Burning back after eating....

[Livia]

hi all,

so for the past 5-6 months ive been frequently having burning upper back pain after eating/drinking...its right between shoulder blades area...i still get it even if theres no heartburn...its very uncomfortable & bothersome...  

ive recently had dysphagia & pain/discomfort with food going down esophagus...but dont know if this is related...any thoughts??

[jazzlover]

It does sound like you need to run this by your doctor. Could be "silent" acid reflux.

Your doctor would also check for any heart issues.

[meirish]

My first guess would be that you need to see your doctor. Could be gallbladder issues. People Sjogrens are prone to gallbladder problems. Anything from slight dysfunction to needing the gallbladder removed.
this type of pain is quite typical of gallbladder trouble. This is one of those things that needs to be checked out to find the cause and also rule out any other issues. No worry but just make appt and follow up on this. Your body is complaining about something that isn't right. Good luck and let us know how you came out. meirish

[Jenny]

Yes, there are so many things that could point to. You definitely should get that checked out right away!

[Livia]

It does sound like you need to run this by your doctor. Could be "silent" acid reflux.

Your doctor would also check for any heart issues.

thnx 4 ur reply...whats silent acid reflux?? never heard this b4

[Livia]

My first guess would be that you need to see your doctor. Could be gallbladder issues. People Sjogrens are prone to gallbladder problems. Anything from slight dysfunction to needing the gallbladder removed.
this type of pain is quite typical of gallbladder trouble. This is one of those things that needs to be checked out to find the cause and also rule out any other issues. No worry but just make appt and follow up on this. Your body is complaining about something that isn't right. Good luck and let us know how you came out. meirish

thnx 4 ur reply...ive recenty had my gallbladder checked and they ruled it out...also the back pain isn't located anywhere thats typical of gallbladder pain...ive had few docs tell me this but they're still unsure about this symptoms...i cant get endoscopy done at this time so i have to wait few more months

[Livia]

Yes, there are so many things that could point to. You definitely should get that checked out right away!

thanks

[meirish]

Just a thought. A person doesn't need to have gall stones. People with Sjogrens can have an inflammatory process going on in their gallbladder. It is best to see a gastroenterologist ( a doc who specializes in colon, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, esophagus, etc.) as they are more knowledgeable about conditions relating to these organs.

Silent reflux is regurging stomach acid into the esophagus that can cause irritation and erosion the esophagus. People can have this happen without having any stomach or esophageal pain but it can result in other issues.

So often our family physicians, and often other specialist unrelated to autoimmune issues, etc. can sort of downplay our health issues. Manay docs are not aware of all the health issues Sjogrens patients can have. So many of our issues are not fatal but can make us miserable. The problem is we need to have our issues diagnosed to make sure they are not going to do us damage. Many times medication or diet can help but we have to check it out to be sure.

I know that it cost money, and takes time but this is the way it is. If I had a dollar an hour for every hour I spent in doctors office, hospital, doing tests, having surgery I would be a rich woman. Alas, no one pays us to be sick. Just take care of yourself and hang in there. Also, one can have all sorts of pains from gallbladder malfunction(not necessarily stones) and every one of us is different. Heart burn alone can be a gallbladder symptom.  It really is confusing isn't it. Good luck. meirish

[Livia]

Just a thought. A person doesn't need to have gall stones. People with Sjogrens can have an inflammatory process going on in their gallbladder. It is best to see a gastroenterologist ( a doc who specializes in colon, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, esophagus, etc.) as they are more knowledgeable about conditions relating to these organs.

Silent reflux is regurging stomach acid into the esophagus that can cause irritation and erosion the esophagus. People can have this happen without having any stomach or esophageal pain but it can result in other issues.

So often our family physicians, and often other specialist unrelated to autoimmune issues, etc. can sort of downplay our health issues. Manay docs are not aware of all the health issues Sjogrens patients can have. So many of our issues are not fatal but can make us miserable. The problem is we need to have our issues diagnosed to make sure they are not going to do us damage. Many times medication or diet can help but we have to check it out to be sure.

I know that it cost money, and takes time but this is the way it is. If I had a dollar an hour for every hour I spent in doctors office, hospital, doing tests, having surgery I would be a rich woman. Alas, no one pays us to be sick. Just take care of yourself and hang in there. Also, one can have all sorts of pains from gallbladder malfunction(not necessarily stones) and every one of us is different. Heart burn alone can be a gallbladder symptom.  It really is confusing isn't it. Good luck. meirish

thanks for ur input...hope ur doing good these days....its just so annoying & bothersome that i get this everytime i eat or drink something...it really isn't a pleasant type of pain...

do u know if any inflammation or erosion in the esophagus can cause upper back pain too?? i've been searching online for this but found nothing so i assumed it wasn't related to my esophagus at all....i recently had an episode a few months ago where i was having terrible pain with foods & drinks going down. also pain and difficulty swallowing...that lasted 2 months but i eventually got better slowly and those symptoms went away...but i remember that back pain but it was mild not like now.

[jazzlover]

I would think it could, livia.

I'm not exactly sure what silent acid reflux is other than it's acid reflux where you don't feel it.  At any rate, please see your doctor.

[Peanutbrain]

This is something I've lived with on and off for several years, without understanding for quite a while. It's likely acid reflux or GERD. I was getting a test done for lower right quadrant pain (assessing my gallbladder function) and the tech leaned over at some point and said "Has anyone told you that you have acid reflux?" And I was like "Huh?" It was so random and out of the blue to me-no doctor had ever mentioned anything about it to me (although I'd heard my dad complain about having it so I kinda knew what it was). Techs aren't supposed to diagnose so he didn't say anything more except saying that he'd seen it on the monitor, and it wasn't even mentioned in the final report (ARGH), but I'm so glad he said that because I'm a hardhead.  FF a few years and I'm having terrible chest pains. I've had them before, been to the ER before (you call a doc and they tell you to go because no doc is going to tell you to sit home and see if it worsens)-ERs never found anything, but this time they treated me with a powerful antacid while I was in the ER and the pain went away. Still, I was followed up by a cardiologist. He said it was likely heartburn and I was so indignant. Seriously? I wasn't about to take the powerful blocker whatevers but I did buy mylanta and now I have that as my secret weapon when the chest pain strikes and it works! Having said that, I've been having problems again with swallowing and my throat has been really sore. I was researching (cuz it's what I do) and I found a mention that GERD can present as sore throat, with hoarseness (this happens after I work out but that makes sense if I'm pushing acid back up from exertion), and swallowing problems-bingo!  Also, the chest burning can come on after eating if you exert yourself-pushing food back up, same idea as above. I went for a long walk after lunch one day and thought I was going to die from the chest pains after getting back.  Mylanta is much better than Tums, too.  I don't know why I have it-if I get it from my dad, he's not the autoimmune half of my genetic inheritance.

[meirish]

GERD and reflux is very common in people with Sjogrens and other autoimmune diseases. First of all Sjogrens is a collagen disease which affects the tissues and they become more stretchy or can be less stretchy. Anyway, with the Sjogrens the acid content and mucus glands in out digestive tract don't work in a normal fashion. The acid can become more acidy and can sit in our stomach longer and can also irritate the tissues of our stomach and digestive tract.

I have had this for years and do take a blocker but at as low a dose as possible. Some people have mentioned that drinking water seems to help some. Maybe it dilutes the acid??? Also, it should be mentioned that longer term reflux can precipitate a change in the tissue cells in the esophagus resulting in a precancerous condition that needs to be monitors. Make sure to get scopings of your stomach and esophagus for a baseline and keep in touch with your GI doc to head off any problems.

I have shown irritation in my esophagus without signs of precancerous condition. They do biopsies if needed when they scope. Also keeping the head of your bed elevated 6 inches does help keep the acid from refluxing up out of your stomach. Avoid eating a couple hours prior to going to bed also. Also alcohol intake can raise havoc with acid in the stomach.

I have been dealing with this issue for 40+ years and it does go along with Sjogrens and other autoimmune diseases. Good luck.meirish