Reflux or something else?? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

jj9500 · 03-15-2006, 01:39 PM

Pressure/pain that starts in the lower chest between breast. At times radiates to the back between shoulders. Accompanied by belching. Sometimes the belching relieves it, then it comes back within a few minutes, burp again, same thing, then gone. It's a pretty intense pain. Sometimes last 10 minutes...sometimes last 2 hours. I take Maalox and some tums during these episodes and it seems to relieve it. This happens every so often. Today it happened after I ate lunch (haven't had it in three-four weeks). I had turkey on whole grain, pretzels, and a fruit cup. I tase the fruit when Iburp. One time before I had this episode and it was after eating cantaloupe (which was in the fruit cup today at lunch). Other times this happens and it's not after a meal or anything. Docs say its reflux. I was on PPIs FOREVER but went off because I was feeling better. For you reflux suffers out there.... do these sound like classic reflux attacks or can it be somethng else??

spider37 · 03-15-2006, 03:43 PM

yes it does

aswander · 03-15-2006, 05:08 PM

Chronic reflux is typically treated for life with PPIs. I know it is tempting to go off them when you feel better, but you really can't. The problem is that your lower esophageal spinchter muscle has lost pressure, which is typically a permanent condition. Losing pressure allows the acid in the stomach (super-strong HCL) to move upwards into the esophagous, causing the heartburn sensation. Though PPIs only treat the symptoms and not the cause of the heartburn, they are the best remedy out there. There are also serveral surgical options, but most gastros will strongly recommend that you view the surgery as a last resort, at least until there is more information available about the long-term effects.

You should probably visit the GERD message board where the talk is all acid reflux, all the time.

jj9500 · 03-16-2006, 06:21 AM

nothing really burns in my esophogus though. Doesn't hearburn actually burn? Can reflux really radiate to your upper back too?

damians · 03-16-2006, 06:46 AM

jj9500

I have not had heartburn, just left sided chest pain, recently right as well and into centre back and down arms, lump in throat, sore throat, also had a endosocopy that was normal, GI said i have non erosive gerd.