

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by flavin on Mar 8^th, 2004, 2:51pm

Dr. said it is just heartburn and is giving me Nexium for it.

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by t_h_b on Mar 8^th, 2004, 6:46pm

Where I work, we automatically approve any ER visit for chest pain even if it turns out to be something "silly" like indigestion.

Bottom line, you might not want to trust your MD that it's heartburn. HEART ATTACKS OFTEN FEEL LIKE REALLY BAD HEARTBURN and the number one rationalization for people who ignore heart attacks is that "it's just heartburn."

Your MD is probably thinking that it's heartburn because it's constant. It is unlikely that you have been walking around with a constant heart attack for three days.

Is the Nexium working now?

Does the pain get worse with strenuous physical activity? Do you think it's heartburn? Do you suspect or worry that it's not?

When I upped my verapamil dose I had definite chest pain that was worse with exertion, like climbing stairs. It was very clearly my heart being overworked, not indigestion.

At the very least you might call and ask your MD for an exercise stress test or some sort of a cardiac exam so you won't worry.

Also be cautious about using Imitrex or any other vascular drugs right now.

Let us know how this turns out, please.

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by Tom on Mar 8^th, 2004, 6:48pm

Verapamil and other calcium chanel blockers can cause a GERD (= Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease), look at

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/clin/gi/gerd.html

http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b1.illness/b1.1.illnesses/Gastro-esophageal% 20reflux%20disease%20(GERD).html

http://images.meredith.com/lhj/pdf/RefluxMedications.pdf

Nevertheless, vera is still a good CH drug - as long as it works...

Thomas

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by flavin on Mar 9^th, 2004, 11:14am

I have been taking the vara since friday night. I have noticed that my chest started to hurt on sunday after i ate a crap load of wings. I took an imetrex shot on sunday morning. I just started to take the nexium this morning and will give it a day or 2 to see if it works. I cant sleep any other way then on my stomach. If i move wrong it hurts. I think that if it does not get better by tomorrow night I will be paying a visit to the ER.

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by t_h_b on Mar 9^th, 2004, 6:47pm

If you're having reflux then sleeping on your stomach is probably the worst position other than upside-down like a bat. If it is reflux, you should be sleeping propped up with pillows or in a reclining chair.

Sometimes I think ClusterHeads ignore things that would send other people to the MD because most all other pains pale in comparison.

You sound miserable, heart attack or not, and you need to see a doctor. The ER isn't the best place, you need an internist, not an emergency doc: "treat'em and street'em."

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by Rock_Lobster on Mar 13^th, 2004, 6:46pm

You and I are going through this episode together Flavin. Same drugs at almost the same time.

I started Verap on Monday. Had a little bit of heartburn starting Tuesday... I -never- get heartburn... once every five years.
Popped a Zantac for that. Took another yesteday. Worked like a charm.

Did my first Trex injection on Monday. Two more since for really really minor HA's... more like shadows... just enough to wake me... the Topa and Verap and Pred taper are doing the trick.

I sleep in a Lazy-Boy chair (a snoring thing... been doing it for two years), so I am the inverse of you on that note. I could not longer crash in a flat bed if I wanted to . I am so f'ed when I travel on business or vacation... trying to make a pseudo-Lazy-Boy out of pillows and couch cushions.

Rock

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by flavin on Mar 15^th, 2004, 6:16pm

I have had a few shadows here and there but not bad enough to inject. The ones that i have had to inject were about 3-4kip. didnt want it to get any worse. The HB is doing alot better. I get it bad at night now but i just do a swig of alka seltzer, Burp really load then go back to sleep. My G/F loves me for this. Im just watching what I eat right now and keeping tums and A/S with me at all times till it passes.

Title: Re: Pain in chest?
Post by toader on Mar 15^th, 2004, 11:15pm

This happened to me once too. Nasty case of heartburn. Lesson learned: swallow, don't chew. :P

<sigh> seemed like fun at the time [smiley=laugh.gif]