Reflux, Gallbladder or chest pain

[momto2]

Hi! I need your opinion. I am 41w/f. Basically healthy. Could stand to lose about 20lbs.non/smoker. About 2 weeks ago I suddenly started having pain in the center of my chest after eating a granola bar (Seems like I may have had a couple brief episodes of this over the past 6 months). It has not gone away. It not only hurts in the center of my chest but the most aggravating thing is my right shoulder and back just aches, occaasionally the backs of my arms hurt as well. Sometimes it seems to relate to eating, other times it is random . I have it on and off all day. I do not have nausea, sweating, shortnes  of breath. The pain is keeping me from sleeping. I had a physical about 1 week prior to this. Labwork and EKG were normal. I also had an echo(frequent PVCs) which just showed some mild regurg. EF 67%. About 6 months ago I was treated for Hpylori but was only able to take the antibiotics for 6 and 8 days due to developing a rash. I have a recent Hx. of liver adenomas just diagnosed 6months ago (Diagnosis of exclusion). I have been taking Prevacid for about 5 days. Does this pain sound GI related to you? Can reflux cause back pain? If it is reflux how long before the prevacid works? I was considering gallbladder but the pain is all the time not just with certain foods ( Hida scan 7 months ago showed EF 35%). I am scheduled for a stress test next week just to make sure it's not heart. Could this be heart related? The pain doesn't feel "deep" like I would like to think chest pain would feel. Please give me some idea what you think this might be.

[Aresis]

I HAVE BEEN PLAGUED WITH BACTERIA INFECTIONS FOR 2 MONTHS NOW.  2 MONTHS AGO I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A UTI AND BEFORE ANY ANTIBIOTIC I WAS BEING TREATED WITH WORKED THE BACTERAL INFECTION HAD SPREAD ALL THE WAY UP TO MY CHEST /UPPER BACK, KIDNEYS. I WAS TREATED WITH CIPRO. ROCEPERIN, BACTRIM, FLAGYL,LEVAQUIN, AND FINALLY MACRODATIN BEFORE THE DISCOMFORT , SWELLING, SORENESS AND PAIN SUBSIDED. I HAVE AT THIS POINT BUILT UP SOME SHORT OF IMMUNITY FOR ANTIBIOTICS AND I HAVE  HAD A YEAST INFECTION I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF SINCE THIS WHOLE THING STARTED. FOR 2 MONTHS NOW I HAVE LIVED ON YOGURT  AND LIVE ACTIVE CULTURES DANNON DRINKS. EVERY 2 WEEKS OR SO SOME OTHER TYPE OF BACTERIAL INFECTION POPS UP. EVER SINCE THE INFECTION ROSE TO MY CHEST I HAVE HAD A BURNING FEVER AND SWEATING IN CENTER OF CHEST ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO MY BACK. I AM NAUSEAOUS AND HAVE THE BURNING ALL THE WAY UP MY THROAT I EVEN START A WHEEZING SORT OF BREATHING.  I HAVE RAN JUST A LOW GRADE FEVER BUT GENERALLY I AM SOAKING WET IN THE CHEST AND BACK AREA AND FEEL FEVERISH. I HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THEY TRIED A ZPAK THEN I FOUND RELIEF. I WAS TREATED WITH A 250 5 DAY TREATMENT. I WAS OK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND AGAIN HERE CAME THE BACTERIA INFECTION AGAIN IN THE STOMACH. I COULD NOT KEEP FOOD OR WATER DOWN FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THE WHOLE CHEST PROBLEM AND THE BACTERIA STUFF KEEPS ON HAPPENING. ANY SUGGESTIONS I AM BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE A GUNIEA PIG AT THIS POINT. I CAN'T GET THEM TO DO ANY BLOOD WORK I GUESS BECAUSE I CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE AND I PAY FOR MY VISITS AND PERSCRIPTIONS OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE BEEN A HEALTHY PERSON BEFORE THIS INCIDENT AND COULD USE ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME. THANK YOU!  BUT HELP!!!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Reflux can lead to back pain.  Evaluating this cause would include an upper endoscopy and/or 24-hr pH study.

If GERD is present and not helped with the medications, you can consider a surgical treatment option.  Normally the Prevacid should work within a few days.

A low gallbladder ejection fraction (35%) can lead to the symptoms.  Some small studies suggest removing the gallbladder may help with the symptoms.  You can discuss this with a surgeon.

I agree with the stress test to exclude coronary artery disease as a cause.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_