Anyone with stomach or digestive issues?

hordol · May 2013

This is not wedding related at all, but I do have a question and am wondering if anyone can relate.

For the past 4 years or so, I have on and off stomach issues after I eat. It's usually just an intense burning feeling with my stomach, but sometimes it's nausea too. I have been to doctors and they are incredibly unhelpful. Just tell me to take tums or prilosec. Tums do not help, and I haven't tried prilosec because I noticed it's something you just take everyday to prevent heart burn, but I don't get this burning feeling every single day. It comes in waves and there is no way to predict it. I could go a month or two with no stomach pain whatsoever (so why would I take prilosec) and then wake up one day and eat a meal and on the burning comes (too late for prilosec!) When the burning starts, I will go a few weeks to a few months with this ongoing issue--not every single meal, but most. There seems to be no link to a certain food, one day cereal does it, the next day broccoli does it, the day after that it's chicken....idk, I can't find a common link.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Any advice is appreciated. I went to a chiropractor for awhile (who was a little bit hippie) and she told me I needed to go on a strict elimination diet where basically all I could eat was veggies and chicken. Veggies and chicken cause the burning just as much as dairy or gluten, so I decided not to try it.

Peledreamsofrain · May 2013

I'm surprised your doctor is not more helpful. It sounds like you either have gastritis or a food intolerance.

The next time you get the burning sensation, try a product with Famotadine in it (commonly found in walmarts and pharmacies). It will work within moments of hitting your stomach to fight acid. I personally have to take 3 to 4 pills, but that's because my stomach sucks and is an overacheiver with acid.

If that does nothing for you, then it's not acid related. That's when I'd start keeping a food diary. It's a pain, but if you can keep a log of what you are eating, when the burn comes back you can look at your diary and say "Hey, I ate spinach right before each time it happened. Hrm..".

MairePoppy · May 2013

I had the same symptoms you have. After years of suffering from heartburn and self treating, which was stupid on my part, I made an appointment with a gastroenterologist, who did an endoscopy and colonoscopy. He found an ulcer, bacterial infection, polyps. He put me on triple therapy-2 antibiotics and Prevacid for a month to eradicate the infection and heal the ulcer. Because I waited so long, I have Barret's esophagus, which means I need to have an upper endoscopy every year or two to insure that it doesn't turn into cancer.

Please don't wait. Make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. He/she will take your symptoms seriously. In the meantime, follow your GP's advice. Take Prilosec everyday, and Tums, whether or not you're having symptoms.

hordol · May 2013

KindaSparkly said:
So, you think the doctors are unhelpful because they told you to take Prilosec every day, you didn't take the medicine, and you're still having symptoms?
You need to go back to the doctor and then actually do what they tell you to do. While you're there, ask them to explain why certain drugs have to be taken every day even if the symptoms don't come daily so you understand your treatment.

I didn't take it because I didn't understand how it would work. Shortly after the doctor suggested it, i did go out and buy some but the pain stopped on its own. I had no issues for months, why would I just start filling my body with over-the-counter drugs when no symptoms are present? That's what I didn't like about it. How would I be able to prove it was the Prilosec or just my body deciding not to react? I would have to take it daily for months on end to prove the meds actually helped. My stomach pain has started up again a few days ago but hadn't bothered me since December, so do you see what I mean about the timeline? A somewhat expensive over-the-counter drug taken daily when I try not to fill my body with drugs unless absolutely necessary just didn't sit right with me if my doctor was barely willing to listen to my symptoms and flippantly just said tums would fix everything without doing any tests or barely asking any questions about it.

hordol · May 2013

KindaSparkly said:

MairePoppy said:

I had the same symptoms you have. After years of suffering from heartburn and self treating, which was stupid on my part, I made an appointment with a gastroenterologist, who did an endoscopy and colonoscopy. He found an ulcer, bacterial infection, polyps. He put me on triple therapy-2 antibiotics and Prevacid for a month to eradicate the infection and heal the ulcer. Because I waited so long, I have Barret's esophagus, which means I need to have an upper endoscopy every year or two to insure that it doesn't turn into cancer.

Please don't wait. Make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. He/she will take your symptoms seriously. In the meantime, follow your GP's advice. Take Prilosec everyday, and Tums, whether or not you're having symptoms.

I don't think the primary care will refer to a specialist until OP actually follows the first set of advice and takes the medication she was told to take. If the Prilosec daily resolves the symptoms, there's not much need to see a specialist for invasive procedures.

@MairePoppy thank you for the helpful advice. My doc actually has offered to refer me to a specialist so I will take him up on it.

@KindaSparkly I did actually follow his first set of advice, which was Tums, and they made my stomach worse. I don't take them at all anymore because they don't do a thing, unless it is to make me more miserable. I probably should have tried the Prilosec, you are correct, but as I said in prior posts it would just be so hard to figure out if it was working since it comes and goes on it's own, and since it's supposed to stop heartburn, like Tums (which didn't help) I didn't take it.

hordol · May 2013

Also, to clarify, my doctor said he would refer me to the gastroenterologist if heart burn burn meds didn't fix it. He suggested Tums and/or Prilosec. Tums did not work. I didn't try Prilosec but I truly don't believe it's heartburn anyway, so I wasn't as motivated to go with that one. But that was probably dumb of me, I will admit, I suppose it is not too late to try it. I just really don't think it's heartburn though.

hordol · May 2013

KindaSparkly said:

hordol said:

KindaSparkly said:
So, you think the doctors are unhelpful because they told you to take Prilosec every day, you didn't take the medicine, and you're still having symptoms?
You need to go back to the doctor and then actually do what they tell you to do. While you're there, ask them to explain why certain drugs have to be taken every day even if the symptoms don't come daily so you understand your treatment.
I didn't take it because I didn't understand how it would work. Shortly after the doctor suggested it, i did go out and buy some but the pain stopped on its own. I had no issues for months, why would I just start filling my body with over-the-counter drugs when no symptoms are present? That's what I didn't like about it. How would I be able to prove it was the Prilosec or just my body deciding not to react? I would have to take it daily for months on end to prove the meds actually helped. My stomach pain has started up again a few days ago but hadn't bothered me since December, so do you see what I mean about the timeline? A somewhat expensive over-the-counter drug taken daily when I try not to fill my body with drugs unless absolutely necessary just didn't sit right with me if my doctor was barely willing to listen to my symptoms and flippantly just said tums would fix everything without doing any tests or barely asking any questions about it.

You need to see a doctor again. If you think your doctor's a jerk, see the NP or PA in the office or switch to one with a better bedside manner. If they tell you to take Prilosec again, you need to get your doctor or pharmacist to explain to you how the Prilosec works, how to take it and why you're on it. Their advice will be far more valid than what you'll get from internet people.

I know Internet people aren't M.D.s but I do like the hear the experiences of other people because it helps me to know what to bring up to the doctor and ask about. I'm not asking for people to diagnose me, I'm asking for their experiences in this area.

HobokensFury · May 2013

I agree wit @MairePoppy 's advice. Dh had a similar issue and it turned into a big issue. he just had stomach surgery last month.

rajahmd · May 2013

KindaSparkly said:

hordol said:

Also, to clarify, my doctor said he would refer me to the gastroenterologist if heart burn burn meds didn't fix it. He suggested Tums and/or Prilosec. Tums did not work. I didn't try Prilosec but I truly don't believe it's heartburn anyway, so I wasn't as motivated to go with that one. But that was probably dumb of me, I will admit, I suppose it is not too late to try it. I just really don't think it's heartburn though.

It honestly sounds like heartburn to me (this does not constitute medical advice). Until you try the simple treatment for that, there is zero reason to see a specialist and undergo invasive uncomfortable tests for diseases that are way way way less common than acid reflux. Try the simple treatment your doctor tells you to do, talk to them about why and learn about your diagnosis. Ask them about dosing and how long to take the medicine. If your doctor can't chat for an extended period of time, ask the pharmacist at CVS or wherever. They love telling people about medicines and are really knowledgeable.

It sounds like heartburn to me too. OP, this is really good advice. Try the Prilosec. If the only reason you won't is because you don't understand how it could help, just ask. Any decent doctor or pharmacist will be able and willing to explain it to you. You can't say the meds didn't work if you haven't tried them. Yes, it might take awhile to see effects, but that doesn't mean it's not working.

hordol · May 2013

Ok, thank you everyone. I will try the Prilosec and see if I have any flare ups while on it. I have my annual physical coming up this summer, so I will bring it up with the doctor again at that time.

codert · May 2013

me lately my stomach hurts me a lot im going to see the doctor!

allychase · May 2013

I have the same EXACT problems. Prilosec gave me diarrhea (TMI sorry) but I couldn't keep taking it. I had a gastroesaphogoduodenoscopy that revealed lymphocytic duodenitis and gastritis of unknown etiology. Inflammation in my stomach and small intestine. So they have no idea what's causing it. I had a CT enterography (that barium stuff was DISGUSTING) to test for celiacs and Crohn's disease and other diseases I can't remember at the moment but that was all normal.

I believe I'm lactose intolerant and have stopped consuming dairy products until my appointment to confirm whether I am or not. I also avoid pasta sauce, spicy food and TOO MUCH food.

I'm currently prescribed Pepcid AC twice a day but I admit I don't take it as I should, I take it more when I know I'll be eating something that may trigger it. Which is bad and I need to start taking it on a regular schedule.

See another gastroenterologist and get blood work and tests done to rule out stomach conditions that can be causing this. Unfortunately you may just be told its from stress because that's what they're telling me. Good luck, I know how much this sucks

BostonGIrl4732 · May 2013

I have similar issues to what you are describing. I take Prilosec every day, even when I don't have symptoms. It helps A LOT.

Anyone with stomach or digestive issues?

Re: Anyone with stomach or digestive issues?

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