Reflux, Hernia, Warm feeling inside stomach

[darthvader]

Hi,

I writing to you with a question that I hope you can answer as I have tried other sources and got no where with the query.

Firstly I will give a brief background of my recent medical history leading up to the current problem(s).

First of all, I am 23 years old. I have been a sufferer of heart burn since I was about 18 years old, but never really did anything about it as I put it down to the 'usual' reflux that everybody gets now and then.

Basically, over the years it got progressively worse, to the point where in the last 12 months the heart burn became unbearable. It actually got to the point where my oesophagus became very sore and it actually hurt to swallow solid food.

I visited my GP and he prescribed me with lansoprazole, I started taking these and this stopped the heartburn, though the feeling of reflux still remained. But, within two weeks, the pain had started again (I was still taking the recommended amount of lansoprazole). Again, I visited my GP and he prescribed me with Nexium Proton Pump Inhibitor, this stopped the pain completely, but again, the feeling of reflux and food coming back up still remained. Due to this, my GP recommended that I have a Gastroscopy.

I had the Gastroscopy around two weeks ago, and the Gastroentrologist stated that he could see no swelling in the oesophagus (probably due to the taking of the PPI's that had stopped the inflammation - he suggested). The results of the Gastroscopy showed that I have an Hiatus Hernia (which surprised me due to my age). Anyway, the pain has still stopped, but the reflux feeling (especially after eating) still happens, but not all of the time. I am also currently trying to loose weight (I am not over weight, but carry slight weight around my stomach area).

My current job is computer based, and obviously involves a lot of sitting down, which seems to contributed to the regurgitation of food back into the oesophagus.

The surgeon who carried out the Gastroscopy also recommended that I have a pressure test and an acid PH test to try and get to the bottom of the problem. I am currently awaiting the appointment for both of the above. Is there any chance that you could give any advice on the above tests, what they involve and what the are looking for, as I really have no idea.

There is also another question which I have, which even my gastroenterologist could not answer. For the last 4 months or so I occasionally experience a warm feeling in my stomach (especially after drinking certain kinds of alcohol i.e. Beer with a lot of gas or spirits). This has got to the point where I can not consume great quantities alcohol anymore. I also get this feeling in the morning sometimes which subsides in the afternoon, it is not a painfull feeling, the only way I can describe it is that someone has got a candle inside my stomach and I am feeling the warmth of it radiate onto the inside of my stomach / gullet. Do you know what this could be at all? The gastroenterologist has obviously looked at the inside of my stomach and can see nothing 'physically' wrong with it i.e. Lining etc...

I would really appreciate any help, comments or anything that can help!!!

Regards
Paul Arrowsmith

[pallove]

If acid is really giving you a warm feeling inside your stomach, ask you doctor about prevacid.

I had similar symptoms and mine is so bad tyhat stomach acid seeps from my stomach and burns the back of my throat.  This gives gives me throat ulcers, fever and a terrible headaches.

I use to have a burning in my stomach and esophagaus.  Felt like fire burning flesh.  I started taking the prevacid last week and this is the best I have felt in months.  No more burning, no more ulcers.  And I can eat just about anything now and be happy.

With your condition, it is best to watch what you eat.

Hope this helps....

[darthvader]

That does not sound too nice at all!!! What are they EXACTLY looking for??? And if they do find something (i.e. What could they find) how can they / do they treat it???

[Gerd Sufferer]

I recently had the PH test and manometry tests, so I can tell you what they were like.  (I think the "pressure" test you referred to may be the manometry, since it is usually done with the PH test.)  They did the manometry first, and it is my understanding that this test is to check whether the upper and lower esphincter muscles are functioning.  (It is also called the esophageal motility test.)  This entailed have a tube put through the nostril and into the stomach.  It was rather unpleasant, weird mostly, but not painful.  The technician withdraws the tube and monitors the activity of the esophagaus on the computer.  After that tube is withdrawn, a smaller tube was inserted through the nostril to the lower part of the esophagaus.  This tube had two probes (sensors) one near the upper sphincter and one near the lower.  The tube comes out of one nostril, taped across the face, around the ear and into your clothing.  It is connected to a small computer, and you are sent home for 24 hours.  During this time you note eating, sleeping, and any pain or reflux you feel in a diary and on the computer.  The purpose of this test is to see how much (and where) you are having reflux of PH >4.  You can find some great internet sites by searching for "24 hour ambulatory PH test" or PH Manometry.  The tests aren't pleasant, but it IS good to know what the problem is.  Good luck to you!