Gastritis/GERD/Hiatus Hernia/Ulcer?

[alwaysinpainofsomesort]

Just wondering whether anyone has had the same symptoms as I’m getting currently which might give me some idea of what’s wrong with me?

A few weeks ago I started to get a terrible aching pain right where the front of a bra would sit. It’s all the way across, from left to right. Also upper back pain, kind of like a stabbing pain in various areas of my upper back. Also my sternum feels tender, aswell as the area just below it. The symptoms are intermittent and don’t appear to be food related as it can appear both before and after eating. The pain actually feels like it’s in my actual rib bones at times? I’ve had a persistent sore/dry throat on waking which goes when I drink etc. I’ve not had any burning feelings or acid in my throat as I used to get that when I was very overweight and since losing 6 and a half stone I haven’t had those symptoms. My lungs don’t feel normal either, sprays are sitting on my chest etc.

It became so painful I was concerned so ended up calling 111 just for advice who then sent me to A&E because the pain is in my chest. They prodded me and said they thought it was excess acid and taking a PPI should settle it down within 2 to 3 days. It’s now been 2 weeks of taking the PPI and unfortunately it hasn’t settled down. I’m eating a bland diet, 2 small meals a day. I don’t drink alcohol nor smoke or eat spicy foods, drink coffee, have stayed away from chocolate, mint etc.

I spoke to my GP who said he wanted bloods, stool tests and a chest x-ray and will speak to me in 6 weeks. I feel so miserable as I just don’t understand what is causing this pain, it just doesn’t seem to fit completely in any of the listed illnesses in the subject line? Has anyone had these symptoms and got a diagnosis? I’m so down with being in pain and not knowing what it is and why it comes and goes like this.

Poor you, that sounds unpleasant. Did any of the doctors you saw mention costochondritis? I'm wondering if it could be that and your sore/dry throat is just down to the high pollen count or something else environmental.

@BarberQueue

Poor you, that sounds unpleasant. Did any of the doctors you saw mention costochondritis? I'm wondering if it could be that and your sore/dry throat is just down to the high pollen count or something else environmental.

Thanks @BarberQueue, it really is so unpleasant and painful 😣 I did wonder whether it could be that but I think it would have to be constant and it doesn’t hurt when I cough etc? 😕

Do you feel almost like you want to burp but can't? I would put money on you having gallstones, have you had an ultrasound? When I had them the only thing that stopped the pain was being sick, until then I was either on my hand & knees with my bum in the air or knelt on the stairs with a hot water bottle on my upper abdomen, I couldn't bear anything touching my back.

I think gallstones ( I’m a doctor)

I get this OP but it's very intermittent. I have had acid reflux but thorough investigations then determined that I didn't have it.

I also get the sore, dry and creaky voice. Been going on for years and I've been pinged around several depts with no success. I also have a massive hernia.

I'm a wreck! Hope you have more success than me. I'd go private if I could afford it.

I suffer from GERD which causes an osephegael spasm that feels like a heart attack. It's a chest pain that radiates all the way up my chest to my arms and neck. That might be the answer?

@Nat6999 No, I do burp when I feel I need to, but I get what you mean! No, no ultrasound. Hospital were adamant it’s acid related and just said I’d need a endoscopy if it didn’t settle. They ruled out gallstones and pancreas by location of pain? GP gave no idea of diagnosis, just said the breathing issues I’ve been having could be related to acid problems.

@olympicsrock Thank you, do my symptoms really fit gallstones? I thought the pain typically comes on after eating, which isn’t always the case with me? It was at its worst when I hadn’t eaten for a long while? It can also last all day, not just hours. I also haven’t been eating high fat meals, just really bland ones? My stools and urine haven’t changed either (sorry, TMI), which I thought they did with gallstones? Hospital said it wasn’t gallstones due to pain location when they examined me, but obviously she couldn’t see inside me! Lol And whilst the pain is awful, it’s not the rolling around on the floor kind of pain, it is bearable but just makes me feel miserable 😩

@IdblowJonSnow Oh poor you, there is nothing worse than getting no answers when you’ve got things going on. I’m a wreck too, this is just the latest issue in a very long line! 😣

@justinhawkinsnavalfluff I do get aching arms occasionally but I haven’t had anything going into my neck? But I guess it could be, I just wish I knew as living like this is making me miserable!

Thanks for all your suggestions, I’ve just called my GP and asked for an ultrasound. Ironically I saw a consultant last year for a completely unrelated issue and he said ‘You’ll get gallstones next!’ due to my weight loss. I just thought he was a weirdo, but maybe he was right! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Your symptoms are not classical for gallstones but you are high risk for gallstones having had major weight loss. With biliary colic ( ie gallbladder sweeping on stones) you do not usually get any change in stools or urine ( this is only when a gallstone leaves the gallbladder and blocks a duct. Incidentally blood tests are usually completely normal too.

I think you will need both an ultrasound to look for gallstones and an endoscopy to look for inflammation of gullet stomach and duodenum.

Have you had any major hormonal changes? I started with gallstones after giving birth but the pain then went away & didn't return until I had a total hysterectomy & started HRT.

@olympicsrock Thank you, I think you might be right as endoscopy was mentioned by the hospital. My GP seems to be playing the long game but I can’t put up with this pain for 4 more weeks! 😣

@Nat6999 Well I also have PCOS and before the weight loss rarely had a period but since then I’ve had them regularly, every 28 days so I’m guessing that yes I have had some hormonal changes. I’m still considered ‘fat’ though (still need to lose about 3 stone), I’m 40 next year, fair etc. So I know I’m in the at risk category (no children though) with the 5 ‘F’s etc. 😫

Check out H Pylori infection. I had it, but it was discovered when I was in hospital for other reasons and needed an endoscopy
.
I had no symptoms, but many do similar to your own. Just a suggestion. The infection can lead to ulcers and gastritis if not treated. The treatment involves triple therapy which is unpleasant for many involving two antibiotics and PPI for two weeks. I have now been cleared of the infection thankfully.

I hope you get some answers soon.

gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/conditions/helicobacter-pylori/

[quote veeeeh]Check out H Pylori infection. I had it, but it was discovered when I was in hospital for other reasons and needed an endoscopy
.
I had no symptoms, but many do similar to your own. Just a suggestion. The infection can lead to ulcers and gastritis if not treated. The treatment involves triple therapy which is unpleasant for many involving two antibiotics and PPI for two weeks. I have now been cleared of the infection thankfully.

I hope you get some answers soon.

gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/conditions/helicobacter-pylori/[/quote]
Thank you, I believe that’s what the bloods and stools will test for? It has crossed my mind, hopefully those tests will show it if it’s present 🤞🏻

Hi OP,

A stool test can identify Hpylori, but I was having an endoscopy anyway and voila, they found this culprit in their explorations!

I don't think a blood test is used that often for HP, but there is a breath test also. The chest x ray is presumably to check if there is anything going on there that is causing your pain.

Wishing you the best. And let us know what happens. It is awful suffering and not knowing what is causing it.

@alwaysinpainofsomesort

Just wondering whether anyone has had the same symptoms as I’m getting currently which might give me some idea of what’s wrong with me?

A few weeks ago I started to get a terrible aching pain right where the front of a bra would sit. It’s all the way across, from left to right. Also upper back pain, kind of like a stabbing pain in various areas of my upper back. Also my sternum feels tender, aswell as the area just below it. The symptoms are intermittent and don’t appear to be food related as it can appear both before and after eating. The pain actually feels like it’s in my actual rib bones at times? I’ve had a persistent sore/dry throat on waking which goes when I drink etc. I’ve not had any burning feelings or acid in my throat as I used to get that when I was very overweight and since losing 6 and a half stone I haven’t had those symptoms. My lungs don’t feel normal either, sprays are sitting on my chest etc.

It became so painful I was concerned so ended up calling 111 just for advice who then sent me to A&E because the pain is in my chest. They prodded me and said they thought it was excess acid and taking a PPI should settle it down within 2 to 3 days. It’s now been 2 weeks of taking the PPI and unfortunately it hasn’t settled down. I’m eating a bland diet, 2 small meals a day. I don’t drink alcohol nor smoke or eat spicy foods, drink coffee, have stayed away from chocolate, mint etc.

I spoke to my GP who said he wanted bloods, stool tests and a chest x-ray and will speak to me in 6 weeks. I feel so miserable as I just don’t understand what is causing this pain, it just doesn’t seem to fit completely in any of the listed illnesses in the subject line? Has anyone had these symptoms and got a diagnosis? I’m so down with being in pain and not knowing what it is and why it comes and goes like this.

I have this too op. I'm on omeprazole constantly because of it

@veeeeh Thank you, it is utterly miserable, I’ve had lots of issues over the past 18 months which just exacerbates this because it’s yet another thing to add to the list! I just want to feel normal and do normal things 😭 Even my iCal reflects this as everytime I go to add something to it, it automatically comes up with ‘Doctor, maybe?’ 😳😢😩

@CandyLeBonBon Oh goodness, I’m so sorry you have to put up with this, too! 😖 Have you had a concrete diagnosis?

[quote alwaysinpainofsomesort]@veeeeh Thank you, it is utterly miserable, I’ve had lots of issues over the past 18 months which just exacerbates this because it’s yet another thing to add to the list! I just want to feel normal and do normal things 😭 Even my iCal reflects this as everytime I go to add something to it, it automatically comes up with ‘Doctor, maybe?’ 😳😢😩

@CandyLeBonBon Oh goodness, I’m so sorry you have to put up with this, too! 😖 Have you had a concrete diagnosis?[/quote]
No. E consult after consult. No further forward in spite of phone triage.

It wakes me in the night, so it's not insignificant. There are times when I wonder if it's a heart murmur 😬.

@CandyLeBonBon Have you been seen in person or had any tests? I’ve only been seen in A&E, GP didn’t even ask to see me! 🙄 Sorry that you are being woken in the night, that’s not good at all!