“GERD/cancer?”
I'm a 36 year old male, 6'2, 167 lbs, non-smoker, not overweight, casual drinker. I'm wondering if anyone has GERD symptoms that seem to sort of mimic what it's like to have a muscle strain or some other kind of musculoskeletal strain. I was diagnosed with GERD in 2013, after having heartburn (sometimes it could get intense) for many years prior. I was 28 at the time. I was prescribed some PPIs that got rid of the heartburn, but some of the other stomach crampings would still persist from time to time. In any case, I got off the PPIs after a couple of months and then just fiddled with the diet, eventually realizing that foods high in gluten were probably a trigger. That said, I've not been super careful with the diet over the years, as for the most part, my symptoms would only show up again if I really overdid it with the trigger foods (and then I'd handle it with an antacid for a couple of days).
Anyway, in mid-February of this year, I started to notice what felt like a strained muscle in my upper right chest area, but only when taking deep breaths or sort of "activating" my chest muscles with certain positions or movements. I am fairly active athletically, so thought perhaps I'd strained something. However, it's now early May and it's still there - perhaps a little worse than it was. Sometimes I notice that the pain is located closer to the center of the chest. I've not had much heartburn recently at all.
I am becoming quite concerned about this, that maybe it's the GERD having transformed into something else, like cancer (though I don't have trouble swallowing or hoarseness of voice or anything). I always figured that if I wasn't having much symptoms (the main one usually being heartburn), then I wasn't having to think about it much at all. Taking antacids, or pain meds doesn't have any effect on the symptoms. So what I'm wondering is this:
Can the pain from GERD feel "dull" (meaning not sharp) like a muscle strain? Can it be triggered by deep breathing, or using your muscles in certain ways? I'm trying to schedule an appointment with my new family doc, but it's taking a while to get it figured out - so I'm asking here first.
Thank you for your time!
Anyway, in mid-February of this year, I started to notice what felt like a strained muscle in my upper right chest area, but only when taking deep breaths or sort of "activating" my chest muscles with certain positions or movements. I am fairly active athletically, so thought perhaps I'd strained something. However, it's now early May and it's still there - perhaps a little worse than it was. Sometimes I notice that the pain is located closer to the center of the chest. I've not had much heartburn recently at all.
I am becoming quite concerned about this, that maybe it's the GERD having transformed into something else, like cancer (though I don't have trouble swallowing or hoarseness of voice or anything). I always figured that if I wasn't having much symptoms (the main one usually being heartburn), then I wasn't having to think about it much at all. Taking antacids, or pain meds doesn't have any effect on the symptoms. So what I'm wondering is this:
Can the pain from GERD feel "dull" (meaning not sharp) like a muscle strain? Can it be triggered by deep breathing, or using your muscles in certain ways? I'm trying to schedule an appointment with my new family doc, but it's taking a while to get it figured out - so I'm asking here first.
Thank you for your time!
Male | 36 years old
Complaint duration: 3 months
Conditions: GERD
4 Answers
Your pain does sound kind of musculoskeletal, but if the GERD really has you worried I would listen to yourself and see a gastroenterologist, who can run a scope to where the problem is. But be sure to also see a generalist in case it's something else. I have been practicing medicine long enough to have had several patients convinced that they had a certain problem who turned out to be very right even though their symptoms weren't typical.
The chest pain does not sound like heartburn to me. It seems more musculoskeletal. Also, if it was all heartburn then it would resolve completely with prilosec or nexium.
You are basically asking about the etiology of chest discomfort. Your past history is that of GERD which has subsided but activates when you don’t follow dietary restrictions. Chest pain can occur from many conditions. On this situation an evaluation by a physician who can perform a complete history and physical examination is necessary. It could be dangerous to assume that GERD is the cause of your symptoms. It might just be due to your athletic activity. It is unlikely that cancer is behind all of this, but it is possible. It is though important that you consult your doctor for a complete evaluation and diagnosis. Good luck!
Your symptoms and questions and concerns indicate a definite need for additional testing. Gastric irritation that is sufficient to cause ongoing heartburn and epigastric upset and pain itself indicates inflammation within the lining of your stomach and likely your lower esophagus. The root cause is gastric acid. Gastric acid secretion is essential for food digestion. Yet it can cause erosion in the stomach lining. The resulting gastritis may be superficial or deeper and creating ulcers. Ulcers require remediation which includes diet changes and acid reduction. Then of extreme importance, chronic gastritis is often associated with gastric mucosal infection with Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori bacteria are common. Their presence perpetrates and perpetuates ulcerative erosions and gastritis. And ongoing infection leads to cancer changes in the stomach lining. The presence of Helicobacter can be detected by endoscopy and by specific breath testing at a special laboratory. A biopsy is very good at detection. If present double antibiotic plus omeprazole twice daily for 10-14 days is essential with follow-up retests. And chronic acid reflux into the esophagus can lead to ulcer formation in the lower esophagus and this too can become cancerous. So specialist testing is essential.
