Upper ab pain and burning

[Mis]

I have been having for about a week now upper abdominal pain with on/off burning in the middle. The pain somtimes goes into my back. Its not a constant pain it comes and goes. Its better now then what it was, but its still their on and off. Also a week ago I had the "flu" for 24 hours diarreaha and really bad stomach pains. my question is could this be just left over flu symptoms or somthing else?

[Sandy in FL]

I have been experiencing a dull but pulsating pain on the upper left side of my stomach.  It is below my rib cage, to the left.  I have also had  a whole lot of reflux and gas pain, with loose bm's.  I am really scared and I dont know what the cause of all this may be.  A lot of you talk about pain on the right.  Has anyone experienced pain on the left side below the rib cage?  I have a blood test this Friday and a Gastroenterologist visit this coming Monday.  Thanks in advance.

[seasoneddiva]

A related discussion, Hiatal Hernia was started.

[Beth]

Hi all,
   Been reading all of your posts; and have been suffering very similar symptoms.  It started with what I thought was the "flu"- severe stomach cramping accompanied by a residual dull aching in between cramps.  I swear it felt like labor pains way up, below the sternum.  You could feel them begin, intensify, and wane again.  I found myself in bed for 2 days, unable to eat and extremely nauseous.  I had had similar episodes over the last year, and always thought it was a bug!  Went to my G.P. and he'll do an upper G.I. next week; however, he prescriped zantac and dicyclomine and after a few hours, all is well again!  The zantac for the abundance of acid, and the dicyclomine stopped the stomach spasms.  Don't know if this will help anyone, good luck

[dr.sandeep shrotri]

i want to ask new question, regarding autonomic nervous system in ulcerative colitis, where i should ask?

[Sandy]

Well add onther one with the same symptoms.  I have had
pain in the right side right under my right breast and it seems
to be in my rib.  I have had all the tests also and they are all
negative.  I also have more trouble at night.  I do take a small
dose of Ativan (a muscle relaxer) this is how I keep going.
If it wasn't for that I don't know what I would do.  Go nuts I
guess.  I wish you all the best but it seems someone would notice
how many people are dealing with this.

Thanks and least I know that I am not alone.

[Allen]

Having read your descriptions above, I feel my experience may help.  I have had pretty much the same symptoms, pain in the area beneath the sternum, nausea, heaviness and "tight" bloated feeling with spasms. A natural remedy I use is called "slippery elm" which most health stores keep. The trick is to take two tablets immediately you sense the pain starting, and you can prevent attacks, or take two before meals. I also avoid acidic food and beverages, ie coffee, tomatoes, pineapple etc.   Tracey (April 23rd) also mentions raised liver function and tiredness!  I have recently been tested for RICKETTSIAL DISEASE (or Q Fever) which leaves you feeling exhausted and weak with painful joints and muscles. Other symptoms are regular headaches, lack of concentration and real weakness that leaves you virtually useless. It apparently is a parasite from the same "family" as glandular fever, "yuppie flu" and malaria. You need specific blood tests to confirm the disease (which I have) but it IS CURABLE with a detox programme coupled with specific antibiotics.Incidentally raised liver function is a definite indicator! If anyone wants more info from the web, search under Rickettsial Disease or Q-Fever or e-mail me at ***@****   Good luck and good health.

[MARITA A DAVIS]

RIGHT SIDE PAIN......HELLO TO WHOEVER IS READING.I WENT TO A DOCTOR A GENERAL PRACTIONER.AND HAD A COMPLETER PHYSICAL.ALL WAS WELL BLOOD WORK PAP THE WHOLE 9 YDS.I HADE A KIDNEY INFECTION AND MY CHOLESTEROL WAS A LITTLE HIGH 260 BUT I DON,T CONSIDER THAT TO BE HIGH.BECAUSE I HAVE CUT BACK BIG TIME ON ALOT OF THINGS.I DRINK WATER LIKE IT IS GOING OUT OF STYLE.I HAVE CUT DOWN ON ALL SWEETS,THE DOCTOR PUT ME ON SOME MEDICATION FOR THE KIDNEY INFECTION FOR TEN DAYS SHE SAID WHEN YOU RUN OUT GIVE YOUR BODY TEN DAYS TO GET THE MEDICINE OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM AND IF YOU STILL HAVE PAIN IN YOUR SIDE COME BACK.IN THE MEANTIME WHILE I,M ON THIS MEDICINE SHE SCHEDULES ME FOR A UPPER AND LOWER SONAGRAM.IT SHOWS SHE SAYS POSSIBLE ECHODENSITIES IN THE GALLBLADDER POSIBLE POLYPS OTHER WISE NEGATIVE.IN THE MEANTIME THE PAIN STILL BOTHERS ME.SOMETIME IT DON,T BOTHER ME AT ALL.IT COMES AND GOES.SOMETIMES ITS MILD AND SOMETIME IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS PINCHING ME AND IT BURNS.IY IS RIGHT ABOVE MYRIGHT HIP BONE IN LINE WITH MY NAVEL.WHEN I SLEEP AT NIGHT HERE LATELY WHEN I TURN OVER ON EITHER SIDE MY HIPS ACE AND BURN A LITTLE IF I RUB THEM A MINUTE THEY STOP AND IT SEEM SOMETIME THAT MAKES IT HURT A LITTLE.MY SIDE WAS HURTING SO BAD I WENT BACK TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM 0N 7/8/00THEY DID ALL THIS STUFF SHE DID BLLOD WORK AND ALL AND ALL WAS NEGATIVE JUST LIKE HERS.THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A HYDA SCAN.I DON,T CARE WHAT THEY DO I JUST WANT TO KEEP FROM GOING BACK TO THESE DOCTORS REPEADLY WHEN THEY CAN DO IT ALL AT ONCE THIS GETS TO BE EXPENSIVE AND THIS HURTING CAN MAKE IT HARD ON YOUR FAMILY CAUSE WHEN YOU HURT YOU DON,T WANT TO BE MESSED WITH.I JUST CAN,T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SAY IT MAY BE GALLSTONES OR POLYPY.IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOOU EXAMINE  WHY ARE YOU IN PRACTICE.TO RIP PEOPLE OFF.I,M SOORYY I,M NOT TRYING TO SOUND UGLY ,BUT DAM,NT GOOD DOCTORS WHO CARE WHERE ARE YOU THE HECK WITH RUNNING UP THESE BILLS HELP OUT.

[Vicky P]

I experienced the same pain in my upper right abdomen about a year ago along with a lot of belching and acidic feelings in my stomach.  The pain was very uncomfortable and often radiated to my back.  After extensive blood tests and ultrasounds, everything was proven to be normal.  I cut out alcohol and caffine, my internist put me on Carafate, which helps to soothe and "rebuild" the lining of your stomach and a stronger dose of Pepcid AC.  After a couple of weeks the more severe pains went away and after a couple of months I was feeling back to my old self.  Now, however, I began taking a beta-blocker and my pain has returned.  I never went back to caffine and have not been drinking alcohol since I was put on the blockers.  For those of you suffering with CRONIC GASTRISTIS, ask your MD about the above mentioned meds.  AND does anyone else have an adverse reaction to beta-blockers.  Pharmasist says very unlikely, but possible.

[KIM BLAKE]

HELLO TO EVERYONE..IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A LOT OF US ARE STRICKEN WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS..A LOT OF US CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED EITHER...A YEAR AGO WHEN I WENT INTO LABOR WITH MY THIRD CHILD I THOUHGT I HAD A STOMACH VIRUS BECAUSE I WAS THROWING UP ,HAD DIARRHEA AND TERRIBLE PAIN WITH CONTRACTION LIKE PRESSURE.. THE BABY WAS BORN HEALTHY BY C-SECTION AND I SEEMED TO RECOVER WITH NO TROUBLE. HOWEVER I CONTINUED TO HAVE NAUSEA FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND STILL DO CURENTLY HOWEVER IT HAS BECOME BETTER SINCE I NO LONGER EAT THE SAME AS BEFORE..MY NAUSEA LATER JOINED WITH BELCHING,EXTREME PAIN IN THE UPPER STOMACH AREA AND A CHANGE IN BOWEL MOVEMENTS..THE ATTACKS WOULD ACCURE ABOUT EVERY FOUR DAYS..I CAME TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD NOT EAT ANYTHING FOR A WEEK UNTIL I STARTED TAKING PRILOSEC..IT WAS WONDERFUL IN MY AID OF EATING BUT THE ATTACKS STILL CAME AND NO MEDICATION WOULD RELIEVE THE PAIN..(I ALSO HAVE A PRESSURE UNDER MY RIGHT RIB WHICH IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.)THE ATTACKS STARTED TO COME FARTHER APART AND DO NOT ACCURE AS OFTEN AS BEFORE.. I HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR GALLBLADDER WHICH WAS THE OBVIOUS DIAGNOSES, BUT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, EVERY TEST GI, AND ULTRASOUND ,AS WELL AS THE HIDA SCAN ,AND BLOOD WORK HAS COME BACK NEGATIVE..IF I EAT SWEETS OR FAT I WILL BECOME NAUSEAS..I HAVE LEARNED THAT EATING IS NO LONGER ENJOYABLE..I EAT TO LIVE AND FOR NO OTHER REASON..MY ATTACKS ARE FEWER NOW THAT I NO LONGER EAT THE SAME AS BEFORE BUT I STILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER WITH THE OTHER SYMPTOMS LISTED ABOVE..I DO HAVE A HIEDAL HERNIA LIKE MOST PEOPLE BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN STRUCK WITH REFLUX..THE PAIN I EXPERIENCED THE NIGHT I WAS IN LABOR IS WHAT MY ATTACKS ARE LIKE WHEN THEY ACCURE..I ALSO HAVE A TIGHTNESS DURING THE ATTACKS THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I CAN NOT BREATH CORRECTLY..I HAVE TWICE HYPERVENTILATED.ONE DOC. WAS CONVINCED IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD..HOW DEMEANING THAT WAS TO HEAR..I AM CURRENTLY SEEING A SURGEON WHO CONFESSES TO ME THAT HE WILL FIND MY PROBLEM NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.I AM SCHEDULED FOR AN UPPER GASTIOCOTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY AND COLONASCOPY. MY FEAR IS THIS TO WILL SHOW NOTHING AND MY CURRENT CONDITION WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I WILL SIMPLY HAVE TO LIVE WITH AND ADJUST TO AS BEST POSSIBLE.THE MORE I RESEARCH ON LINE THE MORE I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE WAY TO MANY OF US OUT HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING UNDIAGNOSED..I WILL UPDATE WHEN I LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT MY CONDITION, AND I THANK EVERYONE WHO DOES THE SAME..LIVING WITH THE PAIN..KIM B.

[Rebekah]

dear Valerie Priester  Lynn  Denise ( MArch 2 And 9 )             OH how glad I was to find you three !! I have all these problems also . DR are doing nothing and Im In sooooooo much pain.  I know I have hietial hernia and reflux but nothing so far has worked Im too scared to try prilosec.  I do have a difference from yall though ---Im insulin dependant  q?  What is a HIDA scan?         What is a ERCP test?                                                                     P.S. anyone out there like this with diabetes Im only 27 I need help reply at rebekahjem27@aol                           THANKS

[LARRY HOUSTON]

HAS ANY ONE OUT THERE EVER HAD GASTRIC PROBLEMS AND ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE A SALTY TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH THAT JUST WON'T GO AWAY?

[LARRY HOUSTON]

HAS ANY ONE OUT THERE EVER HAD GASTRIC PROBLEMS AND ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE A SALTY TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH THAT JUST WON'T GO AWAY? YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT ***@****

[Tom Abbott]

I have exactly the same symptoms and guess what?  I have liver cancer and it doesn't look good.  Have your doctor check out your billirubin level immediately.  This is most important.
Good Luck!!!

[tracy]

hello i hope someone can help?
In late 1998 i had gladular fever and in janury 99 i started to get a slight dull pain in my lower right side well i still have  the pain and it has become much worse and it also radiates around my back the doctors cant find out what the problem is i have had so many blood tests and they said i have a slightly raised liver funtion test well this has been going up and down for over a year now
i have had 2 ultasounds which showed everything was ok and an endoscopy which showed a slight inflamation in my stomach
basicly my doctor has said he dosent think there is anything to worry about and just to wait and see if things improve
i feel very tired all the time have been given strong pain killers which don't seem to help and also my stomach is very swollen recently there is also alot of gas
this is effecting my life as i feel very down and frustrated
thank's for listening

[tracy]

hello i hope someone can help?
In late 1998 i had gladular fever and in janury 99 i started to get a slight dull pain in my lower right side well i still have  the pain and it has become much worse and it also radiates around my back the doctors cant find out what the problem is i have had so many blood tests and they said i have a slightly raised liver funtion test well this has been going up and down for over a year now
i have had 2 ultasounds which showed everything was ok and an endoscopy which showed a slight inflamation in my stomach
basicly my doctor has said he dosent think there is anything to worry about and just to wait and see if things improve
i feel very tired all the time have been given strong pain killers which don't seem to help and also my stomach is very swollen recently there is also alot of gas
this is effecting my life as i feel very down and frustrated
thank's for listening

[patricia]

I also am experiencing burning in my upper chest and pain through to my back, it seems to get worse with stress. I am a healthy, very fit 36 year old woman.  I sometimes get the sensation I need to cough with it, however there is nothing there, just a dry hack.  Also sometimes feels as though it is fluttery...no clue what it is, but if it continues much longer I am going to check it out with an M.D.

[[email protected]]

I too have experienced the burning,  at times it feels as if I am having palpitations, but I also belch whatever I eat.  Does anyone else experience these flutters? Please e-mail at ***@****

[cravalynn weber]

have had burning pain in left thoracic
back area for about 8 weeks now,really
notice it if i am going to burp.but,pain
usally never goes away.i do notice i burp alot lately
am i loosing my mind?going for massage today.
hpoe it helps.please let me knoe if any one has this.
mail me at cravalynnweber@netscape .net

[paula]

I have been still having problems with pain in my left upper stomach and burning and acid reflux.I have been on relaphen for arthritis and prilasec.I found out long trem prilasec can cause inflammation of the stomach lining.I have been using both for 5 yrs.I stopped the relaphen 3 weeks ago and stopped the prilasec 2 days ago and am living on malanta .I had a blood test to see if I have ulcers.Anyone been on both meds and had something like this? you take a med for something and then it causes it again later on!!! I wonder what meds they can give me now to cure an ulcer if I cant take prilasec? Paula

[Christie]

I have been experiencing painful burning and nausea in my stomach for the past 2 weeks.  The burning pain is always is constant.  When my stomach is empty, I get extremely nauseated.  Could this be GERD or ulcer?  Please respond.  Thank you, christie

[Mary in Florida]

Prilosec side effects?

I was diagnosed with severe acid reflux a year and a half ago.  My doc prescribed Prilosec and it certainly took care of the problem.  Just recently I had a period of flu-like symptoms that followed with a very sudden and violent projectile vomiting.  I thought I had food poisoning.  This was followed wiht pain under the sternum and tightness in the esophagus and throat.  A week later the same thing happened and the intense vomiting ended with a severe pain with the feeling that something was twisted or spasmed.  I stopped Prilosec and switched to Axid, 300 mg in the AM.  After a week or so this wasn't working so I went back
to the Prilosec.  This was when I realized that the feeling of intense pressure that I have felt in the abdomen seemed to be caused by the Prilosec. Prilosec adverse side effects noted AFTER clinical trials included abdominal swelling. When I went off the Prilosec again these symptoms had cleared in two days. The GI doc is doing a gallbladder scan and then an endoscopy to see what's happening there.  But the intense abdominal pressure is GONE. Only because I had new symptoms which the Prilosec wasn't helping and decided to try another treatment did I realize that ALL THIS TIME THE PRESSURE WAS FROM THE TREATMENT for the GERD!  Anybody else think this might be a possibility? for them?

[pat williams]

i recently for two weeks have had pain in the middle were the top of ribcage almost feels like small gallbladder attacks.with diarea and some constipation.i get dehidrated and pain off and on all day.i thought i had the stomach bug since i work at daycare but i was the only one with it. i also just had a fetal death and wonder if this problem affected my pregnancy since everything was fine untill i got sick.if anyone can help email at ***@****                                                                                                            worried

[Sharon]

I also have the pain on the left side, w/burning in chest, there is some relief after burp or passing gas.  I also have a dull headache.  I've also had a lot of blood work done, have been diagosed w/ GERD and am taking ranitidine for it.  I go along for quite sometime w/out this problem then it seems to occur for no apparent reason.  I'd like some relief too from what ever this is.

[Jim....]

I too have had pain in my left side of my stomach.... my chest burns.. i feel tightnest  around my chest and when I burp or pass gas I am reliefed of pain for a few..... this happened to me ayear ago and has'nt returned until last week when I visited Checkers fast food drive thur resturaunt... I think I'm going to give up on hamburgers!.....Jim