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What Causes Radiating Pain In Upper Abdomen Between The Rib Cage And Back?

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Posted on Mon, 29 Aug 2016
Question: I have a doctor but lately I have been through some wierd things. I was in the hospital with sepsis for a week. Got out and came home with Norwegian Scabies after about four weeks out of the hospital. It took four weeks for someone to tell me that was what was wrong with me and now I have this pain that starts in the upper part of my stomach right between the middle of the rib cage. I know this could be a million different things but the problem with this is that I am not a big eater so I can't seem to put a finger on what it could be. It starts with a bit of a warning like I can feel it coming on ... then it radiates pain from the front to the back, I break out in a sweat, get weak in my legs as I try to get to the Gaviscon (like tums only stronger over the counter) this takes about four or five minutes to help make the pain go away but until that time I am completely absorbed in the pain. It sounds silly but it definitely is not something I have ever experienced. I had this before the sepsis but not really long before and I am not sure it has anything to do with it since in the hospital this did not affect me even one time. I do not have a gall bladder or appendix, I used to get heartburn every once in a while but off and on and nothing to mention. Just wanted to get an idea of what organ ... organs are in this location that may cause this sort of pain. I checked into the pancrea, just can't image a indigestion medicine helping that problem. It seems to happen more early evening or later. It's the complete pain that takes over me that is my concern because the first thought was that it was a heart attack. If that was the case then I have had several and should be dead by now. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Information about your abdominal pain.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I am sorry you have been through so much.

With a recent history of sepsis, you may have gastritis or a peptic ulcer. Physical stress such as a severe infection or surgery can put a person at risk for this. The location you are describing is the lower end of the esophagus/first part of the stomach.

It's also possible that this is pancreatitis, but you are right that Gaviscon would be less likely to treat pancreatitis than it would be to help an acid problem.

I recommend you try Zantac 150 mg twice a day or 300 mg at bedtime. Try that for a few days to see if it has any effect. If it helps, continue this for 4 weeks. If it does not help adequately then go see your doctor as you should have an evaluation with lab tests (amylase, lipase) and possibly an abdominal ultrasound. Also, your doctor may prefer to have you on a prescription strength proton pump inhibitor medication.

If the pain gets worse, don't wait. Go in to be seen immediately.

I hope this is the end of your siege of health problems now. Please let me know if I can provide further help.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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What Causes Radiating Pain In Upper Abdomen Between The Rib Cage And Back?

Brief Answer: Information about your abdominal pain. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, I am sorry you have been through so much. With a recent history of sepsis, you may have gastritis or a peptic ulcer. Physical stress such as a severe infection or surgery can put a person at risk for this. The location you are describing is the lower end of the esophagus/first part of the stomach. It's also possible that this is pancreatitis, but you are right that Gaviscon would be less likely to treat pancreatitis than it would be to help an acid problem. I recommend you try Zantac 150 mg twice a day or 300 mg at bedtime. Try that for a few days to see if it has any effect. If it helps, continue this for 4 weeks. If it does not help adequately then go see your doctor as you should have an evaluation with lab tests (amylase, lipase) and possibly an abdominal ultrasound. Also, your doctor may prefer to have you on a prescription strength proton pump inhibitor medication. If the pain gets worse, don't wait. Go in to be seen immediately. I hope this is the end of your siege of health problems now. Please let me know if I can provide further help.