Resolved question:
Hi, I have had chest pain for about 4 days. The only thing I connect it to is having trouble swallowing a vitamin last week which felt like is may have gotten stuck at the point of my chest just between my breasts. Ever since then, I have had slight pain each time I eat or drink - it's as if I can feel the pain when the food or drink reaches that same place in my chest. Today I thought it may have been getting better, the pain reducing. But then when I got into bed with a cup of tea I felt a sharp pain in that same spot which appears with deep breaths. Any advice would be great. It's not causing me too much discomfort, but thought it is was worth checking out as this new sharp pain is a new development. I am a healthy 27yr old female, I excercise regularly and have a healthy diet - I am gluten and dairy intolerant. Thanks.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello.
Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern.
Sometimes while passing through the esophagus certain food particles, or in your case the vitamin pill might have caused some amount of irritation, leading to a localized inflammation, which can manifest as pain during later episodes of swallowing or drinking water. Since you have no other symptoms, apart from the chest pain in that particular spot, it does not seem to be anything to be worried about. It possibly led to a minor injury in the esophagus and hence each time something passes through that spot, it is causing that sharp spot.
The good news is most things that get stuck in the GIT such as food particles, or bones, or anything similar passes spontaneously, so assuming something got stuck, it will pass automatically. However you should watch out for symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, hyperacidity, regurgitation of food particles back, vomiting, nausea, bloating, and breathing difficulty. In case you manifest something similar, it is better to get yourself examined by a local doctor who can take an X-RAY and rule out any other obstruction. In case it is not settling down in another 3-4 days time you can do the same just as a precautionary measure.
Based on your history since you have no other symptoms apart from that sharp pain in the affcted spot, it should settle down in 3-4 days time.
You can take Tab. Ibuprofen 400 mg in case the discomfort level is high. Otherwise you can just wait and it will settle down itself.
Hope this was helpful,
Regards.