Dealing with unknown pain for 4 months, what could it be?

Posted by metacognition @metacognition, 3 days ago

Not really a question because I’m already planning to see a GI, but I figured I’d write this out and see if anyone’s had something remotely similar.

Back in August I suddenly got this weird pain in my upper abdomen / back / chest area. At first I thought it was a back injury. Pain relievers helped a bit. Then if I bent or strained, the pain would jump from like a 4–5 to an 8–9 out of nowhere. Then I thought maybe it’s my esophagus, then I thought constipation, then gas, then back to esophagus again.

I went to a doctor and got put on Protonix for GERD. But this pain hasn’t gone away in 4 months. It changes too, not just staying the same. Pain relievers don’t help when it gets bad. Chamomile tea does nothing. Peppermint oil capsules helped a tiny bit.

I have esophagus red flags (difficulty swallowing, food getting stuck, even threw something up once) so I’m going to get a GI appointment. I’m a hypochondriac but not the type who jumps to “it’s cancer” more the type who likes figuring things out before a doctor’s visit so I can explain everything clearly.

My symptoms: pain in upper abdomen/chest/back/throat, feels like I swallowed a rock, tightness/pressure, burping sometimes helps, certain foods make it worse (cheese, cookies, pizza). Worse when I recline, better when sitting upright (I also use a heat pad). Very bad when hungry. Sneezing can trigger it. Walking around when it’s already flared makes it worse.

My guesses (just theorizing):
EoE (runs in family), esophagitis, narrowing, spasms.

Other possibilities I thought of: ulcer, hernia, gallbladder (also runs in family), constipation/digestive stuff, gas.

Least likely but not 0: pancreas, kidney, liver.

Still going to the GI, I just want to know if anyone else has had pain like this. Not taking anyone’s story as a diagnosis, just curious.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

gently | @gently | 3 days ago

metacognition, the symptoms sound like an esophageal stricture, in which case the GI would schedule an endoscopy and dilate the stricture, usually with a balloon. I hope it is this simple.

rashida | @rashida | 3 days ago

@metacognition I had similar pains and eventually diagnosed in ER with gallstones … have you had your gall bladder removed already? If not, your gallbladder may be the culprit.

lindaisling | @lindaisling | 3 days ago

I have also had/have pain in similar areas. First, I was diagnosed with gallbladder dysfunction without gallstones, and my gallbladder was removed. I stopped throwing up so much after that, but the pain didn't go away. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). I continue to have the pain, and evidently, I just have to live with it. I am going to ask to be referred to an endocrinologist at my next primary care visit. I hope to find some way other than opioids to help with the pain. I can't imagine that taking opioids is helpful for my liver. I hope that whatever you end up diagnosed with, it will have an easy an permanent fix.

naples3 | @naples3 | 2 days ago

I am female 81 years old. I have been diagnosed with PMR 5 years ago, which I believe is correct. But I have chest pain attacks occasionally (at first thought it was heart attacks but have had full cardiac work up and cleared from any heart problems). Now being treated for esophageal issues, Gerd, swallowing problems. I think I’m having esophageal spams of some sort. Wondering if this is in any way associated with PMR? I am now in a PMR flare up being blamed on getting Covid vaccine 6 weeks ago. Does anyone with PMR have chest squeezing or spasms?