Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Bile in stomach
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Bile in stomach
by Rebs, Oct 02, 2004 12:00AM
I have had mild proctitis and mild gastritis for nearly 2 years, I am on no medications and have had no surgery involving my digestive tract. My proctitis is slowly improving but unfortunately my gastritis isn't, My question is concerning the most recent endoscopy I had done in which a large amount of bile was found in my stomach and also very mild gastritis, previous endoscopys just showed mild gastritis, I'm wondering could this bile in stomach be the cause of my gastritis, or could it just be a once off as it was never seen before (I'm very concerned as I've been reading about bile reflux and it sounds dreadful)My doctor didn't seen to bothered and advised me to do nothing! I eat a healthy diet but have a lot of stress brought about by my discomfort and pain through the last 2 years
I would be really grateful for any advice and help you could give.
Regards
I would be really grateful for any advice and help you could give.
Regards
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Oct 04, 2004 12:00AM
, Oct 04, 2004 12:00AM
Yes, bile acid in the stomach can certainly cause or worsen the gastritis. In fact, studies show that chronic exposure to bile salts is almost as damaging as taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. If the case is truly bile acid reflux (diagnosed via endoscopy, radionuclide scanning, or measuring bile salts in the gastric fluid), then surgery may be considered to treat this. Success rates range from 50 to 90 percent.
There are also some small studies with medications used to treat this. This can include Ursodiol, Sucralfate or Cholestyramine.
You may want to discuss these options 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.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
There are also some small studies with medications used to treat this. This can include Ursodiol, Sucralfate or Cholestyramine.
You may want to discuss these options 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.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
My understanding is that Bile seen on endoscopy, it is not a reliable guide to bile reflux. The act of putting an endoscope into the stomach causes mechanical bile reflux that is not the same as spontaneous bile reflux.
In other words, endoscopy is not a reliable tool to diagnose bile reflux.