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)
Gall bladder, Irritable Bowel, or Gastroparesis?
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.
Gall bladder, Irritable Bowel, or Gastroparesis?
by hyepod, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
I am a 44 y/o femele podiatrist with no insurance. I am not overweight, have not reached menopause, and am not diabetic. For the last 20 years, I have been plagued by episodes of nausea, heartburn, and very foul, frequent, and voluminous belching and flatulence. The odor/taste is always a bile-like, rotten egg or bad red wine type. Diahrrea (sometimes severe)always follows, and provides relief. There is no pain, other than vague abdominal cramping prior to diahrrea. Episodes are brought on by eating rich, spicy, fried, or oily foods. However, today it started after I ate an apple and four small cookies! It also can occur from eating a very large meal. An episode can begin as soon as 3 hours following a meal, but more commonly, is noticable when I awaken with belching the next day. It can last 1-3 days.
Due to family circumstances as a child, I developed chronic nausea at age 9. In response, I was given an upper GI at that age. The doc was shocked that my stomach had not emptied the previous night's meal. Dx: "spastic colon." At age 18, a gall bladder test that required ingestion of a series of pills, as well as upper GI, were performed. I was informed that the gall bladder did not visualize. I was given an anti-spasmodic, but don't recall if it helped. Please note that in my adulthood, I am relatively well-adjusted, calm and rather happy.
Lastly, my chemisties (liver & pancreas included) are perfect. My H.pylori test is negative. Due to my eating salsa that I assumed was mild enough, I was extremely sick with this syndrome three nights ago. I just recovered from the dehydration, and now have started the syndrome again, simply by eating the apple and cookies. This is ridiculous. I am asking your opinion because I soon may have health insurance, and would like two opinions. Thank you.
Due to family circumstances as a child, I developed chronic nausea at age 9. In response, I was given an upper GI at that age. The doc was shocked that my stomach had not emptied the previous night's meal. Dx: "spastic colon." At age 18, a gall bladder test that required ingestion of a series of pills, as well as upper GI, were performed. I was informed that the gall bladder did not visualize. I was given an anti-spasmodic, but don't recall if it helped. Please note that in my adulthood, I am relatively well-adjusted, calm and rather happy.
Lastly, my chemisties (liver & pancreas included) are perfect. My H.pylori test is negative. Due to my eating salsa that I assumed was mild enough, I was extremely sick with this syndrome three nights ago. I just recovered from the dehydration, and now have started the syndrome again, simply by eating the apple and cookies. This is ridiculous. I am asking your opinion because I soon may have health insurance, and would like two opinions. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Feb 28, 2006 12:00AM
, Feb 28, 2006 12:00AM
There can be several conditions that may be causing your symptoms. This can include GERD, an ulcer, inflammation of the upper digestive tract, or gallbladder disease.
An upper GI series can be performed to evaluate for any anatomical abnormalities (i.e. a mass) that can lead to the nausea. More specialized testing like a gastric emptying scan can evaluate for gastroparesis.
If the tests continue to be non-revealing, an ultrasound or an upper endoscopy can be considered for a more comprehensive look.
If there is evidence of gastroparesis (as evidenced by the stomach not emptying when you were younger), treatment options can include motility agents, or pro-kinetic antibiotics (i.e erythromycin).
These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a GI evaluation.
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_b
An upper GI series can be performed to evaluate for any anatomical abnormalities (i.e. a mass) that can lead to the nausea. More specialized testing like a gastric emptying scan can evaluate for gastroparesis.
If the tests continue to be non-revealing, an ultrasound or an upper endoscopy can be considered for a more comprehensive look.
If there is evidence of gastroparesis (as evidenced by the stomach not emptying when you were younger), treatment options can include motility agents, or pro-kinetic antibiotics (i.e erythromycin).
These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a GI evaluation.
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_b
Related discussions
-
RUQ pain - no diagnosis (106 replies):Ok, maybe someone can give me a little insight into what...[more]
-
weight loss, nausea vomiting bile after gallbladder remo... (40 replies):hi, i am a 42 old female, i experienced gallbladder atta...[more]
-
Problems since gallbladder removal in 1994 (21 replies):I am a 50 year old male, about 30 pounds overweight but ...[more]
-
Weight loss Gastroparesis (28 replies):Hello and thank you for your time! I have had ideopat...[more]
If this is normal-
Step two: HIDA-scan. This will evaluate the functionality of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary ducts.
If this is normal too-
Step three: Endoscopy and Colonoscopy. This will give a view of the entire digestive tract except the small intestine.
If a problem in the small intestine is suspected, the "camera pill" is the only thing available to see the entire small intestine.
Good luck, and post again if you have questions.
my 16 yr old daughter has recently been diagnosed with Crohns, and Gastritis, tho she had no symptoms of it(gastritis) other than nausea. She was given Salofalk for the CD and Losac for the Gastritis, for 6 wks only. She recently started having pain under her ribs on her right side, radiating to the back. OF course I am thinking gall bladder. The pain wasn't bad enough to go to the er or anything, so we waited till today when she had a Dr appointment.
Turns out that it is from her gastritis!! Of course, our Peds GI Nurse Clinician could tell me that or hardly any of the questions I asked. But now I know. I will call her GI and see if she should take 2/day.
But at least now I have piece of mind about 1 thing!
Sweetbon
I hope this will work .I have felt fine for 24 hours and it is like a miracle. I feel like a healthy person again.
Goodd luck to all!
It sounds like there is hope for this gastroparesis. I am glad to hear that you are well. Did you bloat real bad with your gastroparesis? I am not going to accept this disorder and will go to the ends of the earth until I find something that will somewhat cure this. I still think stress plays a big part with this. I am so happy for you! Please say a prayer for me!!
I went and got papaya enzyme, GNC multi enzyme and lipoic acid. I also was taking Peppermint capsules with ginger and fennel oils. It seemed to help a little bit. I had already noticed a difference in my bloating with the peppermint capsules. I wanted to thank you for posting that information! I am still bloated but not to where I am looking 3 months pregnant! My doctor wants me to keep taking Erythromycin. She wouldn't put me on Reglan. She said I was too you but if I was in my 60's she would put me on it. She said it has long term side effects. Again, thank you so much!!
symptoms: shortly after eating very sharp pains in abdomin (abdomen) and vomitting, every few months i go through a episode of constant vomitting and discomfort, even after drinking something for about a month.
been seeing a GI specialist and nothing. all that has come out is gallbladder test shows its at 20% and gastric emptying test was 244 minutes for half a bowl of ceral. doctor called it idiopathic gastro something. no hep c or diabetes, hyatal hernia all blood work negative no cancer. did the camera thing both ways, ultrasounds, cts, xrays, nothing. please help this is affecting my life greatly i can no longer work cant eat on dissability and at 145lbs. still losing weight, scared and dont know what to do.
I'm from a small town and my doctors decided to send me to a big hospital. My doctor decided I would be a perfect candidate for the gastric pacemaker. I was at the point where even liquids and ensures were no longer staying down. Everyone around me was terrified at how I looked. I actually looked like those sick starving peop;e from other countries. Everyone just prayed. I am a mother of two beautiful children and have a husband who over the past months have had to see me at my worst and go on without me. A week in a half ago I had the pace maker put in. I'm very sore still today. I have to say the food is staying down so far, although I'm eating small amounts. My stomache still bloats really bad after I eat, but alot of the other problems (belching, and gas) have went away. The only thing is the pacemaker (they say it's because I'm so small and will disappear as weight comes back on)sort of sticks out like a bulge in my stomache. I hope this is the only problem. Once more time passes I will update and let everyone know how it is going. This was a major step in my road to recovery and was a big surgery for me.
I'm from a small town and my doctors decided to send me to a big hospital. My doctor decided I would be a perfect candidate for the gastric pacemaker. I was at the point where even liquids and ensures were no longer staying down. Everyone around me was terrified at how I looked. I actually looked like those sick starving peop;e from other countries. Everyone just prayed. I am a mother of two beautiful children and have a husband who over the past months have had to see me at my worst and go on without me. A week in a half ago I had the pace maker put in. I'm very sore still today. I have to say the food is staying down so far, although I'm eating small amounts. My stomache still bloats really bad after I eat, but alot of the other problems (belching, and gas) have went away. The only thing is the pacemaker (they say it's because I'm so small and will disappear as weight comes back on)sort of sticks out like a bulge in my stomache. I hope this is the only problem. Once more time passes I will update and let everyone know how it is going. This was a major step in my road to recovery and was a big surgery for me.