Cat-a-Tonic
Super Moderator
Does anyone else get referred pain with their acid reflux? I have GERD (which is apparently a fancy way of saying chronic acid reflux) and I also have frequent left-side ribcage pain. That particular pain doesn't seem to be related to my maybe-IBD, as I'm either in or very near remission right now and only have problems with my guts when I eat trigger foods. This particular pain, it feels like it's either in my left ribs or my left lung and it's a couple of inches below my armpit.
I'm wondering if it's referred pain from reflux/heartburn and not really in my lung or ribs. My reflux tends to act up when I exercise. I started the morning off with this left rib pain, and I felt my reflux kick up more than usual when I hit the gym today - in spite of having taken about 5 Tums before going to the gym (I usually take 2 or 3 Tums before exercising as a precaution, today with this left-sided pain I played it safe and took a few extra). After I finished exercising I ate lunch, and after eating the pain moved to the center of my chest and felt like classic heartburn. It's moved back to the left now though.
That was too long, sorry for rambling on, but long story short - does anybody else get referred pain with GERD/ reflux? If so, is it always referred to the same place? I only ever get this rib pain on the left, never the right. One more question while I'm asking: What do you guys do to treat your reflux? I've now taken about 10 or 12 Tums over the past couple of hours and that didn't do much of anything! I'm drinking a lot of water too and have only eaten low-acid foods today. What else can I do to get through these weird reflux attacks?
I'm wondering if it's referred pain from reflux/heartburn and not really in my lung or ribs. My reflux tends to act up when I exercise. I started the morning off with this left rib pain, and I felt my reflux kick up more than usual when I hit the gym today - in spite of having taken about 5 Tums before going to the gym (I usually take 2 or 3 Tums before exercising as a precaution, today with this left-sided pain I played it safe and took a few extra). After I finished exercising I ate lunch, and after eating the pain moved to the center of my chest and felt like classic heartburn. It's moved back to the left now though.
That was too long, sorry for rambling on, but long story short - does anybody else get referred pain with GERD/ reflux? If so, is it always referred to the same place? I only ever get this rib pain on the left, never the right. One more question while I'm asking: What do you guys do to treat your reflux? I've now taken about 10 or 12 Tums over the past couple of hours and that didn't do much of anything! I'm drinking a lot of water too and have only eaten low-acid foods today. What else can I do to get through these weird reflux attacks?