Constant localized burning in stomach
Throwaway account--
I know no one here can diagnose. I am meeting with my gastro next week for a follow up and will be scheduling my endoscopy (more on this below).
40 year old male. Five years ago, after a heavy, very spicy dish, I was on the toilet all the next day. Shortly thereafter I developed a localized burning sensation just under my left ribcage. It is reliably triggered by certain foods, namely spice, tomatoes (red sauce pizza kills me, white sauce does nothing), and very fatty meats (cheeseburgers, pepperoni). Most foods can trigger it occasionally. The only food that does not trigger it are sweets--ice cream, chocolate, cookies. Coffee does not trigger it, neither does water. Beer and especially seltzer water are reliable triggers.
Okay, now for the symptom: it's a burn that occurs right after I swallow--less than a second or two after--and feels almost like a hotspot, lasting a second or two and then fading into the background. 80 percent of the time it occurs while eating, sometimes I get it when exerting myself or when bending over to pick something up.
I have had two H Pylori tests, one breath and one stool. Both negative. I had one (stool) five years ago, and the other (breath) last year.
I am currently seeing a gastro. He prescribed omperazole 40 mg for a month, then asked me to follow up with him and we would schedule an endoscopy. He didn't want to start with the endoscopy because he was afraid insurance wouldn't cover it without red flag symptoms and without first trying the omperazole. The omeprazole worked great; for 28 days I had no symptoms at all. Shortly after discontinuing it all of my symptoms returned.
I have no other symptoms. Stool is good. I am regular. I have occasional acid reflux. No swallowing issues. No nausea (unless really anxious). No blood.
The symptom only goes away when I am drinking. It's lessened while on vacation overseas.
I am at my wits end. I know you can't diagnose here, but you are all people who have read many many many stories of stomach woes and perhaps someone can point me in the right direction. I know ultimately I won't get any answers until I have the scope, but anything you might be able to say to shed some light as to what is going on would help. I am desperate and afraid.