How to treat chronic acid reflux, pain in the armpit and right jaw?

Hi doctor,

I had a history of acid reflux for about three years, and I used to take Nexpro 20 once a week. Then, I moved to another country, and the acid reflex issue almost disappeared. I would take one tablet in three weeks. I had been up to 112 kg in the past, and now I weigh 107 kg. Before shifting, I was 99 kg, and the doctor who checked me three years back told me that this could be due to obesity as the muscle in the throat might be struggling due to my weight.

However, 60 days back, I was sleeping in a bed without a pillow for three to four days, and in the morning, I could feel the acid right up to my throat. I started using high pillows, and the sensation went away. However, about 40 days ago, all of a sudden, I started feeling that I had something stuck in my throat. So, I started taking Nexpro 20 twice a day, and the sensation went. I do not smoke, but occasionally I drink. I have stopped drinking in the last ten days. However, I had extreme bloating, and I underwent an endoscope, and they took tissues from two small moles inside the food pipe. Everything was good then. So, I went ahead and consulted another doctor, and he prescribed Pantoprazole for me, but that medicine had no effect on me, and the situation worsened. So, I went again with Nexpro 20, and the doctor provided me with Esomeprazole 40 mg and asked me to take two tablets a day.

I started taking Esomeprazole 40 mg two times a day, and the sensation went away. I stopped taking this. After two to four days, I had a chest infection, mainly on the right chest and partially on the left. I applied some cream provided by the doctor, and the feeling on my right chest went away. I had this problem in the past, and the chest became extremely painful then. I underwent an ultrasound, and everything seemed fine. However, they gave me a tablet, and the pain went away. The pain was so severe at that time that I was not able to walk; with a small movement, I experienced severe chest pain. Even this time, the pain was around the chest at multiple points. I visited the doctor again, and they did a mammography.

The result is as follows:

Bilateral breast and left auxiliary ultrasound and soft tissues and bilateral diagnostic mammography with tomosynthesis.

History: Pain in the left breast or nipple extending to the axilla. Is it gynecomastia? No previous reports are available for comparison.

Findings: There is a small amount of retro areolar parenchymal tissue in both breasts. No spiculated mass, suspicious microcalcification, or retro areolar parenchymal tissue.

Impression: No mammographic or sonographic evidence of malignancy in either breasts or left axilla. Mild bilateral gynecomastia. Clinical follow-up is advised.

BI-RADS 2: Benign finding.

Since then, the pain in the chest or breast has reduced on the right, but on the left side, it has increased. I noticed that about three inches down the nipples, there is a point where there is extreme pain when I apply on that area (possibly in the area where lymph nodes are located under the arm). They did an ultrasound there but found nothing. I also have had active hemorrhoid issues for the past one year. I am consulting a doctor tomorrow after a year's wait.

About 20 to 25 days back, all of a sudden, I started getting the following symptoms,

1. Needle prick pain and muscle pain under the jaw, especially the right jaw.

2. Extreme dry throat, or if that feeling is not there, I have a feeling that something is stuck in the throat; if not, then the sore throat.

3. I have a sore throat immediately after waking up. This has been there for a few months. But after waking up, this goes away.

4. Last week, I had pain under my arm and a fever in the morning, just in the mornings.

5. When the sore throat goes away, everything is good until I have breakfast. No feeling of something stuck inside or a dry throat feeling.

6. I think I have muscle pain inside the throat or maybe outside. I feel that someone is strangling my throat.

7. I had a bad taste in my mouth before and during the fever. But not anymore.

8. When I walk down the step, if I close my mouth and concentrate on the sound, I feel that inside my mouth, there is some slight crackling sound like magic pop bursts inside the mouth.

9. I have no problem when I eat food or drink water. But when I swallow and when the saliva touches the throat, I feel an extremely dry throat.

If I take Esomeprazole 40 mg, one tablet, usually 30 minutes after the food, I have some sort of feeling inside the throat where I could struggle to take saliva too. After 15 minutes, phlegm would constantly be filling my throat. Hence I always take half a tablet in the morning and another half in the evening. This works to some extent.

The main difference between what I have now and what I have is that if I take Nexpro 20, the sensation goes away when I have these symptoms. However, when I take Esomeprazole 40 mg, half tablet, the sensation never goes away but becomes manageable, but not every time.

Can you suggest a medication for my issues? Or should I visit a specialist?

Please give me your suggestions.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

I read on the internet that this under-arm pain could be due to a throat infection or globus pharyngeus. They say that lymph nodes cause pain in the underarm trying to fix the throat issue. Could that be right? I have no idea. I am just asking. The jaw pain is above the throat and not inside the mouth.

Could you tell me for which problem did you mention taking antihistaminic medication?

Please advice.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

Two doctors examined and did an ultrasound too. But they were not specialists, and nothing was found on the ultrasound. The pain occurs in one spot at some point down the underarm when I apply force on it. When I move my arm, there is also mild pain in the left chest. Otherwise, there is mild pain.

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

I have taken anti-inflammatory drugs, but no change. This pain has been there for the past 40 days.

Please help.