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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
bile reflux
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
bile reflux
by elaine lazinsk, Nov 20, 1999 12:00AM
My daughter has just spent 9 days at the Mayo Clinic. Their findings were an increased amount of bile in her stomach (she had her gallbladder removed 9 mos. ago), globus, orthostatic
blood pressure and an elevated organic arsenic level (from 24 hr.urine specimen) She is now taking Carafete and is still feeling terrible. Her symptoms of one year duration are: nausea,
lightheadedness and a metallic taste in her mouth. Although she was assured that the arsenic would not affect her in any way and that she should merely cut down on the seafood she eats, could thisbe factor? If so, how to detoxify? Any other drug but Carafate? This really has impacted her life in a major way and
she and I are desperate. Please, do you have any suggestions?
Thank you
Elaine Lazinsk
***@****
blood pressure and an elevated organic arsenic level (from 24 hr.urine specimen) She is now taking Carafete and is still feeling terrible. Her symptoms of one year duration are: nausea,
lightheadedness and a metallic taste in her mouth. Although she was assured that the arsenic would not affect her in any way and that she should merely cut down on the seafood she eats, could thisbe factor? If so, how to detoxify? Any other drug but Carafate? This really has impacted her life in a major way and
she and I are desperate. Please, do you have any suggestions?
Thank you
Elaine Lazinsk
***@****
Doctor's Answer
by HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf, Dec 05, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Elaine,
You do mpt tell us how okd your daughter is or whether she has had gastric surgery. Most people with bile gastritis gave gad ulcer surgery and either removal or weakening of the pylorus muscle. Although it is conceivable that people with intact pylorus can have bile reflux into the stomach, this is uncommon. It is important that you be certain that the bile reflux is responsible for the nausea and bitter taste in the mouth. Lightheadednes is not a symptom that I would relate to bile reflux.
There is older literature to suggest that treatment with aluminum antacids e.g. Amphogel can improve the symptoms of bile reflux into the stomach but many administered this treatment do not improve. Treatment with a prokinetic agent could be considered to promote gastric emptying of the refluxed material. For those with bile gastritis due to gastric surgery, a Roux-en-Y anastomisis of the small intestine ( a surgical procedure) will improve symptoms. I do not know if this treatment is feasible in someone with an intact stomach.
You do mpt tell us how okd your daughter is or whether she has had gastric surgery. Most people with bile gastritis gave gad ulcer surgery and either removal or weakening of the pylorus muscle. Although it is conceivable that people with intact pylorus can have bile reflux into the stomach, this is uncommon. It is important that you be certain that the bile reflux is responsible for the nausea and bitter taste in the mouth. Lightheadednes is not a symptom that I would relate to bile reflux.
There is older literature to suggest that treatment with aluminum antacids e.g. Amphogel can improve the symptoms of bile reflux into the stomach but many administered this treatment do not improve. Treatment with a prokinetic agent could be considered to promote gastric emptying of the refluxed material. For those with bile gastritis due to gastric surgery, a Roux-en-Y anastomisis of the small intestine ( a surgical procedure) will improve symptoms. I do not know if this treatment is feasible in someone with an intact stomach.
I am in this forum looking for info also because almost 3 years ago I had my gallbladder removed and was diagnosed 2 months after the surgery with erosive bile gastritis after my GI doc performed an endoscopy. Since then I have had periods (sometimes amounting to a couple of months pain free). Right now i am having a bout which has lasted about 3 months. I too was put on Carafate and also Prevacid 30mg once a day. To this day I still have to take both. The right quandrant pain has not resolved and another endoscopy with a colonoscopy was performed this last march with all normal results. The gastritis was under control and the colonoscopy findings were normal. I have done quite a bit of reseach myself and learned there is such a thing as a post-chlecystectomy syndrome. In other words some people after having gone thru surgery do not feel any better; the reason is the gallbladder was not the problem to begin with.
Right now my doctor wants to do and ERCP but I know the risks of developing pancreatitis after this procedure; so I sought a second opinion this past week and found out there is a test called MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiogram pancreatography) not invasive and can show the bile and common ducts which both doctors suspect might have a stone lodge in it or a stricture. These causing the pain that has not resolved for the past 3 years on and off. I have read many posting in the last 2 years of very frustrated individuals like myself and your daughter. Not that this will make your daughter feel better but at least she knows there are people going thru this like her and that it is life altering like you said but not life threatening.
Share this with your daughter and if you or your daughter want to e-mail me my address is ***@****. If I can be of any help or support let me know. I surely know how frustrated she is feeling.
Norma Delora