HI Dolphinz,

Thank you for updating us! I'm so sorry your father has a torn rotator cuff. I had this in my right shoulder and had surgery two years ago and this past May, I had surgery on my left shoulder for the same thing. Both surgeries were a complete success, so I am hoping the same will go for your father. I'm glad the cardio checked again and made sure the chest pain wasn't his heart. We can be thankful for that. I do wish him all the best.
Love,
Linda

Dolfins...

These pains your father has. Are they always localized in the exact area of the heart itself, or do they seem to move from place to place?

Are they very sharp pains that come on suddenly, or dull ones that build up gradually?

Does the act of swallowing, especially taking very small sips of water, seem to alter or alleviate the pain?

I ask this because there is a condition where it is possible to get a type of hernia in the chest cavity where tiny air bubbles can actually get inside the chest wall and cause sharp, almost excruciating pain. It usually comes on suddenly and can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Drinking a glass of water in VERY small sips usually helps. The act of working the esophagal muscles works the air bubble around until it finally finds a way out. I know it sounds strange, but it's a condition I've lived with off and on for nearly my whole life, and it can seem scary sometimes.

Whatever it is that's ailing your father, I hope he finds some answers soon and rids himself of his pain.

Best of wishes...
Idealist

Idealist, some of the symptoms you list my father has experienced. Some I would have to talk with him. What is this conditon called ? Thank you for posting I will check into and give an update...

Yes, they usually around the heart. Sharp pains that come on suddenly and stay for a while. He gets sweaty and pains like he is having a heart attack. The sipping of water I don't know but I will ask.
As far as a hernia, I don't know the Cardio said nothing wrong with the heart or the area. But seems real close to what he goes thru.
Thank You

No problem, Dolfinz. I wish I could help more. All I know myself, from doing lots of research and talking to a lot of doctors, is that it's a type of hiatal hernia. It can be extremely small, and next to impossible to find, because it won't show up in any type of x-ray or scan. There is no foreign object or noticeable deformity there, just a very tiny pin-hole that sometimes lets through air.

I've found that when I get the pain, it is sometimes accompanied by an urge to burp. But there are no triggers for the pain as far as I can tell. It doesn't matter if I'm exerting myself, or lying quietly in bed. It comes when it comes, and it can be very excruciating. It's usually toward the center of my chest, which puts it in the area of the heart, but sometimes I do feel it more to the right side of my breast bone. I do get sweaty palms and such, but I think that's a normal reaction to severe chest pain of any kind.

I hope your father solves his mystery and gets better soon...

Idealist

Thanx idealist.. I knwo my Dad is still have the pains, but not quite as bad. He had his Gallbladder removed in July.. thinking that might be the source.. Thank You for all comenting on this it has given me some new insight...

Hi everyone.. Thanks again for all the help. I talked with my Dad today. He went to the Cardio Wednesday(Nov.1) and they "tweaked" his pacemaker and he has not had any pain since.
He has been slowly getting back into his life and seems to doing o.k. So I think that was what it was, now he has had these pains for about a year and no one knew it might of been his pacemaker... Well knock on wood everyone and Thank You all..
Dolfinz

Oh Dolphinz,

That's great news! I am so glad they finally found the problem and fixed it. It's just a shame that he had to suffer and go through gall bladder surgery for a year or more.

Thank you for letting us know as we do care what happens. I hope from this point on, he has pain free days.

Love,
Linda