2 years of unexplained physical symptoms. Normal cardiac tests, normal endoscopy, but my life is still affected. Has anyone experienced something similar?
Hi everyone.
I’m a 26-year-old male, and I’ve been dealing with unexplained physical symptoms for almost 2 years. I’m posting because I’m honestly trying to find people who have experienced something similar, especially if it turned out to be something GI-, vagus nerve-, or anxiety-related.
It all started in August 2024 after an extremely stressful period in my life. My first episodes were terrifying:
- waking up in the middle of the night feeling like I was about to pass out
- adrenaline surges
- internal shaking
- cold sweaty hands
- episodes of panic that felt completely physical
Over time, some symptoms improved, but new ones appeared.
My main symptoms now are:
- Episodes of intense internal tremor with no visible shaking.
- Cold sweaty hands during attacks.
- Feeling of “emptiness” or pressure inside my chest rather than pain.
- Frequent need to burp. Sometimes multiple burps make me feel significantly better.
- Feeling like there is trapped air in my chest that I cannot release.
- Anxiety often starts after the physical sensation, not before it.
- Sometimes after eating I get nausea, weakness and a huge adrenaline surge.
- During attacks I often suddenly need to have a bowel movement.
- PVCs / ectopic beats occasionally (I’ve had them for years).
The newest symptom (started 2 days ago):
Every time I swallow solid food, about 2-5 seconds later I develop a dull aching pain behind my sternum, slightly to the right and more towards my back. Sometimes it radiates toward my right elbow.
It lasts about 2-3 minutes after I stop eating and then disappears completely.
It does NOT happen with water.
Food doesn’t get stuck.
I can swallow normally.
Medical work-up so far:
- Multiple ECGs - normal
- Echocardiogram - normal
- Blood work - mostly normal
- Upper endoscopy (about 2 months ago) - normal
- H. pylori treated previously