Chest Pains !! ??

Saturday Night (But really early Sunday Morning) at 3:10 AM, I awoke to chest pains which kept getting worse, I got our of bed hoping to walk it off but the pain got severe. Causing my girlfriend to call 911. But as she was talking to the Clearwater Fire/Rescue, I Burped and the pain started to subside. But they still came withing minutes and checked me out. Stating everything looked ok but suggesting I get checked out by Monday. Which I just by chance do have an appointment to see my Surgeon at 4 PM. I signed a waiver to not go to the Emergency Room and they left. I didn't say anything at the party, not wanting to spoil our happy gathering and I didn't have any problems throughout thel day appearing as Santa Claus. This was my first incident like this, before or since my surgery last May'06 and I did tell the Paramedics of my Gastric Bypass upon their arrival. Which I felt he had experience with WLS patients before. Should I have gone to the ER with them? Any suggestions on this type of chest pains for anyones future incidents?

Chest pain, regardless of whether it is caused by a life-threatening condition, needs to be evaluated by a doctor . Be reassured that you would be making the right decision and should feel comfortable seeking emergency care whenever you experience chest pain. You won't know until the doctor's at the hospital check out the cause of your chest pain and should be given information to help yourself be at peace of mind. Possible causes: Esophagitis. Pain may be identical to cardiac ischemia, however, not caused by exercise, often relieved by burping or antacids, and may have sour taste in mouth or heartburn. Upper GI imaging and endoscopy may be necessary to diagnose gastroesophageal refluxl. Heartburn. Stomach acid that washes up from your stomach into the tube (esophagus) that runs from your mouth to your stomach can cause heartburn -- a painful, burning sensation behind your breastbone (sternum). Often this feeling is accompanied by a sour taste and the sensation of food re-entering your mouth (regurgitation). Heartburn-related chest pain usually follows a meal and may last for hours. Signs and symptoms occur more frequently when you bend forward at the waist or lie down. Gallbladder or pancreas problems. Gallstones or inflammation of your gallbladder (cholecystitis) or pancreas can cause acute abdominal pain that radiates to your chest.

Hi Mike, I love you, sweetie, but I want to slap you upside the head. As a card-carrying member of the "I Almost Bought the Farm" Club, I can state without equivocation that chest pain, no matter what you think the cause, should always be *fully* evaluated by medical personnel ASAP. Yes, you should have gone to the ER. That being said, you should call your doc even now. Do you think that you ate too fast? Drank something too soon after eating? Inadvertently overfilled your pouch? Feel better soon, Santa. Kristen

Mike, Before my surgery I had 3 chest pain attacks that required my husband to take me to the hospital the last attack we thought we would have to call 911. All 3 attacks were the muscles around my esophagus constricting but it feels just think a heart attack. I would rather be safe then sorry so no matter what you think it might be it's best to go to the ER and have them tell you "it was a gas pain" or a muscle constricting then to have it actually be a heart attack with no help around. Have a Happy Holiday!!!!