4 Year old son with Metabolic disorder has severe stomach pain for 1 year now

[Elaine__0]

  I have a 4 year old son who has a metabolic disorder, he is very severely handicapped because of this and is Naso gastric tube fed. He has severe reflux throughout the day. Every day before feeds or during or just after feeds, he doubles over in excrutiating pain, no one seems to be able to find the cause. I have thought of ulcer's or bowel problems. Panado seems to help and sometimes an anti spasmodic, so I'm baffled. Today the only thing that helped was when I gave his Tagamet. Could the N.G.Tube be causing irritation or ulcers in the tummy?
  I would appreciate any help.
  Thank you
  Elaine
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Dear Elaine,
NG tubes can cause mechanical irritation of the gastric mucosa and predispose patients to esophageal reflux.  The relationship of the pain to feecing could indicate ulcer disease or bowel problems.  Endoscopy by a pediatric gastroenterologist would be helpful.  Because the GI Forum no longer has the services of a pediatric gastroenterologist, we can not provide much more information.  You may consider reposting your message to the Maternal-Child Forum if you wish additional information or if you have further questions.  They would probably want to know the nature of the metabolic problem and the extent of GI workup.
HFHSM.D.-rf