Do I need to go to the ER or a Walk In for my constant heartburn and throat pain?
24 / Male / 5’8” / 130 LBs / Omeprazole and Concerta / Occasional Weed Smoker / Wisconsin
I’ve had heartburn for 5 days now, long story short ate wayyyyy too much the night before I had to fly home and went to bed an hourish after eating (I know thats not enough time to digest, especially with how much I ate) woke up and basically could feel the food in my stomach still. The day after, since then, I have had constant nonstop heartburn in my chest and it feels like there is something stuck in my throat. When I swallow there’s a sharp pain in my chest next to my heart (I’m assuming cuz of the heartburn) and it hurts my throat (like a quick needle stab) to swallow especially food. I can taste acid in my mouth when I wake up now as well and I have these weird burps where the first part can come out but the second part of the burp like gets stuck in my throat and I have to force it out and I’ve noticed I am burping more than normal, I’m assuming due to the gas. I THINK I have a history of GERD, however I have not been diagnosed specifically because my dentist thinks I have it but my orthodontist doesn’t think I have it (I think I have it because I have too much acidic erosion on my teeth to not) and my primary care doctor has me on omeprazole because of such, however this past month I haven’t been consistent with taking it.
Anyways, the main symptoms are constant heartburn, the feeling of something stuck in my throat, major chest pain around heart area after eating or drinking, difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath. My chest area gets really sore after lifting stuff up too, and it even hurts/feels tight in my throat when spitting.
I don’t know if I need scans or what tests need to be done, I don’t know if a place like the walk in would be able to help with something like this, but I also want to not pay my right leg and kidney by going to the ER if possible. So I'm not sure exactly what is going on or where to go to get the right help for it.
Posted Feb 23, 2026, 6:09 AM UTC