GERD. abdominal pain, diarrhea, all of these related? not sure what to do.

I've been having stomach problems for about a year now and they are as follows:

1. Frequent stomach pain, sometimes even upon waking that would be rated a 10 out of the 1/10 scale. This pain comes unexpectedly and a BM doesn't follow it. I've recently postulated that it could be severe gas, but gas isn't an evident cause, to me.

2. Everyday, I have a normal bowel movement once, but then have one or two that follow a few hours later that are gassy and watery/oily, there is not alot of substance to the latter. I know that pencil thin fecal matter is a sign of something serious, but I've never had pencil thin fecal matter, just the regular BM and then oily/gassy ones that follow.

3. I oftentimes think I have GERD, simply because I have horrible acid reflux, sometimes I vomit from that...but I didn't think any kind of acid reflux would irritate my intestines/colon the way they have been bothered. Perhaps it has somehow caused intense stomach problems...

4. My pain sometimes comes in spasms in my stomach, it radiates from where my testicles are up to my abdomen. This has bothered me because the thought of prostate cancer is extremely unnerving...but I don't see how these other symptoms would fit in. I've traveled quite a bit over the course of the past few years, to Central America/Europe/Jamaica...so, perhaps it's some kind of bug I've picked up...but it's really just become evident over the course of the past 12 months.

I don't have health insurance, I really don't have that much money right now at this point in time to get it...I was just wondering if this could be IBS, I do have severe social anxiety, but my stomach acts up even when I'm not anxious.
I don't know what to do, I just want an idea of what I'm dealing with here and the seriousness of it. Also, I was wondering if there happens to be any kind of over the counter medication that would alleviate my symptoms...zantac, for some reason, makes me extremely nauseated.

[Ratnakar Kini, MD]

Hi henria,
The symptom of oily stools is pointing towards fat malabsorption. Excess gas could be due to carbohydrate malabsorption.

An upper GI endoscopy with a biopsy might give a clue regarding the diagnosis.
If you take alcohol regularly, then pancreatitis has to be ruled out for which CT scan would be helpful.

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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

have you been for I B S  it can do it to you , i have ibs and have same thing you have, get it checked out, i just read up and yes it could very well be ibs i have it same thing you have . i dont take anything for it i just deal with it but there are days i cant do things i want or need to because an scared to leave house and bathroom so yes yes have it checked out there are pills that will help you with it if you want to take a pill.