Oh goodness I hope you get some relief soon. I recentlly had severe pains which I thought were coming from my back at first at about 3 or so in the mornings...so bad that I could hardly breath. Way too bad for me to sleep through, so I had to get up. I had some relief once I was up and walking around. I figured it was my matress, even though we have a brand new wonderful matress. About three nights of walking up between 2-3 AM with pains so bad that I could not lay back down, and I couldn't breath w/o hurting so bad that my eyes teared up, I decided to go to the doctor. I was really freaked out. I thought for sure it was something terribly serious, and I was terrified. The conclusion was I had a hyatial hernia and acid reflux. When I layed down, a valve which was supposed to be closed, was open and it was leaking acid into my stomach and asaphagus (jeez these medical words are hard to spell!!!) and it caused SEVERE pain. I was getting between 3-4 hours a sleep a night, and it was pure hell. I was exhausted, but terrified to sleep, because I would just wake with the most God aweful pains.

I hope that what you are experiencing is no more serious then what I went through. I changed my diet, started going to my chiropractor, which showed me how to manually push my intestines out of my diaphram (hyatial hernia), and I began improving. It's been about 8 weeks now and I have not had any more flare ups.

I agree with everyone, in that you should absolutely cut out all caffene and soda. If you think that what you may be experiencing may very well be a hyatial hernia and/or acid reflux here are a few things to do to not only help it not get worse, but it will help you avoid that happening in the future. Try to cut out anything spicy (just in case that is what you are going through) and absolutely never eat within three hours before you lay down. If you have a late dinner, sit up in a comfey recliner or on the couch until three hours has passed, then you can lay down. Also, after you eat, never, EVER bend down, unless you strictly bend with your knees, never let your stomach bend. If you drop your fork, either leave it there until your food has digested, or bend with your knees...never bending with your stomach. Try to keep your back as stiff and streight as a board if you absolutely have to bend down, until an hour after you eat. What you are describing sounds like it very well could be a hyatial hernia and acid reflux and, if it is, as long as you catch it early and do what the doctor suggests, it's very fixable.

Best of luck to you. I know that it's scary, and I only hope that it's nothing serious. I will be thinking about you and wishing you well. Please let us know when you find out what it is.

Hugs from Leslie, slobbery kisses from Graham & Kersey, & headbumpies from Minion.