You are being treated for heartburn or hiatal hernia, and you feel sudden chest or stomach pain, have difficulty swallowing, are vomiting, or are unable to have a bowel movement or pass gas; you may have a hernia that has become obstructed or strangulated, which are emergencies.
One strong possibility for your symptom is gall bladder stones and cholesterol deposits within the gall bladder which can cause sharp pain. Getting an ultrasound of the upper abdomen done in a walk in clinic or the ER will confirm the diagnosis.
I am a 38 yr year old male, slightly overweight, in generally good health. I have been having upper abdominal discomfort/cramping that usually develops in the late evening in my upper abdomen just below the ribs, becoming more severe and radiating to my mid-back as the night progresses. It will usually wake me up in the early morning hours and not allow me to fall back asleep.