Heart Burn even when not eating?

[maximus]

Can someone get heart burn even they didn't eat anything? Or maybe even that acid reflux deal? I get it even when I don't eat. I've had this for well over a year and there is nothing wrong with my heart (which I just had checked out with an x-ray, ct scan, ect *due to chest pains* which the doc said was just stress ).

I didn't tell hi about the heart burn because it didn't cross my mind. Anyways, I get it even when I don't eat. :confused:

[Cuckoo]

It's possible you have an ulcer. I'm not a doctor certainly, but a friend of mine had an ulcer and frequently had bad acid reflux-like conditions. Sometimes not eating would make it worse.

[maximus]

It's possible you have an ulcer. I'm not a doctor certainly, but a friend of mine had an ulcer and frequently had bad acid reflux-like conditions. Sometimes not eating would make it worse.


Yup, when I do not eat it does seem to hurt a lot worse than if I don't eat.

[Eaglesfan27]

An ulcer would be my top educated guess as well.

[Rizon]

I had that problem in 98, and I went to the doctor. It would happen when I ate, but mostly when I was stressed. It would feel like someone was stabbing my stomach/abdomen with a knife heated at 10,000 degrees. It hurt like hell, and one day when the pain dropped me to my knees, I went to the doctor.

So at the doctor's office, he asked me what *I* thought I had. Me being an Accountant, I had no clue, and thought this was a test where I could win some type of brownie points. I guessed "ucler". I was wrong. I had IBS (Irratable Bowel Syndrome). He told me that there was nothing they could do for me, other than me stop taking Advil/Motrin(which was FREQUENTLY prescribed by that hospital), stop getting stressed, stop smoking, stop drinking, and stop eating spicy foods. But he could send me to get some tests just to be on the safe side.

They took my blood 3 times (weird). They told me I would be contacted in two weeks if there was a problem.

Two weeks went by. Nothing. I felt I was safe. I stopped drinking outright, stopped smoking regularly, stopped taking advil and motrin, and cut down a little of the stress, and cut down on spicey foods. It helped a little, the normal pains were there, but not the super sharp killer ones.

Then over two months later I got a call from my Primary Care Physician. She told me I had an unusually high amount of calcium in my blood. She asked *me* why I would have so much calcium in my blood. Me being an Accountant, I had no clue, and thought this was a test where I could win some type of brownie points. I guessed "I drink alot of milk?". They weren't sure either, so they wanted me to take more tests. I never showed up.

I still have bad indigestion when I eat spicey things, but I always keep a large bottle of Tums around, and that helps.

[Buccaneer]

I had been the same way for years, except without the pain, which is why I have been prescribed Aciphex. I've done Prevacid and Prilosic but Aciphex is a little easier and lasts longer for me. The key to make it through the day is to take this 24-hour pill first thing in the morning, 30 mins before eating anything. Acid Reflux is a mild form of ulcer but with pain, there is something else going on.

[Senator]

The initial post I suffered with since graduating high school. It was brutal. I wouldn't even have to eat. Stressful moments I was in misery. They tried Tagament, which was new, and that didn't work. I continued to be miserable. About 4 years ago, I went to a highly recommended doctor, who put me on Protonix. It solved the problem immediately. It also began to heal my stomach. I took it every day for about a year, and now I take one about once every two months, if I eat something that sets me off. It changed my quality of life, so take it for what that is worth.

[Senator]

Dola,

A guy at work had IBS, and he said the cramps were like he was trying to give birth to a bowling ball covered in razor blades. Same doctor put him on something called Hyoscyamine, if I am spelling it right, and it solved his problem as well.

[maximus]

The thing is - my stomach doesn't hurt. I get a real bad burning feel in my throat and esophagus area. Sometimes it worse than others but on a scale of one to ten I would on average the pain is about 5-6 & 8-9 on the worst days. I get this about 4-5 a week and sometimes it wont come around for days. I had my blood check for a lot of things (this was done when I had the chest pain) and nothing came up. IMO the chest pain I had - had nothing to do with this "heart burn" I am having since the chest pain only started in Feb of this yr (which I no lopnger have anymore anyways) and the heart I am still having has been going on for 1 1/2 yrs at least. I'm going to see a doc soon but before I go I just wanted to see what others had to say about this type of condition.

[Senator]

Sounds like Esophageal Reflux, but I am no doctor.

[maximus]

I had been the same way for years, except without the pain, which is why I have been prescribed Aciphex. I've done Prevacid and Prilosic but Aciphex is a little easier and lasts longer for me. The key to make it through the day is to take this 24-hour pill first thing in the morning, 30 mins before eating anything. Acid Reflux is a mild form of ulcer but with pain, there is something else going on.


Dola,
I am not having any "pain" perse just a burning feeling. Feels like acid in my throat and sometimes in my stomach. Thing is, when I take Zantag (sp?) it will go away which made me think it was heart burn but heart burn on a consistant basis for over a yr? Dont make any sense. :confused:

edit: Zantag is an OC heart burn medicine.

[Senator]

Dola,
I am not having any "pain" perse just a burning feeling. Feels like acid in my throat and sometimes in my stomach. Thing is, when I take Zantag (sp?) it will go away which made me think it was heart burn but heart burn on a consistant basis for over a yr? Dont make any sense. :confused:

edit: Zantag is an OC heart burn medicine.

It does make sense. I had it for over 10 years.

[maximus]

Well, it's relieivng to know that there are others out there. Thanks for all of the replys and help guys.

[Ksyrup]

My wife's taking the Purple Pill. Whichever that one is.

I used to get acid reflux, but only at times of stress and for a limited time. However, it was debilitating - I would be up all night and unable to do anything for a day or two; even laying down hurt. I haven't had it for a couple of years or so. My wife, OTOH, gets it regularly, but it doesn't seem as though hers is nearly as intense as mine was.

It actually took me a couple of times before I realized what was going on - I got it 3 weeks before I got married, 2 weeks before our first daughter was born, and the week I started a new job. I hardly ever show outward signs of stress and don't generally feel stressed, so I guess this is my body's way of telling me I should be stressing about something.

[FBPro]

Purple pill for you, had the same and taking it has solved it for me. Started off taking it everyday for awhile, now 3 or 4 times a week keeps it away.

[QuikSand]

...I had an unusually high amount of calcium in my blood. She asked *me* why I would have so much calcium in my blood.... I had no clue...I guessed "I drink alot of milk?". They weren't sure either, so they wanted me to take more tests. I never showed up.

...I always keep a large bottle of Tums around, and that helps.

I'm no doctor, but maybe all the calcium in those Tums has something to do with your high calcium levels?

Good luck, in any event. Maybe, uh... I don't know, you might want to show up for one of the tests? Just a thought.

[Rizon]

I'm no doctor, but maybe all the calcium in those Tums has something to do with your high calcium levels?

Good luck, in any event. Maybe, uh... I don't know, you might want to show up for one of the tests? Just a thought.

Didn't start taking Tums until 2003 or so.

And in 1998 I was more like:

take tests<------------------------------------ME-->C.R.E.A.M.


I've had a few people guess Bursitis. I was in two car accidents in 1996 that jacked me up something decent. A couple years later I started getting intense shoulder pain, right under the blade (then later I had the blood tests). Could be linked, who knows. I've been thinking about going to the doctor again about my shoulder and back pains (In 96 they gave me Motrin).

[superbama]

For 15 years i had abdominal pains that were pretty bad. The only way to make them go away was make myself vomit. Last year I got home from work and dropped to the ground with the worst pain i've ever had. I was dying there was no doubting it. I went to emergency room and the doctor told me I had the flu (?) and gave me morphine(!?!). The next day my primary did the same thing...... On the third day I saw a surgeon and after a couple test got my gal bladder removed in emergency sugery. It cured me and i'm sooooooo happy.

[WrongWay]

Prilosec for me has cured everything. I also feel like an idiot for taking all those heartburn cures for years. The worst the 3AM heart burn for me. I used to wake up choking unable to even breathe, had to stand up and get my breath, then I drank some milk, downed some pepto, and chewed a couple of tums before I could try to go back to sleep again. Yeah, that empty stomach heartburn was murder for me.

1 prilosec a day and it is all gone, And I mean gone. Prilosec prevents heartburn and or Acid reflux. PREVENTS, not stops, not cures. My heartburn has just vanished. I can now eat anything and everything I want right before bedtime and sleep right through the night.

The Bad news of course is I have now put on 15 pounds because of my eating habits.

[maximus]

For 15 years i had abdominal pains that were pretty bad. The only way to make them go away was make myself vomit. Last year I got home from work and dropped to the ground with the worst pain i've ever had. I was dying there was no doubting it. I went to emergency room and the doctor told me I had the flu (?) and gave me morphine(!?!). The next day my primary did the same thing...... On the third day I saw a surgeon and after a couple test got my gal bladder removed in emergency sugery. It cured me and i'm sooooooo happy.


Man, sorry to hear about that. Good to hear you are happy and OK though.

[General Mike]

sounds like GERD. My older brother has it, and the diet he's supposed to be on, sucks.

[Suicane75]

Im thinking gall bladder maybe? The heartburn and shoulder pain. Im no doctor of course but it matches my symptoms when i had gall stones.