I was having "heartburn" all day every day just 18 months ago. The doctors automatically assumed it was my gerd after having an ultrasound come back negative for gallstones and had me continue my PPI. So I endured 3 more months of constant chest pain before returning to a doctor, having felt defeated and ready to give up on help. I tried everything from diet to drugs to lessen my never ending chest pain.
The reason nothing helped at all was because it was my gallbladder, unfortunately it took a very expensive HIDA scan to confirm it since my ultrasound came back okay (0% functioning was the HIDA test result). I had to fight and nag to have that test. Without insurance, the ultrasound would certainly be the place to start if you need to investigate a gallbladder possibility. I was in surgery a week after the HIDA test, because I was in so much pain. It's been a year now since surgery, and I'm doing so much better. Gerd still? Yes, but not that chest pain I was having!
It might be worth asking about
a gallbladder issue possibility, as that can certainly cause chest pain. What made me suspect it had to be gallbladder not gerd, was food didn't affect it, laying down at night was more of a help than problem, and no antacid ever helped that chest pain, including Gaviscon, the PPIs, and I tried Carafate too. I tried Zantac for a month but it messed up my digestive system, and Dexilant I was allergic. I'll never know why my gallbladder "died". I even went through a costochondritis period of time where they though it could be that, which was incorrect.
Now I know it was a different chest pain than the gerd, but at the start I didn't know the difference. I went into gallbladder surgery with no idea if it would help at all, but was willing to try anything at that point. Thankfully it did help tremendously. Hindsight is so 20/20.
Post Edited (88keys) : 4/29/2013 7:53:32 PM (GMT-6)