Feels like a painful burp low in my stomach
 

This is the second time in a month or so that I've had this all day (actually going on 2 days) feeling of pain at the bottom of my throat/stomach. At first I thought heartburn but that hasn't worked. I'm slowly burping small burps throughout the day, so there's some kind of gas leak problem going on :D

It hurts when I swallow (way way down though, not at all like a swore throat).

What is this? What do I take? Heh, I have a feeling this is gonna be one of those common problems that I've been totally oblvious to.

Sounds like an ulcer, but I'm no doctor.

Hi Zeraph

Grancey's response is close to my own sentiments, and phrases like 'gastric reflux' come to my mind.

However ... second time in a month and this time gone on for two days means, in my English National Health Service-based language "Go See A Doctor." I'm appreciative that in some countries, people actually have to pay - but in that case, I reckon the fact tht its the second time, and this time has lasted quite a while, more than justifies a visit to get a professional opinion.

Best wishes :)

You've got The AIDS. Actually probably not...
try some pepto, prilosec, or *go to the doctor*.

Sounds like reflux. I'd second the "talk to a healthcare professional" answer too.

Does taking Tums or another type of antacid do anything? Antacid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What is your diet like? If you eat non-gas forming and non-acidic or spicy foods, does it go away?

Second this question.

To add something to it: keep a food journal for a couple of weeks. It may help you notice patterns in your diet, and help you realize which foods cause this problem and which ones don't, because it sounds like a heartburn/acid reflux issue to me. Trigger foods for heartburn/acid reflux can vary; for example, carbonated drinks don't bother my GERD, but for a friend of mine who also has GERD, they're a major trigger. However, there are some GERD triggers that seem to be universal, like deep-fried foods.

Here are some links regarding acid reflux and diet that I have found helpful:

Safe foods: Acid Reflux Diet - Safe Foods for Heartburn Sufferers - Safe Foods for the Acid Reflux Diet
Foods to be consumed with discretion: Acid Reflux Diet - Foods Heartburn Sufferers Should Consume with Discretion - Acid Reflux Diet
Foods to be avoided: Acid Reflux Diet - Foods Heartburn Sufferers Should Avoid - Acid Reflux Diet

Also, how much do you weigh? Being overweight/obese is associated with GERD. I know that when I lost weight, my GERD became much more easily managed than it was prior to that.

Further, does this happen when you smoke? I know you've mentioned that you like to smoke a pipe. Smoking can exacerbate acid reflux.

So, after you've addressed the diet questions--and diet is honestly the easiest long-term fix for this problem based on my experience--there are OTC medications meant to help with heartburn and acid reflux. These drugs are split into four categories:

--antacids (Tums, Maalox)
--alginic acid (Gaviscon)
--H2 receptor antagonists (ranitidine[Zantac], cimetidine[Tagamet], famotidine [Pepcid])
--Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole[Prilosec], lansoprazole[Prevacid])

If you are considering a course of proton pump inhibitors and have not ever used them before, I would urge you to see a doctor before doing so for a definitive diagnosis of GERD.

I've tried taking a bunch of Tums, didn't help (its gone tho atm btw, lasted just over 2 days).

Also, I have burps without drinking anything carbonated. That's not a sign of heartburn is it?

I could be wrong but it felt a bit lower than what heartburn would be.

Doubt its an ulcer, if I rub my belly I'll burp more and feel a bit better. But I could never get it all out (until the end I mean).

This is also more of a sharp pain, rather than a stinging pain of heartburn.

Sounds almost exactly like my ulcer. I'm now a (silent) burp machine that needs to basically keep venting gas, especially went I eat. Before I got on prilosec I had exactly your pain, same basic area, and I always thought it was either hunger or gas.

Go see a doctor.

Huh, ulcer it may be then. Thanks.

If you get some OTC Ranitidine and that fixes it, then it's certainly related to stomach acid.