I had my gallbladder removed laproscopically 13+ years ago and never had any complications. Do you get the pain AFTER you've eaten? I had the same pain last year or so and it was an ulcer. I had the H.Pylori bacteria, which causes ulcers. The pain came after I ate and was between the breasts and just above the stomach.

Check out this info about pancreatitis at the Mayo Clinic site. Sounds like what my niece has. She had her gallbladder removed at the age of 14 cuz they thought that was the problem. It wasn't. Her pains were so bad that she often ended up in the hospital. She couldn't let herself get hungry or she'd get pain. She's 24 now and takes digestive enzymes every time she eats something. She has just recently turned "vegan" and says that she feels much better.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pancreatitis at Mayo Clinic

I have the same symptoms, it is a hiatal hernia in the sphincter leading to your stomach. When it gets inflamed the stomach acid causes it to burn like no other pain. Ask your doctor if that is what could be your problem. I take meds for it, although I take so many meds I don't know the exact one that keeps the hernia at bay.

Good luck, it is not a fun illness!

Thanks for the responses. I had the test for H Pylori and it was negative. I am waiting to see the doctor (I'm changing to a new one) and will mention hiatal hernia as I've read about it and it does sound like it could be the culprit.

My husband has a hiatal hernia too. One minute you'd swear he was having a heart attack, and the next minute, he's singing!! Don't lift anything heavy. He had to quit his job because it required heavy lifting. After every shift, you didn't know if he was gonna make it. He could hardly walk because of the pain.

He also has GERD. He takes Prevacid to help with the acid and to repair the lining of his stomach.

I also had some acid reflux which didn't help the hernia any, and I am taking Nexium for that, and Promethazine for the pain.

Khandi, that is exactly what it is like, and thanks for the no lifting tip. I never connected that with my pain, I always thought it was from things I ate, but now I remember carrying heavy stuff, doing yardwork, moving stuff around, maybe that contributed to the pain.

and a lot of bending down too doesn't help!

Check out this info on hiatal hernia from the Mayo Clinic site. You have to be careful where you get medical info on the internet, but this site is great as the Mayo Clinic is known worldwide.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hiatal Hernia

I had blood infection changes at time of every chest pain and since 3 years+ diagnosed with a 2cm haital hernia that was the cause of the diaphragm pain/ chest pain. I firmly suggest 3 days 7ltrs of water, to heal, eating soft foods like pear before and after meals, and also not eating chocolate as this leads to inflammation where other foods like larger meals cause the actual chest pain. The mentioning of water 7ltrs a day for just 3 of the days of each week will ensure less scaring and from what im reading is whilst hernias will enlarge every chest attack it is the actual death of cells that could be the cause the infections or blood changes. Hope this helps those sufferers of chest attacks linked to diaphragm and hernias. Lastly advice of chest strengthening would be breath in and slowly let breath out there are other breathing exercises such as holding breath as you leat breath out and even chanting words like PUP PUP repeatedly as breathe is let out. You will feel the diaphragm strengthening. To avoid strangulation or blood restriction 7ltrs water really helps and maybe inhibitors and betablockers etc. may help temporarily but stick to the above. Avoiding chocolate, citrus and medium size meals, go small meals and pear before and after etc