Acid in digestive tract?

[S__0]

    I have wrote to you a couple times before,and the information has been helpful. But i still have a problen with my anus burning, sometimes severe. I have been to my family Dr. 5 times now. He has checked me for internal hemorrhiods (with a anoscope) and none were found. Also none were found externally..I asked if it could be an anal fissur and he said i didnt have a fissure either..This is a quite distressing problem it has went on for 7 months now. The best way to explain how this feels is that just inside my anal opening is raw. It burns when i have a bowel movement unless i take a bath and wash the area very well. I have to remove any residual stool. then it quits burning..My Doctor says its in my head and that i keep "puckering" my anus. Which i do not. Could stomach acid pass down through the digestive system and cause my anal area to burn or feel raw? I have had stomach problems "ulcer" in the past..Im only 27 male in good shape..Everyone seems puzzled to my condition..Thank You..
Dear S.,
Nice to hear from you again. I'm sorry to hear that you are still having that problem. The most common cause of low pH (acid) stool contents is carbohydrate malabsorption. The most common cause of carbohydrate malabsorption is lactose intolerance (lactase deficiency). In lactase deficiency, the sugar lactose (present in milk and dairy products) is not absorbed in the small intestine but enters the colon, where it is fermented by bacteria in the colon to lactic acid. The result is diarrhea of low pH and increased motility. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps and flatulence occur with the ingestion of dairy products. There is improvement with diet. The pH of the stool is less than 6.0. Another rare disease called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is associated with diarrhea, malabsorption and peptic ulcer disease. Intestinal contents are often very acidic in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
In your case, I would pay close attention to your diet, stay away from dairy products for a while and see a colorectal surgeon for evaluation. You may need a flexible sigmoidoscopy to rule out a problem that is not within the reach of the anoscope. I hope you find this information helpful.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you would like to be seen at our institution please call  1-800-653-6568, our Referring Physicians' Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.
HFHSM.D.-ym
*Keywords: anal burning, stool with low pH, carbohydrate malabsorption