GERD, ulcer or hiatal hernia? Please help....

[L1Z4RD]

I have been experiencing problems with my upper stomach area, about 3 inches below my sternum for some time now.  I also get panic attacks, which are triggered by this extremely often. Once I feel something not right in my stomach, chest...I automatically assume its cardiac related, so you can imagine the trouble its causing me.

Symptoms are as follows:

-Tender and sore to the touch...always painful in area.
-chest pain/back pain
-occasional lower stomach/side pain
-indigestion/nausea
-Acidic burps (not too frequent)

Symptoms go on and off....2 bad weeks and 1 week symptom free...

The pain usually begins in the morning after waking up and is on and off all day. When I lay flat on my back, I sometimes feel like air is being pushed out of my lungs. I always sleep on my side and with my head elevated. I no longer smoke and no longer drink (for about 5 months now). Exercising also seems to bring on these symptoms.

I took prilosec OTC and a pepcid for a bit, but neither seemed to help very much. Antacids also offer little to no comfort for symptoms.

I am male, 27 years old. 5'8 and 170 lbs....a tad overweight. I eat 4 or 5 small meals a day, drink lots of water and do my best to eat healthy foods. No known allergies. Any insight is GREATLY appreciated, thanks!

[L1Z4RD]

I have been in and out of the ER several times lately for bad 'panic attacks'....each time they did several tests and ruled some things out:

-gall bladder
-pancreas
-thyroid
-heart infection

Also i've had about 10 EKG's now and they all come out perfectly normal, also had a heart monitor on for 5 hours + during the pain and everything looked perfect.

Im almost certain its digestive/respiratory related...

[tschock]

I have those symptoms and was told IBS and GERD. My mom swears it's my gallbladder though. lol
Ask to be tested for those...they sometimes give symptoms that mimic heart problems.