Digestive and Bowel Disorders Forum - Burning Sensation in the Chest and Possible Case of GERD

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Q: Burning Sensation in the Chest and Possible Case of GERD

asked by: DoctorQuestion on February 25th, 2006

Question: I have been suffering from fatigue and digestive problems for the past years, off and on. Most recently, my fatigue has gotten worse, and I am also suffering from chest pains that feel like burning. It is really hard to get up in the morning.

I have have a colonoscopy, barium upper and lower tests, and endoscope, a sonogram, and an abdominal ct. They showed a little diverticuli and some gastritis in the stomach area.

I have suffered with a feeling of nausea, lack of appetite, and a strange feeling in the stomach...Recently I have that burning, too. I had two near syncope events over the past year...Went to a cardiologist who said they were not cardiac..Took stress test, ekg.

This fatigue seems to be getting worse, and so do the chest burning...I also feel like the lining in by abdomen could be affected, and that is causing the burning feeling? I have considered anxiety and depression, but really do not think that it is them....Just that oppressive physical problem.

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on March 27th, 2006

Digestive & Bowel Disorders Answer A554

An inflamed gastric or duodenal diverticulum (diverticulitis) can cause dyspeptic symptoms like those that you describe; gastritis can also cause similar symptoms. The “chest burning” you are experiencing could be caused by gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). During GERD, stomach acid ascends into the esophagus due to lower esophageal sphincter (cardia) failure. The pH-index in the esophagus needs to be measured to confirm GERD.

To establish a diagnosis, you can first see your family doctor to report the symptoms, and/or ask for a referral to a GI specialist. Then, once you find a diagnosis, your supervising doctor might recommend that you reduce stomach acid by avoiding coffee, smoking, alcohol, fatty food, chocolate etc....all foods with a high pH. S/He might also prescribe antacids, H2-blockers (ranitidine, cimetidine, famotidine), anti-emetics(metoclopramide) and proton-pump inhibitors(omeprazole, pantoprazole) to help neutralize stomach acids.

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