Question: My boyfriend is 49 and got sick in the middle of the night--threw up at 2 am and had diarrhea. The latter is still lingering at 7:45pm. About a week ago he had what he described a heartburn, or what he figured was heartburn, as he's never had it before. Tums helped a little. (He had just eaten spaghetti and sausage, but it was still unusual.) He's also had some pain between his shoulder blades (more on the right) on and off the past week or so. He said it's when he's lying down, but one day it bothered him when he lifted his right arm. Advil helped. He's been able to keep Gatorade down so far, and feels "uncomfortable" from lying on the couch all day (he has kind of a sensitive back). The cramping/burning pain he felt last week comes back when he sits up, but doesn't bother him when he's lying down (which seems the opposite of reflux). All his symptoms and the XXXXXXX seem very much like regular gastroenteritis, but I know heart attacks can have very similar symptoms, and I can't help wonder if this unusual "heartburn" that showed up last week, as well as back pain (usually his lower back bothers him when he has back pain) are related to something more serious. He's not overweight, doesn't smoke, no immediate history of heart disease that I'm aware of. I had him go get his heart checked out specifically a few years ago when he had somewhat similar symptoms (don't recall the heartburn or back pain, but ED is a problem) and it came back clear. He's had basic check ups recently and, far as know, his BP and heart rate are ok. He's been sleeping most of the day and isn't in any major pain right now. I am a worrier--am I overreacting, or should I push for him to go to the doctor?

Thank you!