For two months I have had bad stomach aches on and off. The pain seems to run up into my chest sometimes. I am getting worried. Please help.
There are several dozen possible causes for your stomach pains, but the most likely are a peptic ulcer, regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the gullet, and a hiatus hernia.
Peptic ulcers cause severe pains at the top of the belly, that are often worse at night, and eased for a short time by food.
The stomach is full of acid, but the cells lining the stomach are covered with an acid-resistant mucus. If the mucus breaks down, a peptic ulcer results. If excess acid is produced, it may be regurgitated from the stomach, and run up into the gullet, which has no acid-protecting mucus. This results in a severe burning pain just below and behind the breast bone.
A hiatus hernia occurs when a small piece of the stomach slips up out of the belly and into the chest. The hernia itself causes little discomfort, but the stomach acid is allowed to flow freely up into the gullet to cause pain.
You will need to see a doctor to have your problem more thoroughly investigated, possibly by gastroscopy. This procedure involves swallowing a thin tube while under sedation. Through this, a doctor can examine the inside of your stomach and gullet to detect any abnormalities.

What sort of acid causes stomach ulcers? Why do we have acid in our stomachs?
Hydrochloric acid is known to most high-school students as a potent acid that can eat through many substances and cause nasty burns on your skin. This acid is also naturally produced in the body, and in its correct place in the stomach does no harm to the body but aids food digestion.
Specialised cells lining the stomach make the acid and release it in response to the sight or smell of food. We also start to produce more saliva when food is nearby, and if the food is not forthcoming, we are left drooling and with an ache in the gut, because no food has been eaten to soak up the saliva and acid. We normally end up eating the food we expect, and the acid works in the stomach to break it down to its basic components. Further digestive enzymes are added to the food when it passes out of the stomach into the small intestine.
The cells lining the stomach protect themselves from attack by the acid with a thin layer of mucus. If there is excess acid or insufficient mucus present, the acid may be able to attack the stomach wall. Many factors can produce either or both of these stomach problems. The most common triggers are smoking, stress, alcohol, and aspirin-type medications that are used in treating arthritis (eg. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs—NSAID). Anxiety can cause excess acid to be produced, which can then eat into the stomach. Smoking can reduce the mucus secretions that protect the stomach, while aspirin and some anti-arthritis drugs can directly damage the mucus layer. In recent years, a bacteria {Helicobacter pylori) has been identified in association with many ulcers, and it is believed that this bacteria may damage the mucus lining of the stomach.

I am a 73-year-old CAD, post renal artery angioplasty patient. The specialist have prescribed the following medicines for liver protection which I have been taking for more than a year now: 1. Ursocol SR-450 and 2. Livesil B-1 BD. Despite this, LFTs done quarterly show abnormally high readings, particularly SGOT (220 to 380) and SGPT(220 to 350). The specialist treating me feels that in view of the toxic side-effects, this line of treatment is not advisable for someone of my age.
I am in complete agreement with your medical specialist and suggest that you should not take Peg Interferon + ribavirin treatment. You are asymptomatic as far Hep C infection is considered. Ultrasonography does not reveal advanced liver disease. Progression of Hep C infection is very slow. Peg Interferon can produce significant depression and side effects like bone marrow suppression. It may not be tolerated by you at this age and in Genotype I, the success rate is not beyond 50%. Hence risk/benefit assessment in your case does not favor taking treatment.