Zeraph

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

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.

Grancey

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

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zenda

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

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ZENDA

monkeysugar

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

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Daniel_

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

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Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air,
And deep beneath the rolling waves,
In labyrinths of Coral Caves,
The Echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand;
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ASU2003

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?

snowy

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.

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Zeraph

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.

Shadowex3

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.

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Zeraph

Huh, ulcer it may be then. Thanks.

Daniel_

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

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╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗
Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air,
And deep beneath the rolling waves,
In labyrinths of Coral Caves,
The Echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand;
And everthing is Green and Submarine
╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝