Ulcer?

[KWKSLVR]

Where it is at: Middle of the chest about 2 fist lengths down from the sternum (top of stomach)

Here are the symptoms:
When I (occasionally) drink and eat (what I drink and eat doesn't matter) that part of my body starts to burn and gets a little tight. I don't have shortness of breath or increased heart rate or anything like that, just the pain.

It's been this way everyday for about 5 days after my dumbass thought that some Maker's Mark would be a good idea.

 

[danielson]

is it:

relieved by antacids/milk?

worse when you lie flat? bend over?

do you get reflux (feel like stuff is coming back up)?

feel like acid is belching up?


and finally
you said tight...any pain feeling like a crushing pain, and have you noticed it move anywhere (left arm, shoulder or jaw for example?)...and do you ever get the pain when exercising? i dont think its this but just thought id rule it out

 

[KWKSLVR]

Milk does help. It hit me bad when I was working out of town so I sat on my hotel room and drank about a 2 pints of it. I haven't tried laying down with it and I haven't had it hit me after I've fallen asleep at night. I also haven't had any reflux however, sometimes when I belch I can "feel" it, but the discomfort stays in the same place. I had a bad case of acid reflux about 2 years ago and taking Nexium for around 5 days cleared it on out but this just seems different.

Also, the pain hasn't moved at all. In fact, I'm between sets right now and I'm feeling pretty damn good. Normally I would just go to the doctor but that takes time off from work that I can't afford to take (at least not until next week) so unless I can find an excuse to take a personal day I want to wait on it (but I don't want to exactly die either ).

 

[Joester]

It sounds like you may have a Gastric Ulcer. Gastric Ulcers, in the stomach, often follow have inconsistent patterns, food can bring on the pain instead of making it better. Stress is also a big factor, as it increases acidity.
Since it isn't relieved by eating, or waking you up at night, I doubt it is a Duodenal Ulcer. You should see the Doc, you should have treatment: 1 - Antibiotics - for the association of H Pylori, which is a common agent in the etiology of ulcers, 2 - Acid/Acid [H2] pump blockers, which will drop the acid being produced, and allow the stomach mucosal wall to heal. 3- Diet - lose the alcohol, it will bring on acidity; eliiminate spicy, fatty foods, and fruit juices. Milk, a common base of the treatment, have been found to NOT help in the healing ulcer, and believe it or not, increases acid secretion. 4 - If you smoke, try your best to drop or lose that too, aside from lung issues, it promotes acid secretion, and impairs healing, and increases recurrence.

Sometimes a study is needed, and endoscopy is the way, to see directly, and even take a sample if needed, to aid in DX and help rule out other issues.
Ulcers can and do perforate, which is a MAJOR complication, even a life-threatening one. They can also bleed, as many progress into vomiting blood, or having it in the stool.

I know work issues are tough, but you should try to set aside time soon to get treatment.

Hope I helped.