1. < Digestive Health

Why chest discomfort?

Posted by baguette @baguette, May 28 9:21am

I have never been able to find out why I would have chest discomfort under these two conditions:

1. Abdominal exercise (I know it is an issue but if I do them on an almost empty stomach it usually is ok)
2. Just because, as in sitting in a certain position, or maybe eating too much or wrong things.

I don't feel like acid has refluxed into my esophagus. Just the chest discomfort.

1. Could it be acid even if I can't feel/taste it?
2. Could it be the stomach popping thru the hiatal hernia?
3. Could it be a spasm in the esophagus?
4. Any other option?

Doctors haven't helped answer the question. Can anyone provide thoughts?

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drbm | @drbm | May 29 12:50am

It's tough dealing with discomfort. Did you see any therapist?

REPLY
t98 | @t98 | May 29 4:53am

It could certainly be reflux, which can manifest itself in multiple ways, including coughing for example. Look up LPR, which is a type of reflux.
Regarding abdominal exercise, I was told not to do sit ups. Instead of raising your head you raise and lower your legs.
You may have a hiatal hernia.
So, don't do what causes you the pain, because aside from the pain it may be causing irritation in your esophagus which you don't feel (silent reflux, but if severe it can cause cancer in the long run if not addressed).
Look up suggestions related to reflux and see if it helps you. And no big meals, no bubbly drinks. May need to stop/reduce caffeine and chocolate, which loosen the sphincter. Last meal a few hours before bedtime. Stretch and exercise...

REPLY
1 reply
baguette | @baguette | May 29 7:23am
In reply to @t98 "It could certainly be reflux, which can manifest itself in multiple ways, including coughing for example...." + (show)
@t98

It could certainly be reflux, which can manifest itself in multiple ways, including coughing for example. Look up LPR, which is a type of reflux.
Regarding abdominal exercise, I was told not to do sit ups. Instead of raising your head you raise and lower your legs.
You may have a hiatal hernia.
So, don't do what causes you the pain, because aside from the pain it may be causing irritation in your esophagus which you don't feel (silent reflux, but if severe it can cause cancer in the long run if not addressed).
Look up suggestions related to reflux and see if it helps you. And no big meals, no bubbly drinks. May need to stop/reduce caffeine and chocolate, which loosen the sphincter. Last meal a few hours before bedtime. Stretch and exercise...

Jump to this post

Thanks for your comment. I have researched LPR and GERD for two years, using sites like https://jamiekoufman.com. I am on a low acid, whole food diet as outlined by another ENT, Aviv. So I know a lot but the origin of the chest pain is the remaining piece. If it's a spasm I wouldn't care as much as I would if it were the stomach coming thru the hernia. In any case the number of incidents is much lower than it has been, and I have a system in place to mitigate the pain while doing exercise. If it happens while I am sitting or in bed I move until I find a position where it goes away. I wish you well.

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1 reply
baguette | @baguette | May 29 7:42am

Google came up with this write up from the Cleveland Clinic (better SEO than Mayo I guess). So all the possibilities I mentioned are in the CC article, from GERD to muscle spasms. I guess I will never know for sure! https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15851-gerd-non-cardiac-chest-pain

REPLY
t98 | @t98 | May 29 8:26am
In reply to @baguette "Thanks for your comment. I have researched LPR and GERD for two years, using sites like..." + (show)
@baguette

Thanks for your comment. I have researched LPR and GERD for two years, using sites like https://jamiekoufman.com. I am on a low acid, whole food diet as outlined by another ENT, Aviv. So I know a lot but the origin of the chest pain is the remaining piece. If it's a spasm I wouldn't care as much as I would if it were the stomach coming thru the hernia. In any case the number of incidents is much lower than it has been, and I have a system in place to mitigate the pain while doing exercise. If it happens while I am sitting or in bed I move until I find a position where it goes away. I wish you well.

Jump to this post

Good to hear.
So be careful not to do any situps, because this apparently can cause or exacerbate the problem of the stomach pushing through the sphincter to the esophagus.

REPLY
1 reply
baguette | @baguette | May 29 10:40am
In reply to @t98 "Good to hear. So be careful not to do any situps, because this apparently can cause..." + (show)
@t98

Good to hear.
So be careful not to do any situps, because this apparently can cause or exacerbate the problem of the stomach pushing through the sphincter to the esophagus.

Jump to this post

I do bicycles and crunches, and chest presses lying on a bench. If I prepare properly (as in having an almost empty stomach) I am fine. Sometimes not. It takes a lot of trial and error to get the formula right. But that is why I wondered about the chest pain during exercise in particular. I wish someone would develop an exercise program for people with GERD/LPR, just like a university in Australia developed one for people with osteoporosis. Even if you have reflux, you need good abs for core strength and balance.

REPLY
1 reply
t98 | @t98 | May 29 11:29am
In reply to @baguette "I do bicycles and crunches, and chest presses lying on a bench. If I prepare properly..." + (show)
@baguette

I do bicycles and crunches, and chest presses lying on a bench. If I prepare properly (as in having an almost empty stomach) I am fine. Sometimes not. It takes a lot of trial and error to get the formula right. But that is why I wondered about the chest pain during exercise in particular. I wish someone would develop an exercise program for people with GERD/LPR, just like a university in Australia developed one for people with osteoporosis. Even if you have reflux, you need good abs for core strength and balance.

Jump to this post

What I said about situps, I see you refer to this as "crunches". So, crunches will exacerbate GERD. You can strengthen your abs by instead of picking up your head and shoulders, you leave them on the ground and raise and lower your legs, or bring legs towards your body and away, or to strengthen the side muscles you hold your legs up and let them fall towards one side and then the other.
See on the internet which exercises are not good for GERD, and which are better.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/acid-reflux-and-exercise#can-exercise-help
There are lots of resources on the internet

REPLY
1 reply
baguette | @baguette | May 29 12:14pm
In reply to @t98 "What I said about situps, I see you refer to this as "crunches". So, crunches will..." + (show)
@t98

What I said about situps, I see you refer to this as "crunches". So, crunches will exacerbate GERD. You can strengthen your abs by instead of picking up your head and shoulders, you leave them on the ground and raise and lower your legs, or bring legs towards your body and away, or to strengthen the side muscles you hold your legs up and let them fall towards one side and then the other.
See on the internet which exercises are not good for GERD, and which are better.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/acid-reflux-and-exercise#can-exercise-help
There are lots of resources on the internet

Jump to this post

Thanks! I will try the adaptations. I have two personal coaching programs and they know I have gerd but they give me the same exercises as anyone else. I have adapted by keeping my stomach nearly empty, and taking alginate ahead of time. Tho at this point I am taking the alginate less and less. I used to get chest pains all the time when playing pickleball, and hardly happens now. So I am seeing improvement. But if there are ab exercises that are gentler for gerd people, then yes! Thanks again for your help.

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