Pain in stomach upper left quadrant (below bottom rib)

[Diz00]

I had constipation in january but that went away with medication after about 2 weeks, however, since it's been an on going problem with chest and stomach pains (always on the left side only - they seem inter-related to me?) the docs keep putting it down to anxiety or stress (the chest pains) and the stomach pains down to IBS.

The stomach pains can be severe as can the chest pains, i've been taking Colofac 135mg three times a day for the stomach lately, it is always taken before meals which to be fair helps a little (dulls the pain) but it is still there. and doesn't go completely.  
The chest pains are slowly less painful but again still there.  I was unsure what heartburn was to know if I had it so I asked my doctor and he asked me - do I get acid come up into my mouth - like a regurgitation thing, going up into my throat and it feels like it's burning.  And to be fair, no I don't.  Occasionally I might bring up a tiny bit of food but there is no pain or acidy feeling with it.

I do also feel like I have a lot of trapped wind in my upper stomach, this is very apparent when I'm drinking water - i have to move about but more often than not I can burp it up and this relaves what feels like pressure from the trapped wind.

They've never once asked me to go to hospital for tests......

I might also mention I've had a problem for a few years of my life with throat thrush because I am an asthmatic and the medication I am on seems to bring that on at the back of my throat, and makes the back of my mouth look a little inflamed - I wash my mouth out twice a day however, but its one of those things that comes and goes.

Any suggestions? if you need me to be more thorough about anything, or need to ask me anything else that I might not of mentioned in determining something please ask! I'd just like all the pains to go away properly.

Many thanks

[Ratnakar Kini, MD]

Hi,
Since you have chest pain and asthma, GERD is a possibility.
You can take PPI for relief of chest pain.
IBS is a functional bowel disorder and it may be associated with reflux.
You can continue with colofac. In these circumstances addition of an antidepressant would be beneficial.

[Diz00]

Might I also mention that even though I clean my teeth a normal about, my breathe seems to smell worse than normal lately.  I'm not sure if thats anything to do with the above as well.

[Diz00]

Thanks, I have booked up an appointment on tuesday to see my doctor and I will mention all these points to him that you have made- Can I just ask - what is PPI and why Anti-depressants would be beneficial?

many thanks