It burns, it burns!
April 18, 2008 7:51 AM Subscribe
YANMD. Why does my diaphragm hurt?
My doctor is closed today and I don't think this warrants emergency treatment. Help me narrow down the cause so that I can treat the symptoms until Monday.
Last night, right before I went to bed, my diaphragm started hurting. It hurt worse when I moved. I figured it was extra-high indigestion. Went to bed, woke up to worse pain this morning. In addition, I have been coughing a little and sneezing [but only after the initial onset of the pain], both of which cause intense and slightly burning pain. It feels similar to the pain experienced when you have had an upper respiratory infection for a couple of weeks and are sore from coughing so much--only the order of events is backward.
Some other important information: I have an easily irritated stomach. For this I have been prescribed Zegerid, before that Prilosec, before that Nexium. I ran out of Zegerid a week and half ago and I have not gotten more. I also quit smoking cold turkey on April 4.
Is there any way to tell what's causing this? Should I take stomach medicine or cough medicine? Respiratory infection or just a side effect of quitting smoking? Can stomach problems cause you to cough, and the cough to subsequently burn? I realize most of your answers will be anecdotal, but I'm at a loss until I can see my physician. [Symptom checkers just seem to tell me that chest pain = emergency and not give any more information.]
My doctor is closed today and I don't think this warrants emergency treatment. Help me narrow down the cause so that I can treat the symptoms until Monday.
Last night, right before I went to bed, my diaphragm started hurting. It hurt worse when I moved. I figured it was extra-high indigestion. Went to bed, woke up to worse pain this morning. In addition, I have been coughing a little and sneezing [but only after the initial onset of the pain], both of which cause intense and slightly burning pain. It feels similar to the pain experienced when you have had an upper respiratory infection for a couple of weeks and are sore from coughing so much--only the order of events is backward.
Some other important information: I have an easily irritated stomach. For this I have been prescribed Zegerid, before that Prilosec, before that Nexium. I ran out of Zegerid a week and half ago and I have not gotten more. I also quit smoking cold turkey on April 4.
Is there any way to tell what's causing this? Should I take stomach medicine or cough medicine? Respiratory infection or just a side effect of quitting smoking? Can stomach problems cause you to cough, and the cough to subsequently burn? I realize most of your answers will be anecdotal, but I'm at a loss until I can see my physician. [Symptom checkers just seem to tell me that chest pain = emergency and not give any more information.]
Does the pain intensity synchronize with your breathing? If so, I suppose it could theoretically be pleuritis. If so, staying well-hydrated & using anti-inflammatories work.
posted by aramaic at 8:29 AM on April 18, 2008
posted by aramaic at 8:29 AM on April 18, 2008
"Inside" pain, right along the bottom of the ribcage? One side, both sides or in the middle?
Just taking a stabbing guess, esophageal ulcer. Or you aspirated some stomach fluids and have an irritation in the lung.
posted by gjc at 8:42 AM on April 18, 2008
Just taking a stabbing guess, esophageal ulcer. Or you aspirated some stomach fluids and have an irritation in the lung.
posted by gjc at 8:42 AM on April 18, 2008
Response by poster: Answers:
It's definitely internal, in the center of my chest. About level with the very bottom edges of my breasts, but between them horizontally. If I take a really deep breath, bend over, cough, sneeze, or laugh, pain is worsened. I haven't noticed any other times that it especially hurts.
posted by starbaby at 8:50 AM on April 18, 2008
It's definitely internal, in the center of my chest. About level with the very bottom edges of my breasts, but between them horizontally. If I take a really deep breath, bend over, cough, sneeze, or laugh, pain is worsened. I haven't noticed any other times that it especially hurts.
posted by starbaby at 8:50 AM on April 18, 2008
Sounds like pleurisy, but I would expect you to have some trouble breathing if it were bad enough to make your chest hurt.
posted by misha at 12:08 PM on April 18, 2008
posted by misha at 12:08 PM on April 18, 2008
Ran out of Zegerid, you say? Hmm. Gee, I wonder what it could be.
posted by neuron at 3:12 PM on April 18, 2008
posted by neuron at 3:12 PM on April 18, 2008
What neuron is trying to say is that is sounds like heartburn. It hurts in the location of your heart, and you have recently stopped taking a heartburn medication.
posted by emyd at 4:11 PM on April 18, 2008
posted by emyd at 4:11 PM on April 18, 2008
Response by poster: Neuron, did you ever think that since I have been prescribed three different heartburn medications, I might know what it feels like?
posted by starbaby at 9:45 AM on April 22, 2008
posted by starbaby at 9:45 AM on April 22, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tiburon at 8:05 AM on April 18, 2008