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Epigastric and RUQ pain

I was diagnosed with GERD several years ago. I presently take 4 mg. Nexium daily.  I follow a GERD diet.  The epigastric pain I have is not really related to eating, it comes after eating or at any time during the day.  IT is constant and nagging, but not severe.  Sometimes the pain radiates to the right upper abdominal area, feels like something is swollen.  AT work when I am very busy all day I feel no pain whatsoever.  When I start to think about it, I realize I have some symptoms, and this bothers me and I start to realize it gets worse and worse.  My doctor said to just keep taking the Nexium and to relax.  I have had a lot of stress in my life (death of family member, new stressful job, financial, etc) but I don't believe stress can be causing this pain.  I know GERD can cause epigastric pain, but what about the right upper abdominal pain?  Should I insist on other tests from my doctor? I've had CBC, ultrasound, etc. all of which were fine.  Thank you so much in advance for any replies.
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Avatar universal
Shebah, Thanks again for your response.  The only things I am aware of that I have going on is a recent diagnosis of ocular migraines (diagnosed from my internist and ophthamologist) which they both told me are very stress related.   I do notice that stressful situations flare up my acid reflux, even with medication.  About six months ago I was on high blood pressure medication, but I am now off of it and my blood pressure is pretty stable, at about 130/70.  My doctor put me on Benicar 20 mg. (low dose) but it made my BP drop too low, to around 70/50, so they took me off and attributed my high BP readings at that time to stress.  With a low salt diet and exercise daily, about 30 minutes, my BP stays well within the normal range.  When I give up the exercise or cheat and have some salty foods,  it goes up.

I just can't seem to get a handle on the acid reflux.  The confusing part of it is that sometimes I am so good about what I eat and lifestyle changes, and yet I have terrible flare ups.  Other times, when I cheat, and expect to have a flare up I don't, making me think there is something else going on.  

How about you?  Do you have other health conditions with your acid reflux?  I think it's great that you have been able to get off the Nexium.  How often do you have problems with GERD?  Weekly?  Monthly?

Thanks again for your responses and I hope you're feeling better!
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Avatar universal
Sorry you are going through all this, I know how frustrating and scarey it can be. I've been there, and I am partcially there at the moment as well.

I had the same bad reflux you had and I was on 40 mg of Nexium as well. I was also afraid that something else might be going on, because I have quickly learned that reflux is a general symptom, An unbalanced system is prone to stomach problems.You say you are worried other things going on. Do you  have any other symtpoms?

Ok.. I can only tell you what I have done to help myself. I don't know if this is the answer for you or not. When my reflux was at its worst, I had a endoscopy done to make sure nothing serious was happening. It came back negative. I didn't show signs of GERD or anything else. The Nexium did help alot, so I decided to eat foods that I could tolerate to help my stomach as much as I could. I ate only a few things like white rice, bananas, chicken breast, vegetables and so on. I cut down on bread and didnt drink any kind of soda. I think I was at this for about a month or so before I could feel any changes in my stomach. Once I started to feel normal again, I stayed on the diet, and I started to split my 40 mg Nexium into 2 and I took 1 half every morning. If I needed more 1 day I used the other half later on. I did this until I was on 20 mg without any problems. Then I stopped the 20 mg, and only took one half when I needed to. And this is where I am now. I have added other foods to my diet again, and if I notice any problems I take the nexium and spend the next day or two eating rice and chicken again.

This has helped me alot, but I have other stuff going on as well that I think is the root of my problem.

Hope this helped some. Let me know if you have any other stuff going on.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the reply.  I am getting some relife from the Nexium.  I meant to write 40 mg. daily, not 4 mg.   It seems like my system is so sensitive to even going off a GERD diet a little bit.  I had been feeling pretty good for about a month, not great, but much better.  I had a small amount of ketchup with a grilled hamburger patty (no bread) and I paid for it...a small amount of ketchup. I only drink decaf coffee, had a very, very small amount of regular coffee one morning, and these things have set my GERD back in full swing.  Is is possible to have such a flare up from these little things?  I am worried there is something else going on.  
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Avatar universal
The CBC and ultrasound rules out some stuff, like inflammation and abnormilties of the liver and spleen. Are you getting any relief from the nexium at all?
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