Does anyone else get very "hard" feeling gas bubbles in the chest?
I’ve already left a message with my doctor… he’s on vacation.
I seem to get maybe 1 or 2 a year, and it seems like they come when I’m really stressed out. It’s a very sharp pain, clearly a bubble, very sudden, right in the middle of my chest. It’s usually dislodged with a couple of sips of Pepsi or other carbonated drink, and then I go on about my day.
But for the past three days, I’ve gotten one a day. Which is very strange for me. So, since I’m waiting to see my doctor when he returns, in the meantime, has anyone else had this experience?
—(I should note that the only reason I’m seeing my doctor is the frequency of them in the past few days when I don’t feel all that stressed. I’m not worried, or scared… it’s a gas bubble and if I’m near someplace that sells soda, it’ll be gone in 10 minutes at the very max. I’m just curious.)
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12 Answers
You should get it checked out. Stress induced, but soft drink eliminates it? Sounds digestive related.
Ummm…could be the stress of the election?
I used to get these now and again and they dissipated rather quickly…after eating or drinking something. Usually, too much coffee caused it. I never really associated it with a gas bubble. Doctor told me it might be the beginning of an ulcer. The pain would go away if I ate or drank anything. I took Tagamet for a year or so (this was in the 80’s) and it helped. But quitting smoking and going to half caf coffee was the cure I think.
What happens if you take GasX? The drinking soda thing makes me lean with the others away from gas. Could even be GERD.
Or heartburn. Try a maalox or mylanta. Also eat more slowly and not too close to bedtime.
Go see the doctor who is covering. (I know you are waiting to see the doctor when he returns – but what if his plane is delayed or he gets a flat tire?) If it is happening daily and is uncomfortable, why not get it taken care of? Whatever you choose – feel better. Burp.
I’m very weird about doctors. I drive 50 miles just to see mine since I’ve moved out of town.
The soda makes me burp, and that releases it. I should’ve mentioned that.
When I take GasX, it relieves it, but it takes longer than if I were to just drink soda and burp a few times.
Check out the medical sites for foods that exacerbate heartburn. Mayoclinic.com, etyc.
Sounds like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
Actually, your description seems very consistent with intermittent esopagheal spasms. The sharp, severe, short-term pain certainly is a major feature of these types of episodes. There are a number of other things that can cause this type of pain, which certainly warrants further evaluation, but if I had to guess, its esophageal spasms. As to why you are having more now, I cannot answer that. Hope you feel better.
I get those all the time! I also perceive it to be a bubble that won’t move…usually I end up rubbing or hitting myself in the chest to “break it up”. I also frequently have just one violent hiccup after my first sip of soda…wondering now if that’s related.
@augustlan: Right! Except hitting myself doesn’t really do it. sometimes if I hold my breath and sort of pretend to burp, I can get it to move around a bit but it doesn’t go away until I get something carbonated in there.
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