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Is Radiating Pain In Chest, Stomach And Left Shoulder A Symptom Of Ulcers?

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Posted on Mon, 27 Jun 2016
Question: I was recently hospitalized for sever heart and stomach pain. Chest pain was from gas caught in chest and stomach radiating to left shoulder. I still have these attacks when eating most foods like vegetables, whole grain bread, oatmeal, spicy food, red meat. Etc. I seem too tolerate only soft white foods. No apples with skins etc. No mixed fruit, I do tolerate yogurt well and rice and pasta. I take probiotic every day, omneprazole 40 mg 2x day and drink a la Vera juice about 6 or 8 oz per day. I also started taking 3 papaya enzymes after meals. I see my regular doctor next week, but curious to what you suggest. I need to schedule colonoscopy and endoscopy very soon. Could I have some kind of ulcers or just bad gerd and bad digestion. This is very miserable.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Ulcers are a strong possibility that need to be rule out ma'am

Detailed Answer:
+You do have a fibre-rich diet which can cause increased production of gas, which could have easily caused the presentation you experienced

+Ulcers are a possibility which need to be ruled out especially due to your reaction to spicy food, but it could also be a case of hyperacidity or GERD; but please note that both hyperacidity and/or GERD do not cause heartburn (stomach and heart pain you experienced) severe enough for an individual to visit the ER

+Your diet seems to be excellent for an individual with constipation or haemorrhoids; but you also need to increase intake of fluids

+I did not see any mention of physical activity and/or exercise, so please do make sure you get sufficient of both in order to help you, but at the same time make sure you avoid strenuous physical activity which can aggravate conditions like gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, etc.

In conclusion, I cannot rule out ulcers ma'am as they are a strong possibility, and I do not think GERD alone can cause the pain you experienced (if it wasn't mixed with some amount of panic or over-reaction). So a list of plausible causes to be ruled out include:

+Gastritis
+Peptic ulcer disease
+Hiatus hernia
+Panic/anxiety attack brought about by some pre-existing condition

If you wish I could provide you with some very basic suggestions, that you can check out and make sure you are already doing or not. I also hope you find my response helpful. Please do not hesitate to write to me for anything, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (20 minutes later)
Yes please give me any of your suggestions, thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It would be my pleasure ma'am :)

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

I would be more than happy to do so:

+Avoid spicy food
+Avoid carbonated drinks
+Avoid coffee
+Avoid overeating
+Avoid tea
+Avoid oily food
+Have 5-6 smaller meals instead of 2-3 larger ones
+Avoid long gaps between meals
+Avoid stress
+Avoid food that can cause increase amount of gas (e.g. broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radishes, sugar, fruits and fruit juices, carrots, brussels, sprouts, onions, raisins, prunes, bananas, etc.)
+Drink plenty of water
+Avoid fatty food
+Good amount of fibre in food (like you do include), but in order to avoid excessive gas production like you experienced, make sure you balance it out with plenty of fluids
+Avoid fried food
+Make sure you have some amount of exercise (cardio preferably) in a day (at least 30 minutes)
+Do not indulge in strenuous forms of exercise as it only increases stress and can cause increased acid and gas production
+Avoid alcohol completely
+Avoid smoking completely
+Take 1 tablet of either ranitidine or omeprazole 15 minutes before each meal when you seem to be experiencing an aggravation of symptoms
+Take 1 tablet of lansoprazole 30 mg every day

I am sure you knew most of these, but even if I could contribute one point, it should help to make a difference.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please do not hesitate to write to me anytime, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (6 hours later)
Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It was my pleasure entirely

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

You are most welcome ma'am.

Best wishes.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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Is Radiating Pain In Chest, Stomach And Left Shoulder A Symptom Of Ulcers?

Brief Answer: Ulcers are a strong possibility that need to be rule out ma'am Detailed Answer: +You do have a fibre-rich diet which can cause increased production of gas, which could have easily caused the presentation you experienced +Ulcers are a possibility which need to be ruled out especially due to your reaction to spicy food, but it could also be a case of hyperacidity or GERD; but please note that both hyperacidity and/or GERD do not cause heartburn (stomach and heart pain you experienced) severe enough for an individual to visit the ER +Your diet seems to be excellent for an individual with constipation or haemorrhoids; but you also need to increase intake of fluids +I did not see any mention of physical activity and/or exercise, so please do make sure you get sufficient of both in order to help you, but at the same time make sure you avoid strenuous physical activity which can aggravate conditions like gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, etc. In conclusion, I cannot rule out ulcers ma'am as they are a strong possibility, and I do not think GERD alone can cause the pain you experienced (if it wasn't mixed with some amount of panic or over-reaction). So a list of plausible causes to be ruled out include: +Gastritis +Peptic ulcer disease +Hiatus hernia +Panic/anxiety attack brought about by some pre-existing condition If you wish I could provide you with some very basic suggestions, that you can check out and make sure you are already doing or not. I also hope you find my response helpful. Please do not hesitate to write to me for anything, I am always here to help. Best wishes.