Advice

[nwfootie4266]

Hi

Im a 42 yr old woman usually in quite good health, about 1 yr ago i started having probs with acid reflux, so was put on medication which seemed to help it, now 3 weeks ago ive strated with shar pains in my chest mainly over the left hand side above the breats bone usually or under the arm, went to the docs who said it was either muscle strain or pain related to my acid reflux.  £ weeks later it hasnt got any easier... it can occur in the middle of the night while im resting and sometimes eases with pain killers but no always, its starting to worry me and can be quite severe pain at time but the doctor just keeps saying its def not my heart, how does he know without doing any tests any advice would be grateful .........

[mammo]

This type of pain is no way related to acid reflux!  Your doctor has no way of knowing if it is your heart without testing.  Either get this doctor to check you further, or seek a second opinion.  He's dismissing your symptoms, and not taking you seriously. Don't put up with it, you know your body best!

[ponniatm]

Acid is produced in the stomach to break down food. Sometimes it is produced in response to infection as it is the only way the stomach can deal with this as the stomach is essentially outside the body. Think of the alimentary canal as being a tube open at both ends to the outside world.
Treating acid stomach with antacids neutralizes the acid but does not solve the problem. The stomach then responds by making more acid and the cycle follows. It is better to drink a couple of glasses of water to dilute the acid to a point where it is not attacking your GI but does not interfere with what the body is trying to do. After a few times of this the problem will go away.
I have had personal experience with this for about 10 tears. It was so bad that I was admitted to the hospital twice because of this until I figured this out. It has been 25 years since I have had a problem since.