Chest pain and acid sensation

[LaurenMoo]

I have been getting a pain in my chest after every time i swallow food or drink. It has been happening for a few days now, and its making it difficult for me to eat or drink. I also keep getting a burning acid feeling in my chest. I saw my doctor about it on the second day of the pain but no acid feeling, and he told me it was probably just heart-burn. But its now been a week since then and it hasn't changed other than getting the acid feeling. I'm quite worried about it as i have a good diet, and i'm quite healthy as i'm only 17. Is there any advice on how i can stop this?

[FurballsMom]

I agree with the above comment.  I was about your age when I started noticing problems with GERD.

There is a good chance that if you're careful with your diet and you raise the head of your bed, which is the usual advice for GERD sufferers, that you can avoid the PPI medications.  I would hate for you to start with those right off the bat, because long-term use of these medications can cause malabsorption of important vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.  Supplementing will not help enough with the malabsorption.  I know this from experience.  And, you're still very young and just starting out in life.  So, start with the diet, exercise and the raising of the head of the bed first.

One other food that was not mentioned that is a common problem with GERD is tomatoes.  Especially canned tomatoes.  Fresh is sometimes okay.  Citrus can be very bad for GERD, too.  Don't worry about vitamin "C", because there is more vitamin "C" in things like broccoli than in oranges, and as for taking care of yourself when you get a virus or something, vitamin D helps more with prevention and treatment.  Vitamin "C" is still very important, but there are other natural sources that are less irritating.  Rose hip tea is a good source.  Tastes really good, too.  Rose hips were used by many during shortages caused by WWII to prevent scurvy, which is caused by vitamin "C" deficiency.  Also, when supplementing with vitamin "C", look for ones that say "gentle" or ones that have rose hips added,  These are usually much gentler on the stomach.

This might seem lengthy, but I just want to try to help you start out in life better than I did with knowledge that can keep your GERD under control.  I had NO knowledge when I was your age.  Real knowledge would've helped immensely to prevent needless suffering.  And, the information will likely even help other fellow GERD sufferers.

Another thing I noticed that is really irritating is anything made from the tea plant.  Especially, the black tea form.  I'm pretty sure it's the natural tannic acid that is irritating to the GERD.  Some seem okay with green tea, but just remember that it's still from the same plant, so it may still bother you.  White tea is also the same plant.  Many don't realize this, so it's important information to pass along.

[Londres70]

Sounds like GERD.  You can request medication like a PPI, i.e. Protonix or Prevacid to try and see if that helps and an Upper Endoscopy (a scope that views the esophagus, stomach and part of the small intestine).  

Meanwhile, keep your meals small, don't eat 2-4 hours prior to bedtime and you can elevate you bed as an above poster has mentioned.  Avoid soda, chocolate, coffee, sugary or greasy foods.  Sometimes dairy products can aggravate this problem, but I am not sure if that is the case for you.  

[mklarson]

I agree with the above poster to get checked for a hernia to identify or rule it out.  Did your doctor give or recommend any medication to you for heartburn? It is worthwhile to try while waiting for a CT scan.  You might also want to elevate the top of your bed by two to four inches so that your head is higher than your feet.  We have many of our patients with heartburn do this so that gravity keeps the stomach acid from working its way into the esophagus during the night. This helps decrease the burning sensation/chest pain because of the reduction in inflammation (it might take up to a week for you to feel a difference).      

Hope this helps!
    

[introuble75]

ask your Doctor to check you for a hernia.,My son is 12 and I had to take him in for the same thing..They told me that when we eat ,our food empties out of your throat into your stomach,,well,my sons was inflamed, they done a ct scan and gave him meds one time,,he hasnt had another problem since,,Good luck with this...