Heartburn leading to other issues....

I am a 36 year old female who has always been in excellent health. I gave birth to a baby in January 2006. Since giving birth, I have developed a strange pattern that has happened a few times. Out of nowhere, I get horrible heartburn that lasts for a few days. During this time, I take a mixture of mylanta, gaviscon, pepsid ac (or zantac) and tums. After the heartburn subsides, then I get diarrhea for a few days.

My PCP started me on prilosec and my heartburn is fine. My bowel movements are no longer diarrhea, but not quite back to normal yet. Also, after the heartburn strikes, my stool turns a tan-mustard color. This happened the other times, too. When I am not having a bout of this, my stool is brown. Why this strange color? Also, I have been eating mostly pasta as I don't want to aggravate the heartburn. I have been drinking either ginger tea or water.

Also, if I don't drink enough water, my stools are hard and sometimes there is a couple drops of bright red blood on the toilet paper or a streak on the actual bowle movement. Not actually in the stool, but on it, if that makes sense.

Seeing a gastro this week, but now I am scared I have colon cancer. No history of it in my family. I have lost weight, but that really is pregnancy weight and it has been a steady loss.

Any thoughts? Oh! I had an endoscopy done in May, it was totally normal. No H Pylori. Blood work all normal.

Thank you.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The upper endoscopy would rule out major major upper GI disorders.  The tan stools can be caused by biliary obstruction - and can be initially evaluated with an abdominal ultrasound.

If there is concern about colon cancer, a lower endoscopy would be recommended.  This can either be a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.  

If the heartburn continues despite appropriate medical therapy, you can consider endoscopy or surgical options for treatment.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[nycmom]

PS-I also have been burping a lot.

[Shebah]

Think you should have that checked out. It could be something like hemmorids, but it sounds alot like the beginning of colitis. I would ask for a colonscopy.

[Kalio1]

Definately get this checked out and have a full blood work up and a hepatic panel done on your liver. Light colored stools can be  a sign/symptom of hepatitis C. Please be tested for hepatitis B and C to be sure and rule them out as a possible cause and have your liver checked for other possible liver issues.

[nycmom]

Update - I had the abdominal u/s and it turns out I have GALLSTONES. What a relief it is nothing worse.

Re the bright red blood, my gastroenterologist said that it is likely a tear in my perineum, but he wil give me a flexible sigmeidoscope (?) in a couple weeks to ease my mind.

Thanks.

[Felix'sMum]

Hi! Everything you describe is absolutely textbook typical of gallstones. The yellowish stools, the gas, the pain which presents like indigestion but isn't. I'm surprised no-one diagnosed that right off and that you've had to wait to find out! Good luck with it all, hope you're better soon!

[Jennie2006]

Is night chest pain a symptom of GERD?

[foundry]

I Was recently diagnosed with gerd but i have a good question that i havent heard about that much. couldnt this Also Actually Be A  decrease in stomach acid production.