Eileen
Welcome to the group. As a Registered Nurse I treated myself for what I thought was heartburn for 6 months. One evening at 11 P.M. I actually thought I was having a heart attack. Husband rushed me to the Emergency Room. Told the Receptionist thought I was having a heart attack; she told me to go into Triage immediately for assessment. I stood outside the Triage door while 2 R.N.'s were discussing non medical situations. One R.N. finally said to step back and give them some privacy. There was a chair across the hallway which I sat on. The Triage phone rang several minutes later. The R.N. then came out and asked me if I thought I was having a heart attack. With a positive response, things finally got moving. Immediately put into 1 of the examining rooms, put on Heart Monitor, I.V. started. After by 3rd dose of Nitroglycerin under my tongue, the pain finally went away. Chest x-ray then showed Hiatal Hernia. Admitted to Telementary Floor. Following day had Stress Test with normal results. My M.D. decided to do special x-rays to rule out GERD. Was also diagnosed with GERD. Have been on Prilosec 1-2 capsules daily and my GERD has never bothered me since which was 6-7 years ago. GERD and Hiatal Hernia has nothing to do with stress so don't worry about that. If you are not satsified with your M.D., then go to an Internist. Good luck.