Is it really GERD???

[Ophelia227]

For the past month I have been having severe stomach aches after eating.  It starts right below my breast bone and typically spreads down into my lower abdomen, up into my chest and into my back.  It gets to the point where I cannot even stand up straight.  I am also constipated like never before.  I do not have burning sensation in my throat or any bitter aftertaste in my mouth and the pain do not feel like gas pains. I also tend to get really hot and flushed and super sleepy during the stomach pains.  To the point where I sweat a lot and cannot stay awake.
I went to the doctor today and was 'diagnosed' with GERD, told all the things I shouldn't eat and given Nexium.  I got to work and looked up GERD and it looks like basically it is chronic heartburn and acid reflux.  I do not have these symptoms.  Even in the list of GERD symptoms I do not see severe stomach pains.  I told the doctor when talking to her I really didn't think this was heartburn.  I was really hoping they would do a GI test to see if there are any hernias, tumor, polyps, blockage, etc.  They told me to come back in a month.  I really hope they are right in their diagnosis and this goes away.  I have already lost 10lbs in two weeks because I can't eat hardly anything without paying for it with severe pain.
Anyone else here suffer from GERD?  If so, do you have constant stomach aches as a symptom?
I want to be wrong about this and I really want to docs to be right because I just want this to go away but from what I have been reading about GERD.....I just don't have alot of the symptoms listed.

Any input is appreciated.  Thank you for reading.

[Ophelia227]

Thank you both for your comments.  Reidys - I have considered the idea I may have a hernia and was really hoping they would do a GI test before making a diagnosis.  Who was I kidding?  I could tell she had decided what her diagnosis was even before I had finished telling her and this supposedly one of the best clinics in NYC!  She basically lied to me when she told me what the symptoms of GERD were.  I found that out once I got to work at looked up the symptoms and they were not congruent.
I am going to give it a few days but you are right jackso, I don't have to wait a month and if the pain does not subside I will go elsewhere.  I was up until 4am this morning writhing around in bed because my stomach hurt SO BADLY.  I hardly ate anything yesterday; yogurt, a fiber bar and half a tuna fish sandwich.  They gave me a list of foods to avoid - basically the same as the ones you mentioned. Sadly it is hard to imagine my life without coffee or tomatoes but I am making due.
I know the Nexium may treat what is going on and just hoping it will.  

Thanks again.

[lcjackso]

I'm afraid I'm not an expert either, but I do know that acid reflux can cause all sorts of problems and pain. On the other hand it doesn't sound like typical GERD to me. Even if it isn't, reducing stomach acid is used for other stomach problems (ie gastritus). If I were you I'd take the medication and see if it improves the symptoms. It may take a few days to kick in properly. If it doesn't then I'd try to find another doctor or a gastroenterologist. Don't feel that you have to wait a month if there's no improvement, particularly if you're losing that amount of weight. For GERD they recommend eating little and often (if you can) and avoiding potential triggers (alcohol, caffeine, tomatoes, citrus fruits, garlic, spicy foods, peppermint - though these can vary from person to person).

[reidys]

i am no expert but give them a chance i was diagnosed with hiatus hernia stomac acid can cause a lot of pains ,i am still trying to find answers 12 months on