It is gastroesaphugal reflux disease. I jsut read this afternoon......the LES (sphyncter-sp)muscle that leads from the stomach to the esaphagus is not opening properly and is allowing acid and is some case food to back up into the esaphagus thus the throat. And it burns and can cause alot of problems. I found alot about it at IBSgroup.org or you can just type in GERD and do a search..lots of info there. Mine started all of a sudden and causes the chest to hurt, the upper back, rapid pulse, upset stomach,e tc...lots of fun!!!!!!!!

SULAH - WAS GOING THROUGH THE POST HOPING TO COME UPON MY SYMPTOMS.WHEN I READ YOURS IT HIT HOME. I HAVE ALL THOSE PAINS AND MORE. PAINS THAT RADIATE INTO MY UPPER BACK AND SIDE. I HAVE HAD XRAYS AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK NEGATIVE BUT I DO HAVE THE ACID REFLEX AND I CANT STAND TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT. I WILL WAKE UP IN SUCH PAIN ON MY SIDE AND BACK AND HAVE SO MUCH ACID THAT I CANT GET BACK TO SLEEP. I ALSO HAVE A HIATAL HERNIA WHERE THE TOP OF THE STOMACH IS GOING INTO MY ESPHOGUS. THE PAIN WILL GO INTO MY LEFT SIDE NEAR MY BREAST AND I WILL GET A PAIN SO BAD THAT I CANT SLEEP. WHEN I GET UP THE PAIN WILL SLOWLY GO AWAY. I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF PERIMENOPAUSE OR WHAT. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT FOR ME. I DONT WANT TO GO FROM DAY TO DAY IN THIS KIND OF PAIN. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU !!!CAROL

I'm with you gals on this...tummy/intestinal problems. There was an article published in the NYT recently about the stomach being the "second brain" -- very interesting. I hope I can post the link legally...here's a try:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/23/health/23gut.html


Good luck and see you around!