I feel relieved I found this group. I have been dealing with this feeling for over 20 YEARS!!! Sometimes (like now) worse than others but it's always, always there. I can't find a common denominator to save my life. I have seen tons of doctors and everything comes back normal. Every year or so I get bad chest pains (along with scary arm, jaw, face and neck tingling) as well and they go through all of the tests again and they all come back normal. Which is good, but not. I want to know what's wrong! I had a stress test this week and it was normal. Next week I have a GI scope. I have read some comments that sometimes it's silent reflux. My doctor put me on (generic) protonix over a week ago, and unfortunately I haven't notice much of a difference. I was hoping it would be the miracle drug.
I too am not buying anxiety. I had a huge flare up last week, when I was on vacation from work. I was excited to have off and relaxed. It is so debilitating though. I know I should exercise, but it's hard to force myself when it feels this way. I do sometimes have a better day when I do. This does not effect my sleep and I don't feel it for the first half hour or so when I wake up, so I will sometimes so my treadmill at this time to get in some exercise.
I am overweight but healthy, but have had the same issues when I wasn't overweight. This all started when I took phen-fen (I was on for about 2 weeks.). I went through all of the tests then that were linked with issues and they found nothing and have done them all several times since. It also started right after my sister passed away in a car accident and I've read somewhere that traumatic events can cause things like this. But since then, I do not feel depressed or stressed other than this being my life now.
It's to the point when people notice and ask why I had to stop and brace myself to attempt to pull a deep breath in. I pray for answers, but am grateful to have found others in the same boat.