Pain At The Bottom Of My Sternum

[rosiejada]

I'm a little concerned about this pain, first let me say that i have a history of GI problems such as GERD, H Pylori, gastritis, etc. I have never experienced this type of pain in all the years that i had problems. It came about last week when I had ate some food and felt like it got stuck in my chest. I started to drink plenty of fluids to flush it down and then it was gone, after that day everything i eat causes pain right in the middle, almost as if something is still there. I am on Prevacid and Reglan but it doesn't seem to help that pain go away..............What shoud I do?

[marymk]

Hi rosiejada,

I've had a similar pain ant the bottom of the sternum - it used to be in the middle - then it was to the right, and now it's to the left. It's not a horrible pain - mostly annoying, but one afternoon it was really bad, and to the right -that's near the gall bladder area. Went to the ER - had EKG and blood work. That was all normal, but since the pain subsided while I was waiting to be seen, they didn't do a gall bladder ultrasound. I had it done about a week later, and they said it was normal.
Just after that, the pain moved to the left. This was in December, and I mostly feel it when I'm bending over (like to pick something up off the floor). Since it's not horrible, and most days I forget I have it, I haven't been to the Dr. yet. I did some internet searching, and it sounds like a hiatal hernia. Other sympoms that go along with it are heartburn, burping, indigestion - I have all of that - but like I said, very mild sypmtoms.
Another reason I'm just waiting for my yearly visit this summer, is I've read that unless it's severe, they don't treat the hernia - just tell you to watch your diet, and maybe prescribe acid reflux meds.
I'll probably mention it when I go, just to make sure there's nothing more serious going on, but honestly I feel pretty good most of the time. I've talked to a few people who have been diagnosed, and they have the same, but more severe symptoms. With your history of GERD etc..., this is a possibilty. I wouldn't rule out gall bladder also.

Mary