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Is Intermittent Upper Middle Abdominal Pain A Symptom Of Acid Reflux?

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Posted on Tue, 21 Jul 2015
Question: hello!
I had a severe case of poison ivy for which I was prescribed a course of prednisone. Around the same time I started getting wicked pains in my upper and mid abdomen, off to the left side. They last for a while and if I relax and sit quiet, they usually go away. Is this an acid stomach condition? I am under a lot of stress as I am a caregiver for my mom who has Alzheimer's. Also did the prednisone cause this to start, because I never had this before and does cigarette smoking make it worse?

Thank you.
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, yes this is an acid condition, yes it did, yes it does

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. First of all ma'am, stress and lack of sufficient amount of sleep can easily aggravate and increase acid production in the stomach.

Prednisone, especially when taken orally can indeed cause an aggravation of acid production in the stomach causing your symptoms. And yes, smoking does easily aggravate your symptoms. Let me list all the things you need to avoid just for your reference ma'am, along with my suggestions:

+Avoid stress
+Avoid carbonated drinks
+Avoid smoking
+Avoid alcohol
+Avoid spicy food
+Avoid fatty food, fried food and oily food
+Drink plenty of water
+Avoid any/all pain management medications
+Avoid tea and/or coffee
+Avoid over eating
+Have 5-6 smaller meals instead of 2-3 larger ones
+Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
+Use medications like ranitidine, omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, etc; every time you experience your symptoms

I hope this helps, please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, 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 (4 hours later)
Dr. XXXXXXX I was also wondering if this could be related to a heart condition - is that a possibility? I am not getting any pains in left arm or jaw when it happens, but the pain reaches up to under my left breast so I have to ask just to ease my mind.

The acid stomach (though the pain is pretty intense) is not as worrisome and I do believe the prednisone is partly to blame. I will take your advice and see if things improve.

Thank you so much!
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Not wrong to get an EKG, but don't think it is required in my opinion

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again XXXX

Most gastrointestinal conditions do mimic cardiac conditions as well, so it would not be foolish to go ahead with an EKG, but in my opinion from the provided symptoms it does seem like a simple case of acid production, but you can go ahead with the EKG for your satisfaction, but I doubt it will return any abnormal results.

You are always welcome to write to me anytime, please do not ever hesitate or think twice to write to me about anything, irrelevant of it being paranoia, a simple question or a complicated one, you need to feel shy to write to me. :)

Best wishes.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

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

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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Is Intermittent Upper Middle Abdominal Pain A Symptom Of Acid Reflux?

Brief Answer: Yes, yes this is an acid condition, yes it did, yes it does Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. First of all ma'am, stress and lack of sufficient amount of sleep can easily aggravate and increase acid production in the stomach. Prednisone, especially when taken orally can indeed cause an aggravation of acid production in the stomach causing your symptoms. And yes, smoking does easily aggravate your symptoms. Let me list all the things you need to avoid just for your reference ma'am, along with my suggestions: +Avoid stress +Avoid carbonated drinks +Avoid smoking +Avoid alcohol +Avoid spicy food +Avoid fatty food, fried food and oily food +Drink plenty of water +Avoid any/all pain management medications +Avoid tea and/or coffee +Avoid over eating +Have 5-6 smaller meals instead of 2-3 larger ones +Lose weight if you are overweight or obese +Use medications like ranitidine, omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, etc; every time you experience your symptoms I hope this helps, please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help. Best wishes.