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Odd Heart Sensation. Prescribed Protonix For GERD, Klonopin For Anxiety. EKG Came Normal. What Could It Be?

Posted on Sat, 27 Apr 2013

Question: I am 24,and have been experiencing odd heart sensations for 6-8 months. My doctors originally thought it was GERD and prescribed Protonix and I chew tums after every meal because I began getting a burning sensation on my left side in my arm and chest most of the time after meals. I do not eat or drink anything with caffeine .The symptoms have gotten worse, now I have been experiencing heart pounding and racing for hours at a time. I was told it was anxiety but I've had anxiety since I was 15 and it doesn't feel like this,I am prescribed klonopin which I take but hasn't been helping with the issue. Last night after exercising for only 10 mins my heart pounded so hard I couldn't breath,I stopped and chalked it up to my 350 pound size and sedentary lifestyle,but my heart wouldn't stop pounding even after the exercise had long stopped. My heart raced for 4 hours after the exercise. I even tried to sleep through it ,but it woke me out of my sleep. Eventually it calmed .This morning I was fine and then it began again out of nowhere.I lied down to try and do breathing exercises to get my heart to stop racing and I started feeling a pain in my left breast so I tried massaging the pain away. I massaged one part and my heart began beating a way I have never experienced before.It began thumping hard as if my heart had skipped a beat than began poundng so hard that I could feel each beat all over my body,it froze me. I couldnt move or even think,I immediatly felt clouded and dizzy. This continued for about a min then it stopped. My heart is back to "normal" now but my left arm is burning and my chest still hurts a bit. I have also be experiencing very cold hands and feet and also numbness in my hands and feet.Which Im not sure are realted or not. I'm really scared ,I have been given several EKGs the latest of which was about 2 months ago and told there is nothing wrong with my heart,that it is anxiety but this happens mostly at night when Im relaxed and ready for bed, sometimes it happens when Im fast asleep. What is going on with me ?

Answered by Dr. Nsah Bernard (4 hours later)

Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for posting on XXXXXXX

I am very pleased to be able to help you with your health problem.

Your situation even though it seems to be complex, could be summarized in simple terms. You have obesity, left chest pain, palpitations (pounding heart beat), shortness of breath (on exercising), coldness and numbness of extremities (which could mean there is poor blood flow to your extremities-hands and feet) and you later on felt cloudiness and dizziness (both symptoms could be termed syncope). Looking at the above mentioned symptoms it will be clear to conclude that you are having a cardiovascular/heart diseases ( as you have the predisposing factor which is obesity and presenting with symptoms). It will not just suffice to do EKGs but I suggest you first of all consult a cardiologist (who is a determined physician) so that you can get a cardiac ultrasound, MRI and EKGs (with and without stress tests). There are wide range of heart diseases that could be responsible for your problems (fatty heart diseases could be the main and only problem you are having). I suggest you go through my advice before any doctor can comfortably conclude that you are having anxiety (which I doubt that could be responsible solely of all those symptoms for over 6 months).

Hope this helps and wish you the best.
Dr. Nsah

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nsah Bernard (43 minutes later)

Im having these symptoms really bad right now, burning on the left side of my chest ,heart racing,burning in my arm. Do you think I should go to the ER or can I wait and be assessed by my doctor in the morning .

Answered by Dr. Nsah Bernard (4 minutes later)

Hello XXXXXXX

The symptoms seem to be causing you some serious discomfort, so I suggest you go to the ER for immediate relief before you can XXXXXXX up with your doctor or Cardiologist. Like I said, your heart situation needs to be investigated further. You might be having angina pectoris (or coronary artery diseases) and if that is the case you will require medications to relief you from the pain and also to prevent future attacks.

Wish you the best and hope this helps
Dr. Nsah

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar