Hi my name is Pam and I am 32 year old mother of three who has been sufferring from (up until a few days ago) undiagnosed stomach and bowel problems for about 18-22months. Recently I had an Upper GI and it was found that I have a hiatal hernia as well as a delayed esophageal process (what ever that means). But I am not sure that that is my only problem.
You see, over the last 18 months I have battled with these ubelievable upper stomach pains as well as severe cramps and diarhea. I have pain on an empty stomach as well as right after I have eaten. The pain usually begins in my upper stomach right below my sternum and then a few minutes or so later I get severe abdominal cramping and diahrea. This makes going out for a nice dinner at a restaraunt almost impossible because within minutes of finishing my meal I am in agony. Sometimes as I said, I get the pain on an empty stomach, and don't dare to eat as I will suffer the consequences. Over the last 2 wks I have lost approx 12lbs.
Over the last year I have been to the doctors approxiamtely 6 or 7 times only to be told that it is stress and to relax. Finally, they did an UGI and found this hiatal hernia, but again just prescribed Prevacid to cut down on the stomach acid and advised me not to eat late at night.
I have done some reading on hiatal hernias and don't see anywhere that It can also cause bowel problems. Many times when I have these bouts of cramping and diahrea it is only mucus or stomach bile that I pass. At this point I am at a loss for what to do and where to turn. Any ideas?
Sincerely,
Pam