Hi, My husband presented at the hospital last weekend with a pain just below his sternum.  They confirmed it wasnt heart trouble but he hasnt been able to consult with a GP this week because of work commitments.  He had an appt today with his Dr, but unfortunately he was sick and couldnt see him.  He has had a bit of pain all week but his stomach is awfully bloated and hard.  The Dr at the hospital that the pain could be from an ulcer, or GERD. He is of normal colour he hasnt been unwell and his bowel habits have been much the same.
Hi. The symptoms and the findings you have noted are not matching to each other. In spite of bloated and hard stomach your husband is working. He has only a bit of pain. HERD can not cause this. Ulcer can cause this only if it is perforated and healed immediately (very, very rare). There is a rare chance of an epigastric hernia protruded with fat only to cause discomfort and hardness. I would advise consulting a GP ASAP and undergo all the relevant tests as advised. Bloated and hard abdomen can be due to subclinical form of intestinal infection not giving much of bowel symptoms.