Question: Little or absolutely no upper abdominal discomfort at night and in morning. Upper stomach discomfort (like gas pains, heartburn, some bloating)) may start after bowl movement or in the afternoon. Discomfort will generally worsen into the evening and actually get better when I lay flat to go to sleep. Discomfort is worse when I am leaning back in a chair (like a recliner) but gets better when I sit upright, lean forward or stand up. Again laying flat to go to bed seems to give relief and I am generally not bothered at night while sleeping. No fever or nausea to speak of. Stools are generally normal as to color. I am regular although will miss a day on occasion. Will have a loose stool, but not really diarrhea, maybe a couple times a week. On occasion the stool will float but not very often. No oily spots in the toilet after a bowl movement. I have had some weight loss but my wife thinks I have been eating less and that she is making healthier meals since the kids went to college in August. I think I was about 225-230lbs. in mid august and I am about 215-220 now. I know I have been eating less because of this discomfort. Discomfort may be worse after meals but again I only really notice it as being bad when reclining after lunch and dinner. Breakfast does not really seem to set it off.
Again a bowel movement can actually start the discomfort for the day and then things just get a little worse as the day goes on. I may have little or no discomfort until well into the afternoon if that is when my first BM of the day happens. On days when I am say active and upright all day and do not have a BM, I may feel no discomfort really at all the entire day. Sometimes, but rarely, discomfort will expand a little higher in my chest and cause a little bit of shortness of breath. I have A-fib treated with medication and my heart is checked out regularly by my cardiologist. My heart consistently checks out as fine. My Transaction reference is HCM0000.
Thank you for your help.
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Thank you for your help.

On the meds: 25mg. Metoprolol once a day about lunchtime; 40mg. Protonix once at bedtime; 150 mg. Flecainide twice a day (morning and bedtime); .5 mg. clonazapam once at night; baby aspirin once a day; 1-3 Ibuprofen almost daily usually at bedtime.
I jog 5 miles a day approx. 4 to 5 days a week and have done so for several years. I may have been running a little more often the past couple of months which may have contributed to my weight loss over that time. The jogging is part of why I take a lot of Ibuprofen (joint, muscle pain).
I forgot to mention that the discomfort when I sit back or recline almost always includes a feeling that my stomach is pulsating or throbbing along with my heartbeat. Again, no severe pain, just discomfort, heartburn, bloating and this throbbing sensation.
I also forgot to mention that in the summer of 2010 I was diagnosed with "marked" Gastroparesis. My Internist said it was among the worse cases he had seen. No cause was determined and it seemed like it took 4 to 6 months to resolve. That same summer (2010) I had a colonoscopy, a CT scan and an Endoscopy. Endoscopy only showed the mild hiatel hernia. Colonoscopy only showed the start of diverticulosis. CT negative.
Finally, I am a non-smoker but do drink alcohol on an almost daily basis. Probably two to three cups of caffeinated coffee a day.

I just wanted to provide you with these additional facts to see if any impact on your diagnosis. I will try not to be a pest with additional items.

Thank you for your help.

Thank you for your response. I just was wondering how Ibuprofen counteracts the effect of the aspirin? The aspirin is for my heart with the intent (I thought) to thin my blood a little to avoid clots because of the A-Fib. What does the Ibuprofen do?

The alcohol mixed with Clonazepam I think has the potential effect of making you a little drowzy, lightheaded, etc. Is that the same reason why you should not drink alcohol with Cialis or am I off on this? Is there an even more serious reason to not mix?

The Flecainide/small dose Toprol is being monitored by my Cardiologist. I suppose taking these drugs is another reason to avoid alcohol for the same reason as above?

Is there a chance my hiatal hernia has gone from mild to more severe since the 2010 endoscope and that can be making the gastro. stuff worse and leading to some of this lower chest discomfort? Is there any home treatment for hiatel hernia?

You have been very helpful. Thank you very much.