Acid Reflux but No Heartburn?

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jns1022

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Is it possible to be suffering from acid reflux without really knowing it? I was diagnosed Thursday, based on symptoms alone, with a hiatal hernia that is causing acid reflux. The thing is, I've never had heartburn in my life. I have a dull ache under my breastbone and my abdomen is tender to the touch from my breastbone to my belly button. Also, I have some right side tenderness as well as aching in my back and I'm burping all the time. The last several times I've tried to drink an alcoholic beverage I've ended up with pretty intense pain in the upper portion of my abdomen straight through to my back which the doc thinks is due to the reflux. I've also had a few days where I feel this tightness from my stomach up into my throat which I didn't mention to him because it had only happened a couple times. Do other people have acid reflux without having heartburn? I've been prescribed Carafate to take for the next month as well as Prilosec once a day.
 
It's not only possible to have reflux without the traditional "heartburn", it's very common. The tightness and pain that you're feeling are just as much symptoms of reflux as heartburn is (as are a feeling of a lump in the throat, post nasal drip, constant throat clearing and several other symptoms).
 
This is the 10th day that I've been on the medicines and I'm starting to see some slight improvement. I haven't been having as much aching as I had been having behind my breastbone. My stomach is still tender to the touch. I've never had heartburn before that I know of. I've had somewhat severe pain in the breastbone area that radiates to my back when I try to drink an alcoholic beverage. It feels kind of like a cramp in the upper part of my chest/abdomen and the pain usually goes away in 15-20 minutes. My doctor said that was due acid reflux. Just wondering if these issues will go away or is it something I'm going to have to continue to deal with.
 
This might be stating the obvious, but if you have this pain when you drink an alcoholic beverage, maybe you ought to skip having the alcoholic beverage. ;)
 
Thanks for responding. I wasn't aware that it could cause all those issues. I've been doing some research and it seems as though many of the symptoms I'm experiencing could apparently be attributed to reflux. I've been following a GERD diet for the past few days hoping to get some relief. No such luck yet. I've now been on the Prilosec and Carafate for 5 days but I know it'll prob take some time before it really starts improving.
 
Yeah, I know. Haha! I don't drink very often, maybe 3 times in the last 6 months or so. After my last experience I don't plan on drinking again for a very long time, trust me. I guess I live on a 3 strikes and you're out policy. The first time I just thought it was because I drank a margarita, rather quickly, on an empty stomach that that was what caused it. So next time I had a drink while I was eating and still had the same results. I had to try it one more time, because I'm either stubborn or secretly hate myself, and sure enough it happened again. It's not fair, I'm 26 years old and should be able to go out and have a drink with frienRAB without ending up in pain. It's not like I'm consuming a ton of alcohol when these episodes are happening it's one daiquiri or margarita that triggers it.
 
It's not necessarily the case that you'll never get to have a drink with your frienRAB again. Hang in there. Maybe this phase will pass and one day your body will be able to tolerate things it's unable to right at this moment. I had a spiked coffee the other night after dinner and it didn't seem to bother me. In my case tho' I have noticed no food/drink triggers at all, so I never know what's going to bother me and what's not.
 
Medicines take a while to kick in so hang in there.

It is possible to have reflux without heartburn. The tender feeling in the gut and pain are very common and a sign of irritation by stomach acid. I have that plus heartburn at times (I think the heartburn is worse).
 
I have Acid Reflux without heartburn as well. Took Nexium for about 5 weeks with some improvement, but not enough. I wanted to give it enough time. Started Prevacid yesterday and feel better already. It seems like the results from meRAB is an individual thing. I also feel like I can't take a deep breath at times, and Gaviscon has been a lifesaver. I chew two after each meal, and if I feel it happening in between. Coats the esophagus. Best to you.
 
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