Question: I have been experiencing quite a bit of pain in my epigastric region, just about 2-3 inches under my xiphoid process. I take Lebetalol in the morning and do drink some coffee, and have always attributed the symptoms to that. It has seemed to go away after I have a bit to eat, but it has been hurting quite a bit over the past couple of days. I work in a health-related field and have just enough knowledge to overreact and worry over the worst case scenarios. I have taken some antacids and acid blockers, but am still experiencing the gnawing pain. What steps might I take next to treat my symptoms, what symptoms would warrant making an appointment with my physician?
Please cancel. I meant to ask a new question. This one has been answered. Now I have a new concern with severely swollen ankles.

I have visited a cardiologist. I have had stress tests, holter monitor's and they always say nothing alarming. One of the resting 12-lead ECG's said that it could not rule out an infarction and according to the ECG tech, there was an extended ST segment. However, nothing has been said about that. I have been in Bigeminy and they pretty much said that was fine. I have been struggling with alcohol since my husband and I have gotten together. I have been under quite a bit of stress with my job and have been drinking too much, so I am really concerned about my liver, but nobody asks me about that even when I mention drinking too much. I have some minor swelling here and there, but my feet and ankles just blew up like balloons today. I have been getting up at 3:00 a.m. to work on my job and working until I go to bed, I might have some swelling, but never like this. I don't pass much urine without my diuretic, but apparently all of my blood work is very normal. There have been times that I have felt winded lately -- like the feeling one gets when they are a child and have the breath knocked out of them. I have gone to the doctor over all of these things, but am treated with humor and was told that "I was so healthy that it just wasn't funny." That doesn't make sense to me. Without my medication, but blood pressure has reached over 170/120, I have heart palpitations, I have just gained about 9 pounds in less than a month, I weigh over 200 pounds -- I was always a thin young person. I have a five-year old and want to be around for him, but they just keep telling me that I am fine and sending me home. I guess maybe I am just crazy and should quit trying to get help :) Thank you for taking the time to try to help me.

Hello,

I am guessing that my LFT's were fine. I was told that everything was perfectly normal. When I was in the office with my doctor, he mentioned them and looked at them, but didn't say anything. I quite honestly have not talked to him about the alcohol because I have been too embarrassed about my struggle with it. I had an echocardiogram last April and was told that there "were things, but nothing glaring." He listed the results as normal with my physician.

I contacted my physician this morning and he didn't want to see me, but instead told me to double the Lasix to 40 mg/per day.

I do feel pressure in my back on the right side and wonder if it is due to an enlarged liver. I am a college professor and have been working extremely hard, with very long hours on my computer. I have been just trying to make it through the last few weeks of the semester in order to deal with the problem. I hope that I haven't reached the point of no return with this. I know it sounds crazy that I keep doing what I have been doing.