I’m 21, male, slightly overweight but other than that, healthy. No health problems.

On June 6th I drank 5 shots of Brandy on an empty stomach in the morning and half a bottle of gin that night on an empty stomach. I’ve never had gin before and after drinking it I started feeling out of breath (note: I am not an alcoholic, just turned 21, lol).

I wokeup to a burning feeling between my collar bones at the base of my throat. Doctors think it’s reflux/heartburn but I’ve never had that. I’ve had spicy foods, etc. and have never experienced a single moment of heartburn.

Now I have this burning 24/7 accompanied by burping, gas, bloating, stomach sensitivity, white/furry tongue, and shortness of breath.

EKG was fine, chest X-Ray was fine, Barium swallow was fine, lung tests were fine. I get an endoscopy and Friday and had a liver/gallbladder ultrasound today (results aren’t back).

I used to take a lot of aspirin/advil many years ago (5-6) but would’ve felt the effects then. Any ideas?
NOTE: I am aware that I have the symptoms typical of "GERD", however, a hiatal hernia has already been ruled out through a barium swallow test and it showed no problems with esophageal motility or reflux during said test.

I have never had a single episode of reflux or heartburn in my entire life, yet after the gin I have had it non-stop for all of June up to this day.

Since I have been able to eat habanero sauce and the spiciest food in the world before all this with no problem, I highly doubt I have a weak sphincter.

Without a weak sphincter or a hernia, that leaves other possibilities such as an ulcer, gallbladder issues, gastritis, or genera inflammation.

I’ve already had doctors suggest that my symptoms sound like "reflux"/"gerd" but they say my case is odd since it happened suddenly and could be something other than a hernia or a valve malfunction.

Please refrain from stating the obvious. Yes, I know I have "GERD-like symptoms", but this doesn’t mean "GERD" is the cause.
NOTE: I am aware that I have the symptoms typical of "GERD", however, a hiatal hernia has already been ruled out through a barium swallow test and it showed no problems with esophageal motility or reflux during said test.

I have never had a single episode of reflux or heartburn in my entire life, yet after the gin I have had it non-stop for all of June up to this day.

Since I have been able to eat habanero sauce and the spiciest food in the world before all this with no problem, I highly doubt I have a weak sphincter.

Without a weak sphincter or a hernia, that leaves other possibilities such as an ulcer, gallbladder issues, gastritis, or general inflammation.

I’ve already had doctors suggest that my symptoms sound like "reflux"/"GERD" but they say my case is odd since it happened suddenly and could be something other than a hernia or a valve malfunction.

Please refrain from stating the obvious. Yes, I know I have "GERD-like symptoms", but this doesn’t mean "GERD" is the cause.

Filed under: Heartburn Questions

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