I'm only 25 yrs old and i've been having these symptoms since i was 13. I get a really bad ache on my upper back between my shoulder blades. It's been hurting for 3 days now and I don't want to keep taking antacids. This always happens to me when I missed a meal. I've been really busy at work so I didn't have time to eat. I'm an esthetician btw. Is there any quick remedy to make the pain go away? I hate this pain so much, I feel the need to get a knife and stab it right in the back where my pain is......=(
I'm in pain!! please help!!
1/15/09 2:14pm
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1/20/09 6:12pm
Hi, I have had the same problems off and on for many years from early teens. I've taken the antacids, H2 blockers and PPIs, they helped only a little, but the nausea, early satity,bloating, and pain was still there. Doctors always said it was the reflux and that I had a sensitive stomach, and newer, it was functional dyspepsia as well. After years of sufferring off an on with the same syptoms and this pain, I forced my doctors to do a pancreatic enzymes test, a simple blood test for amalyase and lipase.
Gallstones can cause pancreatitis. It's more common for women to have gallstones especially when taking birth control pills or HRT. Doctors don't even think about pancreatitis much in woman. It's most common in alcoholic middle aged men, so they always assume you are an alcoholic to have pancreatitis and if you don't drink than you wouldn't have it, but that is not always true as in my case. Gallstones, pregnancy, inherence, sudden weight loss, statins and others can cause pancreatitis. I don't drink and I have finally been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis as well as the hiatal hernia, GERD, and idiopathic gastritis that was diagnosed 30 years earlier. My pancreatitis is chronic because they missed diagnosed it as only acute gastritis because I was 17 at the time.
If your back pain is between the shoulder blades and piercing like... can be radiating to the right shoulder, nausea and/or vomiting after eating or drinking fluids, abdominal pain and/or difficulty breathing after eating, loss of appitite, diahrea, pale stools than normal, and weight loss/gain can be gallstones and/or pancreatitis, but not all syptoms need be present. gallstones causing acute pancreatitis and bending forward relieves the pain is a good sign to see your doctor/emergency room right away. Not having acute pacreatitis treated properly can be fatal, but not in all cases, it might just last a couple of days and go away. Acute pancreatitis is very painful and could turn into chronic pancreatitis and as time goes by you experience less and less pain. Pancreatitis is and immflamation of the pancreas that slowly destroys the function of the pancreas, which over time you can develop digestive insuffinancies and diabetes.
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Hello! I am sorry to hear you are having such troublesome back pain. It must be even worse due to a job that keeps you on your feet and moving all day. First, are you sure the back pain is due to GERD? If it is, I wonder why the antacid medication isn't working. It might be time to talk to the doctor again about your treatment plan. Often if a OTC medication such as an acid reducer or antacid is not helping, a stronger medication may be used such as a proton pump inhibitor. You are probably familiar with the brand names: Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Aciphex, etc.
While medication may be important, don't underestimate the power of non medication management. The medication won't work or will not work as well if you do not take care of your body.
If you are on your feet all day and cannot sit for a meal or chew slowly and carefully, see if you can sip a smoothie or nutritional drink. You can have it nearby and take a sip without being noticed.
It is important to eat small, frequent meals. Maybe on your break, you can eat a small second breakfast and nibble at lunch and finish lunch in the afternoon. Steer clear of the grab and go foods that may hurt when they start to regurgitate: chips, sweets, soda or coffee.
Let me know what you have tried so far.
Jan Gambino
The Reflux Mom
Thank you for replying. I know I don't have really good eating habits, especially at work because I'm so busy. I think my symptoms all started when I was in middle school, I'd skip lunch all the time because at that age, I already thought I was fat. But after school, I'd feel so hungry, that I'd over eat. I was probably average. (Currently I'm 5'1" 5'2" ish and weigh 125 lbs.) One day I had a cough, but it wasn't bad enough that I need to take antibiotics or anything. But my mother insisted that our family doctor prescribe some to me and so she did. That night after taking the antibiotics, possibly on an empty stomach, a few hours later my stomach started hurting really bad and I had to go to the E.R. for it. I didn't know what that pain was. I thought I was just hungry. So I grabbed some pastry to eat but eventually threw it all up. Ever since then, I'd get these reoccuring symptoms of this pain in the back whenever I skipped a meal. I have seen a G.I. doctor for this. I had Gastrointestinal Endoscopy performed on me as well. The doctor said I just probably have a really sensitive stomach. No ulcers were found. Only little red speckles. Thank you for replying once again. I feel a lot better today. Last night i went to sleep with a heating pad on my back and that made it feel a lot better, but now I have to deal with a heat rash.
Julie
Julie, My daughters always have a water bottle nearby and sip on water all day-even in school. This really helps to keep a little something in the stomach at all times. It can also be a problem if very little is eaten all day and then a big dinner is consumed in the evening. Eating a large evening meal or eating just before bed can really increase reflux symptoms.
If your doctor has not evaluated your back pain and symptoms in the last 6 months, it is probably a good idea to get it checked out.
While you are taking care of others and making them feel great, don't forget to take care of your back and your reflux!
Jan Gambino
The Reflux Mom