“Trapped wind in middle of night?”
I am a 45 year old male and in generally reasonable health. I have been waking in the early morning (usually between 4 and 5:30) with pain in my shoulders, back, chest or ribs. I am sure it is trapped wind because once I get up and walk around and release the gas by a lot of burping or going to the toilet, the pain goes away. I then try and get back to sleep though can find this difficult. A lot of the time the pain starts again usually 1-2 hours later. Once more, when I sit up it tends to go away, even without burping, etc. I do have tenderness around my diaphragm sometimes or sensitivity when pressing to try and move the area. I seem to experience this nightly now regardless of dietary changes.
Male | 45 years old
Complaint duration: 45 days
Medications: omeprazole occasionally
Conditions: none known
4 Answers
DoctorDoctor
Sounds like a reflux problem. We do secrete more acid in our stomach during the middle of the night than we do during the day typically.
The epigastrlc and chest pain warrants evaluation of upped abdominal organs, the patients medication suggests attempts to treat GERD. The association with being in bed during sleep is also suggestive of GERD, things that make GERD worse include acidic and spicy meals, obesity, untreated OSA, and hiatal hernia. It is less likely cardiac since it is
relieved by walking and belching. Untreated, GERD may lead to ulcers and esophageal neoplasia. The patient needs to have physical examination, then imaging guided by the examination. Differential diagnosis would include gall bladder, pancreatic disease and other masses, that may mimic these symptoms. Patient should not discount his symptoms.
Dr. Nara
relieved by walking and belching. Untreated, GERD may lead to ulcers and esophageal neoplasia. The patient needs to have physical examination, then imaging guided by the examination. Differential diagnosis would include gall bladder, pancreatic disease and other masses, that may mimic these symptoms. Patient should not discount his symptoms.
Dr. Nara
If these symptoms are relatively new, you should see a gastroenterologist promptly. You may have something obstructing the digestive track.
I am not too convinced that the problem is gas. It may be discomfort from the stool itself in the colon, since you feel better after a bowel movement. If you have pain from the stomach, then that might be relieved by burping, but air in the stomach can only get there by swallowing it. In many instances, people swallow air without realizing it, then burp it right out again. Tough to make any firm conclusions. I would want to interview you more and get a lot more detail on your symptoms before making a diagnosis.
