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What Causes Burning Sensation In Stomach And Around Sternum?

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Posted on Wed, 24 Sep 2014
Question: When I go to bed, I get a burning sensation the length of my sternum and sometimes into my stomach. Yes I have GERD for which I take Prevacid. This burning feeling does not at all resemble heartburn. Also, my heart will sometimes seem to be pumping so hard I can feel it when I'm laying down. That never lasts long but the burning lasts most of the night. Once I get up I'm fine. What causes these symptoms? I'm 68 and have never been to a cardiologist.
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Answered by Dr. Enrique Molina (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
seek a doctor

Detailed Answer:
your symptoms may still be from GERD / reflux despite you being on prevacid and not being the typical heartburn feeling. My advise would be to take prevacid twice a day (every 12 hours) on an empty stomach, and wait at least 20 - 30 minutes before having a meal. In the meantime make an appointment as soon as possible with a cardiologist. you don't want to mistake heart issues with gastrointestinal issues, and you could be having "angina", or stressed out cardiac vessels. Your cardiologist will run a series of tests, likely a "stress test" too. If your heart is all good, then you should visit a gastroenterologist for an upper endoscopy to make sure you don't have any ulcers in the stomach or esophagus.
If the pain / discomfort is severe enough to wake you up, you should consider going to the emergency room when you get it.
Hope that helps, let me know if you have further questions or concerns
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Enrique Molina

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 364 Questions

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What Causes Burning Sensation In Stomach And Around Sternum?

Brief Answer: seek a doctor Detailed Answer: your symptoms may still be from GERD / reflux despite you being on prevacid and not being the typical heartburn feeling. My advise would be to take prevacid twice a day (every 12 hours) on an empty stomach, and wait at least 20 - 30 minutes before having a meal. In the meantime make an appointment as soon as possible with a cardiologist. you don't want to mistake heart issues with gastrointestinal issues, and you could be having "angina", or stressed out cardiac vessels. Your cardiologist will run a series of tests, likely a "stress test" too. If your heart is all good, then you should visit a gastroenterologist for an upper endoscopy to make sure you don't have any ulcers in the stomach or esophagus. If the pain / discomfort is severe enough to wake you up, you should consider going to the emergency room when you get it. Hope that helps, let me know if you have further questions or concerns