Have you had a endoscopy to rule out ulcers?

The upper GI barium swallow would have detected ulcers, which I had about 2 months ago. This same pain had gone away a few months before the tests. When the pain started the first time the acid reflux symptoms started too. But now it has come back after my getting extremely angry, which is what happened the first time. This time I'm not having such bad acid reflux at all. Today is day 5 of taking my supplements and eating bland food and I've only felt the pain one time and it lasted for a second not minutes like before. I just see a correlation between extreme stress and these symptoms, which sounds like an ulcer but I think stress can cause gastritis too.

You could have a hiatal hernia. An endoscope can detect it, not sure about the other test detecting it.

You tend to feel them when you are stressed or angry. The tension causes the stomach to herniate a bit. I have a small sliding one and they can come with heartburn. they cause the esophagus to dysfunction.

Your symptoms sound like mine. I do serious relaxation when i get tense and then it goes away after a few days. A lot of anger can actually cause a hiatal hernia. Straining can cause one too.. I got mine from weight lifting using an abdominal machine.

Try doing some good relaxation stuff when you get angry or try to calm down. The stomach is the main organ that reacts to anger.

good luck

Thanks, Lesleygm, I agree that it sounds like a hernia. I was really surprised when they told me I don't have one, because the test is supposed to see it. But maybe it missed it or it is too small to detect it. I know that now after a few weeks of not getting stressed, the pain is completely gone (also modifying my diet and taking some supplements that have helped me in the past). I have found an excellent relaxation CD that I have been doing a few times a day. It's by the Relaxation Company and it is called "The Ultimate Brain".

ChatDana, I thought I might have a hernia ,too but didn't. I was relieved, and felt like I had a second chance to take better care of my stomach. I am going to try your relaxation CD, thanks for the tip.

Yes,,, if it is a sliding hernia it may not show at the time.. I dont have digestional issues.. Ijust have my small sliding hernia opening up my esophagus when it shouldnt.. then i get heartburn.. I am thinking that stress can cause digestional pain as well maybe.. stick to a careful diet and do the relaxing just in case you have a small sliding hernia... they are very common and you dont always have symptoms with them but under your left rib and down toward the stomach can feel weird with a small sliding hernia. It causes the diaphragm and esophagus to tighten up and I can get a bit of heartburn when that happens. I do some weird stretches as well to get rid of the feeling under my left rib as well.

Thank you prayinglots and Lesleygm. Lesleygm, I do have a weird sensation exactly where you described when I have a flare up.

Hi Chatdana..

I have noticed in the hiatal hernia sight a lot of people complain about their hernia not being discovered until they get to a really good GI person. That could be your case as well..

These people on this site have a lot of bad symptoms with theirs... mine is pretty small and I dont experience what these people are thank goodness!

You may have a small one like me.. i agree,, I thought your symptoms sounded a lot like mine and you are the first person on this site that has talked about some of the more mild but typical hiatal hernia symptoms. Especially the stress and anger thing.. that is when your stomach herniates.. I dont have gastritis or ulcers etc so I dont know if that happens as well with that but it is a typical hernia symptom.

Stress always makes that weird feeling under the ribs worse with a hernia and lifting something with your left side that is heavy can bring on that feeling as well.. sometimes it is a twinging but sometimes it is a tight feeling and stretching your upper body really helps with it.. I go to an osteopath and he has helped me with this a lot and he says the diaphragm and the esophagus can tighten when the stomach herniates and that can make the esophagus open when it shouldnt.. or heartburn can also cause the esophagus and diaphragm to tighten because the esophagus spasms with the heartburn. I usually have the heartburn first and then I get the weird sensation. Then straining/stress can make it worse.

If you have a hernia the same GERD rules apply but you have to be careful about straining, stress(anger) and lifting heavy things. just lying down and deep breathing and massaging your upper stomach will help a lot.

I hope you feel well over the holidays!

Lesley