What's up? IBD? Bilary colic ? Help!

Can you help me?  I have been having severe stomach pain and I wonder if this sounds like an inflammatory bowel disease?  

For starters I am an overweight female in my late 30

[Kevin Pho, MD]

It is possible that the inflammatory bowel disease is present.  Other possibilities would include irritable bowel disease (which is characterized by the varying bowell habits you describe) as well as dyspepsia.  

I would suggest an upper endoscopy, which would evaluate for the more common causes of stomach pain - including GERD, inflammation as well as ulcers.  An ultrasound to evaluate the gallbladder as well as a 24-hr pH study (to evaluate for GERD) can be considered as well.

To diagnose inflammatory bowel disease, a colonoscopy would evaluate for ulcerative colitis and possibly Crohn's disease.  If Crohn's disease is suspected, an upper GI series with small bowel follow-through can be considered.

If all the tests remain negative, then treatment for irritable bowel syndrome should be optimized.

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.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[Sarah100]

Dear Kevin

Thank you.  I know you can't reply to this but thought I would add a bit in case anyone is following this tread.

I had an upper endoscopy last year (as I had been on ulcer type drugs for 10 years and my GP wanted to check how my stomach was.  I wasn't getting much pain) and they said it was very inflammed with ulcers etc and to continue with the lanszoprazole.  To be honest, one of those a day works wonders.  They also said about the hiatus hernia.  When I had my fourth op for the fistula I was told the hernia caused problems (I had already mentioned it, so they were prepared) and they had to tip the head of the bed and aspirate(?).  The anaesthetist said to always mention it.

Before the endoscopy I had to stop my meds for two weeks and ended up in extreme pain