Heartburn an indicator of problems?

Preston Crawfor

The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
having any other typical symptoms. My only recent complaint
is that I used to weight 250 and now I'm up to 268 after a
pretty rough year where I didn't exercise as much as I'd
like to normally.

Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn. And I had that
sleep study recently with the PVCs. My doctor says I'm okay,
but I'm an anxiety patient so.... I'm prone to asking
questions when stuff like this pops up.

Preston

Dr. Andrew B. C

Preston Crawford wrote:

> The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
> of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
> heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
> having any other typical symptoms. My only recent
> complaint is that I used to weight 250 and now I'm up to
> 268 after a pretty rough year

Uh-oh.

> where I didn't exercise as much as I'd like to normally.
>

More likely is that the stress drove you to eat more.

>
> Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn. And I had
> that sleep study recently with the PVCs. My doctor says
> I'm okay, but I'm an anxiety patient so.... I'm prone to
> asking questions when stuff like this pops up.
>
> Preston

Would suggest you inform your doctor about your
worsening symptoms.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L26062048

What is all this about?
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R20632B48

Is this spam?
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N69721867

Liam

Preston Crawford wrote:

> The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
> of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
> heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
> having any other typical symptoms. My only recent
> complaint is that I used to weight 250 and now I'm up to
> 268 after a pretty rough year where I didn't exercise as
> much as I'd like to normally.
>
> Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn. And I had
> that sleep study recently with the PVCs. My doctor says
> I'm okay, but I'm an anxiety patient so.... I'm prone to
> asking questions when stuff like this pops up.
>
> Preston

Don't wait for the symptom to turn into full blown angina ;
268 is too heavy and probably means your arteries are at
risk if not constricted. Start reading about diets and
habits to keep your cardiovascular system supple and
healthy. Switch to the "Mediterranean diet" (Google / "de
Lorgeril" ). Exercise gently half an hour twice a day or the
equivalent. Meditate (Zazen, for example). Don't smoke.
Don't fuss. Don't worry.

Oh yes, watch for side effects if you are ever given a
prescription for fancy schmancy medecines that cost $$$,
statins, specifically.

Owen Lowe

In article <slrncdh09u.9v2.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:

> The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
> of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
> heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
> having any other typical symptoms.

Yes - a feeling of heart burn can be a symptom of heart
problems. I had a burning at the base of my esophagus (where
the colar bones come together at the top of the rib cage)
that wouldn't go away with antacids. I also had a deep ache
in my left arm that came and went and I attributed to just
sore muscles for two weeks. Went to the hospital one
afternoon after getting dizzy from a short and not overly
strenuous walk
- had a 95% blockage in my right coronary artery.

Other than the left arm pain (though mine was more of an
ache) I never experienced the more common warning signs of
the feeling of an elephant on your chest, sweating, and
trouble breathing.

Zee

Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in message news:<slrncdh09u.9v2.me@serpentor.cobrala>...

----------snip--------------

> Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.
>
> Preston

Salut Preston

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn, acid
reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder disease,
helicobactor pylori ulcer and other gastrointestinal
disorders.

Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
product monograph for you and take them to your doctor. Also
ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk Reference.
These side effects are listed there.

In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids does
not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You may need
to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop taking them
altogether. They all have a similar side-effect profile.
Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems too, but not as
serious ones.

Zee

Michael F . Poe

On 23 Jun 2004 00:36:51 -0700, zwalanga@yahoo.com (Zee) wrote:

>Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in message
>news:<slrncdh09u.9v2.me@serpentor.cobrala>...
>
>----------snip--------------
>
>> Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.
>>
>> Preston
>
>
>Salut Preston
>
>Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn, acid
>reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder disease,
>helicobactor pylori ulcer and other gastrointestinal
>disorders.
>
>Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
>product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
>Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
>Reference. These side effects are listed there.
>
>In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
>does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You may
>need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop taking
>them altogether. They all have a similar side-effect
>profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems too, but
>not as serious ones.
>
>Zee

Zee,

well, statins can have side effects including GI problems,
however, I never heard about statin induced hiatal hernia (
which is a "mechanical problem" of the body causing GERD).
Maybe you have some references about this.

Michael

Anonymous

"Zee" <zwalanga@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e5f4a9c2.0406222336.1abb59cb@posting.google.com...
> Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in message
news:<slrncdh09u.9v2.me@serpentor.cobrala>...
>
> ----------snip--------------
>
> > Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.
> >
> > Preston
>
>
> Salut Preston
>
> Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn, acid
> reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
> disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
> gastrointestinal disorders.

Where in the world do you get these ideas? Can you support
any of that. Here is a definition of a hiatal hernia, for
example. From

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/45/1815_50331

How could statins cause this?

Bill

"The hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm -- the muscular
wall separating the chest cavity from the abdomen. Normally,
the esophagus (food pipe) goes through the hiatus and
attaches to the stomach. In a hiatal hernia (also called
hiatus hernia) the stomach bulges up into the chest through
that opening. "

>
> Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
> product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
> Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
> Reference. These side effects are listed there.
>
> In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
> does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You may
> need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop taking
> them altogether. They all have a similar side-effect
> profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems too, but
> not as serious ones.
>
> Zee

Preston Crawfor

On 2004-06-23, Owen Lowe <onlnlowe@easystreet.com> wrote:
> In article <slrncdh09u.9v2.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
> Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:
>
>> The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
>> of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
>> heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
>> having any other typical symptoms.
>
> Yes - a feeling of heart burn can be a symptom of heart
> problems. I had a burning at the base of my esophagus
> (where the colar bones come together at the top of the rib
> cage) that wouldn't go away with antacids. I also had a
> deep ache in my left arm that came and went and I
> attributed to just sore muscles for two weeks. Went to the
> hospital one afternoon after getting dizzy from a short
> and not overly strenuous walk
> - had a 95% blockage in my right coronary artery.
>
> Other than the left arm pain (though mine was more of an
> ache) I never experienced the more common warning signs of
> the feeling of an elephant on your chest, sweating, and
> trouble breathing.

How did they eventually diagnose you? Because as someone who
also has anxiety, I've been tested, believe me. I've had
several EKGs. I've had a treadmill stress test and another
stress test where you lie down and they put stuff into your
bloodstream. Both turned up fine. I get my cholesterol
checked regularly (it's usually around 120) and I am
generally thinner and fitter due to lots of cycling and
eating right. It's only been the last few months that I've
put on weight and only the last few days that I've had
really bad heartburn. So I don't know what to think. But the
anxiety patient in me is thinking the worst, you know.

Preston

Trudy T

"liaM" <lhooq@email.com> wrote in message
news:cbac83$5av$1@news-reader5.wanadoo.fr...
> Preston Crawford wrote:

Switch to the "Mediterranean diet" (Google / "de
> Lorgeril" ). Exercise gently half an hour twice a day or
> the equivalent. Meditate (Zazen, for example). Don't
> smoke. Don't fuss. Don't worry.

I agree wholeheartedly about switching to a Mediterranean
diet. An Asian diet is also very cardioprotective. A
combination of a Mediterranean diet and an Asian diet,
called a "MediterrAsian" diet, is another a healthy option.

Trudy Thelander http://www.mediterrasian.com (http://www.mediterrasian.com/)

Michael F . Poe

>>
>> Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
>> acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
>> disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
>> gastrointestinal disorders.
>
>Where in the world do you get these ideas? Can you support
>any of that. Here is a definition of a hiatal hernia, for
>example. From
>
>http://my.webmd.com/content/article/45/1815_50331
>
>How could statins cause this?
>
>Bill

Zee is very emotional in my opinion based on her posting
history here on scm; and she has a strong one-sided tendency
to blame prescription drugs only for some people´s med
problems and/or symptoms.

Michael

Zee

Michael F. Poellot <tt030@pipeline.com> wrote in message news:<b3gid0d15af2gh10q02duo24kbvnocg7ll@4ax.com>...
> On 23 Jun 2004 00:36:51 -0700, zwalanga@yahoo.com
> (Zee) wrote:
>
> >Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in
> >message news:<slrncdh09u.9v2.me@serpentor.cobrala>...
> >
> >----------snip--------------
> >
> >> Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.
> >>
> >> Preston
> >
> >
> >Salut Preston
> >
> >Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
> >acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
> >disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
> >gastrointestinal disorders.
> >
> >Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
> >product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
> >Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
> >Reference. These side effects are listed there.
> >
> >In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
> >does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You
> >may need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop
> >taking them altogether. They all have a similar side-
> >effect profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems
> >too, but not as serious ones.
> >
> >Zee
>
>
> Zee,
>
> well, statins can have side effects including GI problems,
> however, I never heard about statin induced hiatal hernia
> ( which is a "mechanical problem" of the body causing
> GERD). Maybe you have some references about this.
>
> Michael

statins=acid reflux=destruction of tissue+weakening of
muscle=hiatial hernia.

that was the reasoning I was given. I refused surgery,
stopped lipitor and haven't had that problem to any
degree since.

but I have had all the problems listed. "In my experience".

Zee

Owen Lowe

In article <slrncdj23d.ec7.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:

> How did they eventually diagnose you? Because as someone
> who also has anxiety, I've been tested, believe me. I've
> had several EKGs. I've had a treadmill stress test and
> another stress test where you lie down and they put stuff
> into your bloodstream. Both turned up fine. I get my
> cholesterol checked regularly (it's usually around 120)
> and I am generally thinner and fitter due to lots of
> cycling and eating right. It's only been the last few
> months that I've put on weight and only the last few days
> that I've had really bad heartburn. So I don't know what
> to think. But the anxiety patient in me is thinking the
> worst, you know.

Hospital ER really doubted I was having any heart problems
at 42 years old and no classic symptoms... until they got
the results of the blood enzyme (or was it proteins?- I
can't recall the details). These tests indicate heart damage
and were the only things that kept me overnight - in the
ICU, no less. Next day I was transferred to another hospital
for angiogram, plasty and stent placement - that's where the
95% blockage was observed.

I don't believe the EKG's that were being monitored during
my stay ever showed problems, but that could just be my
faulty memory or lack of asking.

Owen Lowe

In article <slrncdj23d.ec7.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:

> It's only been the last few months that I've put on
> weight and only the last few days that I've had really
> bad heartburn. So I don't know what to think. But the
> anxiety patient in me is thinking the worst, you know.

I forgot to comment on this part, so here goes:

Does the heartburn feeling go away with antacids? Does it
get better or worse with exercise? Does it wake you up? Is
there any pattern that you can discern?

Dr. Andrew B. C

Trudy T wrote:

> "liaM" <lhooq@email.com> wrote in message news:cbac83$5av$1@news-
> reader5.wanadoo.fr...
> > Preston Crawford wrote:
>
> Switch to the "Mediterranean diet" (Google / "de
> > Lorgeril" ). Exercise gently half an hour twice a day or
> > the equivalent. Meditate (Zazen, for example). Don't
> > smoke. Don't fuss. Don't worry.
>
> I agree wholeheartedly about switching to a
> Mediterranean diet. An Asian diet is also very
> cardioprotective. A combination of a Mediterranean diet
> and an Asian diet, called a "MediterrAsian" diet, is
> another a healthy option.

Ime, all such options should be dovetailed with the 2PD
approach if weight loss is desired:

http://www.heartmdphd.com/wtloss.asp

Because this works, ime, doctor supervision is required.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L26062048

What is all this about?
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R20632B48

Is this spam?
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N69721867

Listener

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 09:50:35 GMT, Michael F. Poellot
<tt030@pipeline.com> wrote:

>
>>>
>>> Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
>>> acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
>>> disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
>>> gastrointestinal disorders.
>>
>>Where in the world do you get these ideas? Can you support
>>any of that. Here is a definition of a hiatal hernia, for
>>example. From
>>
>>http://my.webmd.com/content/article/45/1815_50331
>>
>>How could statins cause this?
>>
>>Bill
>
>Zee is very emotional in my opinion based on her posting
>history here on scm; and she has a strong one-sided
>tendency to blame prescription drugs only for some people´s
>med problems and/or symptoms.
>
>Michael
>

I'm no longer surprised by anything Zee states. A while back
I read a study that showed that "...The use of statins for
at least five years was associated with a 51% reduction in
the risk of colorectal cancer." When I asked Zee wouldn't it
be a wonderful thing if statins were shown to lower the risk
of some cancers her answer was "no".

L.

Preston Crawfor

On 2004-06-23, Owen Lowe <onlnlowe@easystreet.com> wrote:
> In article <slrncdj23d.ec7.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
> Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:
>
>> How did they eventually diagnose you? Because as someone
>> who also has anxiety, I've been tested, believe me. I've
>> had several EKGs. I've had a treadmill stress test and
>> another stress test where you lie down and they put stuff
>> into your bloodstream. Both turned up fine. I get my
>> cholesterol checked regularly (it's usually around 120)
>> and I am generally thinner and fitter due to lots of
>> cycling and eating right. It's only been the last few
>> months that I've put on weight and only the last few days
>> that I've had really bad heartburn. So I don't know what
>> to think. But the anxiety patient in me is thinking the
>> worst, you know.
>
> Hospital ER really doubted I was having any heart problems
> at 42 years old and no classic symptoms... until they got
> the results of the blood enzyme (or was it proteins?- I
> can't recall the details). These tests indicate heart
> damage and were the only things that kept me overnight -
> in the ICU, no less. Next day I was transferred to another
> hospital for angiogram, plasty and stent placement -
> that's where the 95% blockage was observed.
>
> I don't believe the EKG's that were being monitored during
> my stay ever showed problems, but that could just be my
> faulty memory or lack of asking.

Interesting. Because I've had every test I think one should
have when they're still considered a "non risk". From the
nuclear dye test to the treadmill stress test. Tons of EKGs.
Would the above results you mentioned show up in a standard
blood chemistry test or only in a special test?

Preston

Anonymous

"Zee" <zwalanga@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e5f4a9c2.0406230606.4ff657fd@posting.google.com...
> Michael F. Poellot <tt030@pipeline.com> wrote in message
news:<b3gid0d15af2gh10q02duo24kbvnocg7ll@4ax.com>...
> > On 23 Jun 2004 00:36:51 -0700, zwalanga@yahoo.com (Zee)
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in
> > >message
news:<slrncdh09u.9v2.me@serpentor.cobrala>...
> > >
> > >----------snip--------------
> > >
> > >> Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.
> > >>
> > >> Preston
> > >
> > >
> > >Salut Preston
> > >
> > >Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
> > >acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
> > >disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
> > >gastrointestinal disorders.
> > >
> > >Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
> > >product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
> > >Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
> > >Reference. These side effects are listed there.
> > >
> > >In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
> > >does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You
> > >may need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop
> > >taking them altogether. They all have a similar side-
> > >effect profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi
> > >problems too, but not as serious ones.
> > >
> > >Zee
> >
> >
> > Zee,
> >
> > well, statins can have side effects including GI
> > problems, however, I never heard about statin induced
> > hiatal hernia ( which is a "mechanical problem" of the
> > body causing GERD). Maybe you have some references
> > about this.
> >
> > Michael
>
>
>
> statins=acid reflux=destruction of tissue+weakening of
> muscle=hiatial hernia.
>
> that was the reasoning I was given. I refused surgery,
> stopped lipitor and haven't had that problem to any
> degree since.
>
> but I have had all the problems listed. "In my
> experience".
>
> Zee

But you said these were in the PDR. Do you have a reference
for that? Also is acid reflux listed as one of the side
effects of Lipitor in particular? How do you know these
effects have anything to do with statins in your case? The
reference I provided challanges any link between hiatal
hernia and GERD.

Bill

Preston Crawfor

On 2004-06-23, Owen Lowe <onlnlowe@easystreet.com> wrote:
> In article <slrncdj23d.ec7.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
> Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:
>
>> It's only been the last few months that I've put on
>> weight and only the last few days that I've had really
>> bad heartburn. So I don't know what to think. But the
>> anxiety patient in me is thinking the worst, you know.
>
> I forgot to comment on this part, so here goes:
>
> Does the heartburn feeling go away with antacids? Does it
> get better or worse with exercise? Does it wake you up? Is
> there any pattern that you can discern?

Not really. It's actually usually under control. It's just
gotten really bad lately.

Preston

Zee

listener@nospam.net (listener) wrote in message news:<40d966ef.1846312@news.rcn.com>...
> On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 09:50:35 GMT, Michael F. Poellot
> <tt030@pipeline.com> wrote:
>

>
> I'm no longer surprised by anything Zee states. A while
> back I read a study that showed that "...The use of
> statins for at least five years was associated with a 51%
> reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer." When I asked
> Zee wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if statins were shown
> to lower the risk of some cancers her answer was "no".
>
>
> L.

Listener

Here is my part of the exchange to which you refer, and the
google url for the complete exchange.

Be well. Zee

ostate+cancer+zee+group:sci.med.cardiology&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-
8&group=sci.med.cardiology&selm=e5f4a9c2.0406142044.714dace-
c%40posting.google.com&rnum=1

"But I think both letter and study are opinion. This article
says "suggested" that statins "may"... .and we don't know if
the numbers given are absolute or relative.

'Wouldn't it be fantastic if statins are shown to lower
*some* forms of cancers?' No. I won't trade my statin-
decreased risk of breast cancer for your statin-increased
risk of prostate cancer.

Who would *not* want to see that? You.

And me.

Zee"