I hate my "gut"

I’ve been having this ache in my upper abdomen for more than two weeks now. It started as a dull chest pain just between the breastbone (sternum) and then slowly crawled to the lower ribs just right by the diaphragm. Since I don’t have any other symptoms like fever, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, constipation/diarrhea, or anything that can cause alarm like high blood pressure or fast heart rate, I thought it’s costochondritis which I know will go away on its own. 

But when I felt a sudden tightening on my chest—as if I was having a heart attack—while mopping the floor one night, I went and have it checked last week. 

Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

After describing what I was feeling, the doctor immediately went and asked me to have an ECG and blood test to rule out cardio problems and infection. She didn’t require a chest X-Ray anymore because I just had one during our APE last February and it came out clear. Besides, I personally feel what I’m having is not caused by any respiratory problems. 

They didn’t see anything on my ECG and blood test as well so the doctor thought it’s stomach acid. She said that sometimes hyperacidity can cause heartburn that mimics a heart attack. I was given Pantoprazole which I had to take once a day before meal. To be sure, she also asked me to have an upper abdomen ultrasound to check my kidneys, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen, and abdominal aorta. I had it last Sunday because it would require me to fast. 

I have yet to receive the results tomorrow. 

The Pantoprazole didn’t help that much because now the pain is on the top of my stomach, right by the center. If for anything, what I’m having is worse now. Apart from the pain, I have this feeling of fullness in my stomach even if I did not overeat. The area is also tender to the touch. 

I can’t wait to see the ultrasound results just so I can be at ease that this is not something serious like stomach bleeding or some type of digestive inflammation. 

I have had a history of gastritis but it’s been years since I last had it because I have avoided most things that can cause it like soda, caffeine, and alcohol. The past few weeks all I’m taking is lemon water and when I think about it now, that’s when it all started. When I asked the doctor about it she said that it’s possible that lemon water may have caused it because lemon is citrus which is said to trigger gastroesophageal reflux or GERD. 

This is really a bummer. All I’m doing lately is watch what I eat and just because I thought lemon water is healthy and everyone said it is safe enough to drink even on an empty stomach, I went ahead and did it. Now I read that lemon water can go either way which means it could either trigger or ease acid. 

I read about GERD and I currently don’t experience most of its common symptoms like burning sensation in the chest, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation of food or sour liquid. I might have when this was all starting, but now I’m having more symptoms of gastritis like stomach pain and feeling full and heavy. Could GERD cause my gastritis again?

The nagging pain is starting to bother me and interfere with my daily activities. Lying down and sitting for long periods make it worse. I cannot eat very well anymore because a few bites can leave me bloated and full for hours. 

My mom and older brother are starting to worry especially when they’d see me going through my day holding my stomach. Both of them had surgery before to remove their gallstones so they think it’s a possibility. 

© Mayo Clinic

I know I shouldn’t resort to cyberchondria, but I read about the usual symptoms for gallstones and some of them match what I’m having like the intensifying pain in the center of the abdomen, just below the breastbone. I also read that high cholesterol can also be the cause because gallstones can be undissolved cholesterol. As I have mentioned here, my last check-up with my endocrinologist showed that I have high cholesterol and LDL levels.

If it was then I want to know it now so I can schedule a cholecystectomy soon (which I think is covered by my health card anyway). If it isn’t and it’s really just gastritis that is highly treatable, then well and good.