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Suggest Treatment For Upper Abdominal Pain

Posted on Tue, 16 May 2017

Question: I have had upper stomach pain beneath left breast . The pain traveled to my arm pitt and shoulder . I went to er had ekg, xray, and blood work . They all came back fine . I have had gerd in the past ans this pain is like a stabbing pain and also feels like in my ribs . This past year i have had every heart test and passed them all . I could not get an accurate chostestrol test because my triclerids are high because of my fatty liver . I used to be in army . Im still fairly active and switched my diet because of gerd . This pain has been for a week . It happened after i went out with my friends and had alchohol.

Answered by Dr. Rishu Saxena (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
GERD mimics cardiac pain.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query.

I am Dr Rishu i am a cardiologist and would be answering your query.

Firstly You have a history of GERD and the pain started after you had alcohol.
Secondly all your cardaic investions are normal.
So i dont think this pain is related to heart.Gastric pain often mimics cardiac pain especially pain in heart burn is retrosternal and is usually felt in thorax area.
Its very difficult to differenciate them on the basis of nature of chest pain.
However to be sure i would suggest you to go for stress thallium test(98%) sensitive.Once cleared from cardiac side i would advice you to consult a gastroenterologist and start taking a Pantroprazole 40 mg once daily along with an Antacid twice daily.
Pain due to GERD and Gastritis classically responds to it.

An endoscopy can be planned there after to look for the cause of GERD.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Rishu Saxena (50 minutes later)

Can gerd pain last for a week though ? And just by chance it is cardiac . Can cardiac pain last for a week straight. I actually went to gym today and did four miles with this pain . I checked blood oressure and it was slighlty elevated but i know it was from working out. It went back to normal after exercise was done . I did not have shortness of breathe during execise .

Answered by Dr. Rishu Saxena (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
GERD if not treated can last for weeks.However cardiac pain if stable usually settles down in 20 min or if unstable causes a full blown attack within 18 hours.

pain any where in body stimulates the nervous system and cause mild increase in blood pressure and pulse.

Doing exercise is rather impossible if pain or heaviness is cardiac.

Apparent from your history its gastric pain.

Regards!

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj