Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

If the pain is a burning type of pain like heart burn, it may be gastric irritation. The heart can cause pain and nausea too but not usually gas. If it is a pressure type pain then please go to the ER where they can evaluate you for heart problems. If antacids have helped at all, then it is more likely gastric pain.

It is possible that it is an ulcer if it has been going on for a while and is severe, but best to start treating it and if it doesn't help or is getting worse then do go in to see your doctor. If you have any vomiting of blood or something that looks like coffee grounds or have blood or black tarry appearing stools then go in to be seen immediately as that usually represents bleeding from the stomach or esophagus.

So what to do about it:
You can take either an H2 blocker such as Zantac, 150 mg twice a day or 300 mg once a day, or you can take a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) such as Prilosec. I tend to prefer people take H2 blockers because they are safer, fewer risks, and no medication-caused rebound hyperacidity when it is stopped. But if it doesn't work enough your doctor may give you a PPI such as Panatprozole.

If you take aspirin or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, unless you have been told that you must take them for a medical reason, stop these as they can cause gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. If you must take them, and you have been having the stomach problem for awhile, talk with your doctor about ways to protect your stomach from them.

Eat only small amounts at a time - no big meals - as that can distend the stomach and cause increased acid production, pressure, and pain.

No alcohol until healed as that is directly irritating to the stomach lining. And if you smoke cigarettes, now is the time to quit.

Avoid acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus, and spices.

You didn't say how long this has been going on. Did this symptom start tonight? Also, how severe is the pain?

Another thing you can do, in addition to the dietary and lifestyle modifications and taking Zantac is, particularly if there is distention, to take GasX or other brands of simethicone. This will help break up the gas. But you should do that in addition to the Zantac.

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Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional history. If it has been going on for awhile and treatment only helps for a short time, you might want to talk with your doctor about testing for H. pylori. This is a bacteria that can increase the risk of hyperacidity, chronic upper Gi problems including the risk of ulcers. It is treated with a regimen of 3 meds.

But the problem may not be H. pylori necessarily. If you take any medications that could be irritating on the stomach, or have a lifestyle (alcohol, cigarettes, certain foods) that may keep the problem going, that should be addressed for alternatives.

Keeping a little food in your stomach so that it isn't empty for hours, and not eating a big meal sounds like it is helpful to you so keep that up.

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