No physician can figure out why I get a severely aching chest that can last for days, initially beginning in the center of my chest and can spread down to my rib cage, upper arms and sometimes my back. I often feel like I've been run over by a truck, my muscles ache so much. But initially, before the muscle involvement kicks in, the pain feels exactly as that of a classic heart attack (and I've been to the ER several times when this first started). Sometimes the initial "attack" triggers a need for a bowel movement.

It usually begins while I'm sleeping, about 4 or 5 a.m., often while I'm in the middle of an intense dream, and I'm unable to get back to sleep due to the pain. This has been going on for several years. I've had a full cardiac workup including an angiogram. I do have Barrett's Esophagus, stable for many years, gastric reflux helped immensely by Nexium. Also high cholesterol (high LDL but also high HDL) with LDL brought into normal range by Lipitor (which I hate for the brain fog and neuropathy).

The chest pain comes every few months and lasts for several days to a week, then disappears. The muscle tenderness is usually palpable but not always. I could deal with all this much better if there were an explanation! Thank you for any ideas. By the way, I'm in my 50s and well past menopause.

Danielle