I wonder if the feeling I get has anything to do with the hug - it feels like all my insides are swelling up and putting unbearable pressure on the inside of my ribs - first noticed it when I was on ACTH - it felt like I was ready to pop and that my brain was swelling too - sort of like too much MSG - then I get a horrendous pain right at the base of my esophagus and feel like I need to burp but can't - have gone so far as to make myself throw up to relieve the pressure - it doesn't but none of my food is digested either - can't move in any direction that relieves it - and it takes a day or two to finally go away but I'm sore afterwards like someone had kicked me in the chest - never connected any of it to MS