Upper Abdominal Pressure and Attacks

[Jody_T]

Ok, hopefully you guys can help.  About 8 months ago I started having these strange attacks in my upper abdomen.  The first one that hit me was after playing a round of golf and heading over to catch a bite at a restaurant.  Before getting in the car I started getting some upper abdominal pressure directly below my sternum and by the time I got to the restaurant the pain was really intense and my hands and face started tingling and it felt like I was going to pass out.  After walking it off for a few minutes it went away and had no problems for the rest of the night but my stomach did feel sore.  I did smoke a cigar on the golf course.  Not long after that it seemed like after eating I would have an overly bloated feeling in the upper abdomen or when I would do training and get nervous I would get the same feeling.  I also couldn't take a deep breath and had to breath really shallowly.  I had another really bad attack after helping at my grandparents house trimming some bushes and the pressure came back and I had to lay down for a couple of hours.  I did have a beer midmorning while working.  The best way to describe the pain is feeling like I have a Charlie Horse below my sternum, can't take a deep breath, and tingling in hands and face.  The next day I had another attack after painting the bathroom all day and eating a croissant dog before heading over to my parents house to hang out with them for a little while.  I went to the doctor the next day and got a little nervous (because I hate going to the doctor) and had another attack while I was there but not as bad.  He seemed to think it was gastritis and told me get on prilosec for two months with no alcohol or caffeine.  After the two months it seemed to get better and I would only have a bout every once in a while.  One came while helping a buddy split some firewood out in the heat.  I went several months and thought maybe I was starting to heal because I would go weeks at a time with no trouble then have a small bout (nothing as bad as the original attacks).  Well about a month ago I had flu like symtoms and the stomach attacks came back.  I was treated for the flu and got to feeling a little better and one night I we ate hot wings and I had a beer and was full before I went to sleep and woke up and had one of the worst attacks I had ever had, Charlie horse feeling under the sternum with shortness of breath and tingling in the hands and face.  I had three attacks back to back and four hours later got to feeling better.  I went back to the doctor and he scheduled me for a gallbladder scan (hour and a half test) and a scope.  The gallbladder scan came back and showed my ejection factor was at 28% (a little low).  That entire week after the scan I ate really low fat food thinking it was my gallbadder and felt great the whole week.  I then had a scope done and everything came back great on that.  The doctor said I didn't even have any reflux or anything.  The next stop was to talk to the surgeon about the gallbladder test and he said that the scan is not really a very good test and none of my symptoms made him think it was my gallbladder.  He thought it sounded like muscle spasms brought on my stress/axiety and gave me hyomax-sl to help.  He said to take one when I starting have feelings of the attack.  Since I hadn't had a attack in a few weeks I figured I would eat what I wanted and drink what I wanted and try to have an attack to see if the pills worked.  After the torture weekend I have had a dull pressure under my sternum but no bad attacks and the pills don't really seem to be doing much.  I really can't narrow down whether food or physical activity causes my problems because it seems like I have had them from both.  Getting nervous seemed to cause me some pain also.  With saying all that, I am way better then I was 8 months ago but it just won't seem to go away.  Thanks.

[Jody_T]

No, I had no pain.  I was feeling pretty good that day.  I have not notice that food has given me any problems either which it should if my gallbladder was acting up.  

[martinsc]

Did you have pain with the HIDA (gallbladder scan)?

[Jody_T]

Well today I did some training for the guys out in the field and was fine during that but when we went to the restaurant I started having a small attack and took one of the pills the doctor gave me (hyomax-sl) and it actually seemed to help it.  I have noticed that stressfull situations spark it and I was a little nervous about the training but not bad.  The surgeon told me that if I keep having to take the pills then he could prescribe something that would prevent them from happening.  I kinda wonder why he didn't just give me that!!!!  If I get that prescription I will let you know how it works.  The surgeons assistant told me I might want to think about talking to my doctor about anxiety medication but don't really want to have to go that route!!!  Thanks for responding, I wish you weren't going through this too!!!

[crambone]

ive been experiencing the same thing bor about 10 years now,,,yes ten years!!!
i have had almost every tests you can imagine from gallbladder,pancreas heart,liver,ct scans barrium swallow ulcer everything came back clear.
i do get some reflux sometimes,but would this cause that charlie horse feeling dead center right below the ribs?,,,i dont think it would.
would gasteritis?,,,i dont think it would.
about the only thing that would for sure that ive read up on is gallbladder,pancreas,ulcer and possible a henia,and ive been supposedly cleared of all these things!!
i have stopped drinking alcohol all together and do feel somewhat better and relieved of this pain,now i only get it maby once or twice a month,and my attacks only last a few seconds to several mintes is all.
but i too can eat whatever i want and cannot relate my symptoms to food in any way.
i have noticed,and you kinda touched base on this too,,,i noticed if im driving or sitting and an attack comes on,i usualy feel better if i stand straight or walk around some.
either way im still alive not lost weight,and am still moving around 10 years after the fact.
so i wouldnt put too much into it,also,,stressfull situations bring this on too,so try to avoid that.