Is this indigestion?

[Bemyclementine]

Last night i had what might be indigestion, for about the 4th time in 6 months. The first time, i almost called an ambulance. I was on my own, and was in agony. Couldnt take a proper breath, kind of panting. Couldnt find a comfortable position. Couldnt stand up. Would not have been able to drive.

Had a couple of milder incidents, then last night my god if i hadnt had it before id have thought i was dying. I realise this sounds dramatic. I was in tears. Moaning.

After it eased i had wind. The pain was mid chest, kind of between boobs and a bit lower. I didnt sleep well and today i can still feel it although not badly, its noticable. Ive also burped a lot.

I will go to the GP in the new year, but in the meantime, does it really sound like indigestion? A couple of people ive spoken to say so.

My father thought he had indigestion. He had a heart attack.

I have this. Only since mid 40’s. First time it happened I thought I was having a heart attack. Had to sit down and do some deep breaths till it passed. It was right in middle of chest and very sore. Take a few Rennies and burp a few times and that sorts it out normally. Carry rennies with you in case it happens again. It’s very strange. My mum gets it too and it started with her about the same age.

I am NOT a doctor and you should definitely see one. But it sounds like gallstones. I had my first bad gallbladder attack just after Christmas - booze and fat are big culprits for setting it off. Did you have any pain in your upper back?

@EBearhug thats awful. Im hoping i havent had 4 heart attacks in 6 months though.

@PacificState would gallstones make me burp and trump? Someone else suggested gallstones but not sure about the windyness.

@march654 did you see a GP? I took Rennies but honestly didnt seem to help.

Oh no back pain. I will definitely see the gp.

It didn’t make me windy, but I’ve seen some people say it affected them that way. The GP hopefully will sort you out! If you can’t get an appointment quickly, try talking to a pharmacist. If it’s related to stomach acid, there are things they can give you (protein pump inhibitors) that might be more effective than Rennies.

I get indigestion like this it's so painful. I've been in agony on the floor with it too. The best thing to do is burp, so I drink some fizzy coke or sprite as soon as I feel it coming on and it usually stops it being too bad. Eat light for the next few days.

It could be anything from a hernia to gall stones or gastritis or an ulcer etc. as well as indigestion. Or a whole host of other things. You need to see a dr and a possible referral for a scan and endoscopy.

Try gaviscon after every meal. Definitely go to the doctors to rule out anything else.

If you feel hot/clammy or have arm/shoulder pain, do seek immediate help.

However, I half wonder if its indigestion as you probably eat different or more of some things yesterday. So take Rennie/shops own initially, see if that helps as you manage to bring wind.

If you feel hot/clammy or have arm/shoulder pain, do seek immediate help.

However, I half wonder if its indigestion as you probably eat different or more of some things yesterday. So take Rennie/shops own initially, see if that helps as you manage to bring wind.

@Sunnyside4 it doesn't seem to have any trigger. And we didnt have a big day yesterday. Id had some watermelon shortly before it started, and no big roast.

No arm or shoulder pain.

Ask the chemist for Peptac. I am on omeprazole for reflux/ gastritis but every so often i get intense chest pains and nausea. peptac really helps to settle it down.

I have had gallstones and it sounds a lot like that? And yes, they made me fart like mad….and gave me awful, awful chest pain to the point I definitely thought I was having a heart attack. At 20 🤦‍♀️ I was fobbed off for a fair few years (I was too young, not over weight, didn’t meet the standard type) but I got there in the end. A simple scan will rule gallstones in or out.

I had something like this yesterday and I put it down to overindulgence

It happens to me on most Xmas days 😆 maybe it’s the amount of roast potatoes I have or all the meat juices/fat I use in my gravy!

It was very sore, I had peppermint tea, buscopan and was walking around trying to alleviate the symptoms and burp! I also took an omeprazol

I was much better when I woke today

My Grandad’s heart attack he went to the GP some time later, they took some blood, he went home. It was only later in the afternoon the GP called to say A&E NOW because the bloodwork shows a pretty hefty heart attack.

It’s less likely to be this, but I do think it’s worth getting checked out. Ask for bloods to be tested for whatever marker it is.

Better safe than sorry

No I didn’t go to doctor as rennies sorted it out. Hasn’t happened often. Last one was maybe 6 months ago.

This has happened to me about half a dozen times in the last 8-9 years.
First time I definitely thought I was having a heart attack.
It’s very short for me, over in 5 minutes or so and I can feel it coming on. The last time was while I was driving after eating poached eggs on toast but it can be any food that triggers it. It was after a Mars Bar once. Very random.

I do suffer from indigestion quite a lot and probably have GERD or similar. Quite scary and I’m rather worried now as mine comes with arm/shoulder pain and I go hot and clammy!

I get this and it is trapped wind . It's excruciating and has the symptoms you describe . I have a hernia and think this is why it happens to me so often . It doesn't last too long ie 15 /30 mins . I usually sip hot water and walk about which releases the wind eventually!

Could be gall bladder - don't they say female, fair, fat & forty? Do any of these apply?

You don't always get arm pain with a heart attack either.
Many years ago, a relative of my partner was treated by GP for several occurrences of indigestion - a few mths later, cardiac arrest & dropped dead.

You should definitely get it checked out, in case you have high BP and are unaware of it. It puts an immense strain on the body.

I am female, not sure what you mean by fair? Fattish (lost 3 st since this time last year) and late 40s.

I do have high bp, medicated.

Weight loss can also trigger gallstones. If you gently press just below your ribcage on the right hand side does it hurt? That's how I found out I had gallstones, I went to the GP saying I thought I had a chest infection as the pain seemed to be in my chest and it hurt to take a really deep breath in but as soon as the GP got me on the examination table and felt around that area and saw my reaction she immediately suspected gallstones and referred me to the hospital for an ultrasound to confirm.

This happened to me extremely painful and nothing would relieve it. I went to the docs who said if this happens again call 999. You never know. Good luck at your GP appt.

I think it's best to be on the safe side and go to a treatment centre or A & E to get an ECG & tropanin blood test to rule out any sort of cardiac event.
It could be indigestion, but it could also be angina as many people present with what they 'thought was indigestion' and unfortunately it's the blood supply to the heart being compromised. Also, it's worth remembering that myocardial infarction can typically present differently in women, we don't always have the classic jaw, arm or chest clutching pain that men have.