Hi,
I have been having spasms midepigastric and right below my sternum to the left side. Sometimes it feels as if the pain is under my ribs. I occasionally feel the pain go to my back on the left side, but not very often. When I have an empty stomach 99% of the time I have no symptoms. But if I drink anything or eat anything usually within minutes I will get the spasms. They come in waves and only last a few seconds at a time. The spasms get way worse if I lay down after eating. They also seeem to be worse if I eat too quickly or eat a big meal. I also notice that sometimes I get the spasms if I get up quickly, bend over, cough, laugh or cry.
I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia 2 years ago. I was just scoped again last weeks and my doc said the hernia is less than 1 cm. I take Nexium 40mg daily for reflux and it seems to work pretty good. I do get the occasional heartburn though. I also used to drink a lot of alcohol. I quit 2 and 1/2 months ago, the same time that I started feeling the pain. I was worried that it could be related to the drinking. About 10 days after my first episode of pain I had blood work done. My lipase was 68, normal range 0-57. Amylase normal. All other labs normal. I had my blood work repeated 3 weeks later and everything was normal. I have had an abdominal ultrasound, abdominal CAT scan, HIDA scan, EGD and MRCP, all perfectly normal. My doctor says that he just can't imagine that all my symptoms could be coming from my hiatal hernia. But Im wondering if it's possible, because it seems like anything that increases pressure (coughing, laughing, crying, bending over) causes the spasm. I have no nauses, vomiting or diarrhea. No other symptoms to speak of, except for the occasion pain radiating to back on the upper left side. Oh and I noticed that within the last week my symptoms have changed a little. I now sometimes have pain in my chest, especially after eating a big meal.
My doctor put me on Bentyl initally, which seemed to help a little but it made me so drowsy I had to stop taking it. He just started me on Pamine forte. I was wondering if the symptoms I am having could be Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. I do still have my gallbladder. Also, I was initally very worried about pancreatitis. But I don't have abdominal pain, I only have spasms. The only pain that I have is in my chest after I eat. I am concerned about the one time elevated lipase, and for the record I havent touched a drop of alcohol since this whole thing started.
My GI doctor wants me to contine taking the Pamine and see him in one month. If I am still having symptoms he is going to do a small bowel series and a gastric emptying study.
My questions:
1. Does this sound like a hiatal hernia?
2. Could this be pancreas related and what other tests should I get to find out.
3. If this is a hiatal hernia, I am condsidering having it surgically fixed. What is the success rate for that?
Thanks
Any other thoughts or advice would be great.