For at least 20 years, I’ve experienced these “attacks” every so often.
- happens a few times a year or a few times a month
- usually happens in the evening or middle of the night, wakes me from sleep
- pain below my breastbone or upper abdomen (center) that radiates to my upper back, left shoulder blade, and jaw, sometimes my heart
- gnawing pain that comes in waves, starts suddenly and fades out gradually
- nothing seems to help, including pepto bismol or tums
- only thing that really makes it a bit more bearable is rocking or pacing
- lasts about a half hour
- I very, very rarely have heartburn
- started when I was 15 or 16 at the oldest
I’ve always thought it was gallbladder pain and saw a gastroenterologist. He insisted it was GERD and wouldn’t even consider gallbladder. I am not certain it isn’t GERD, but his refusal to consider other possibilities didn’t exactly make me trust him. I have ruled out cardiac issues.
I’ve never heard GERD described this way, so just wondering if other people have experienced GERD in the same way?