Q. Hello Dr. My question is when I eat I feel like something is hooking me in my chest. A week ago I suffered chest pain but I used tetracycline and Amoxicilin together with Gestid. For now I am feeling okay but it’s only the hooking in my chest. Ii need help on that.

A: Thanks for writing in. As every regular visitor to this page is aware, I always advice that chest pain be checked out in the hospital. Better safe than sorry. It could be nothing (perhaps just muscle pain) or perhaps an anxiety attack or it could be a heart attack!

Your question didn’t give much details. Who prescribed the antibiotics? For how long and at what does did you take them? Do you experience shortness of breath? Did you get any relief with the antacid you took? If you did, it may be related to acid reflux as can happen to people with GERD or even peptic ulcer. In both an acid reflux and a heart-related event, the pain appears to be behind the breast bone. Do you feel better when you change positions? Muscle pain and acid reflux may get better if you change positions but not a heart related ache.

So, as you can see, more questions than answers. Please go and see your doctor immediately.

I must address the issue of antibiotic abuse. If you prescribed this for yourself, I worry that you may not have taken the appropriate dose and for the right number of days. I’ve heard people say things like, I took a capsule in the morning and then in the evening and I was fine! This is wrong and indeed leads to antibiotic resistance such that when there is an actual infection needing these same antibiotics, they just don’t work.

For more on how not to be a pocket doctor and antibiotic abuse, please click on these links:

Daily Health Tips: Are You A Pocket Doctor?

Daily Health Tips: How Do I Cleanse My Kidneys?

Have a good night, people 😀