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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Pretty Scared
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.
Pretty Scared
by vjj65, Sep 09, 2005 12:00AM
Hello, I am a 40 year old male. About 1 month and 1/2 ago I noticed bloating after eating a meal and then a complete loss of appetite, with a vague pain in my upper right side. Since that time, I have had no appetite and the pain in my side comes and goes. I have lost 16 lbs. When I do eat, I notice I burp immediately. Lately, I have had terrible GERD and a fullness in the throat that make it to where I don't even want to force myself to eat. During this whole time, I have had other weird symptoms, where I believe my lmyph nodes are involved, and pain and itchness in the back of my neck and arms. And perhaps the biggest symptom, sheer fatigue and general mailaise. My doctor has done a battery of blood tests, all normal, as well as an abdominal sonogram, adominal (abdominal)/pelvic CT scan, chest x-ray, and colonoscopy-everything normal except a slightly enlarged spleen and hemoglobin being 1 tenth of a point out of range, but he felt this was because I was not drinking enough. He is sending me to a Gastroenterologist who I hope will do an endoscopy, but I am really concerned that it might show stomach cancer possibly going to the esophogus. I have had a history of very bad indigestion that I have used Tums to take care of. Would the abdominal CT scan have shown a mass in the stomach (all other organs were normal by the way)? Would the chest x-ray show a problem with the esophogus? Also, could this be anything else that is causing these kinds of symptoms? Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Sep 09, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 09, 2005 12:00AM
The workup has been pretty thorough thus far. The ultrasound and CT scan would rule out most liver, gallbladder, or pancreatic causes.
As you suspected, an upper endoscopy will be the next test to consider. Some stomach masses may show on the CT scan, or an esophageal mass may show on plain film - but the endoscopy is the most comprehensive test. Other possibilities can be GERD, an ulcer, or inflammation of the upper digestive tract.
These options can be discussed with your GI doc - I would recommend endoscopy as the next step.
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.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
As you suspected, an upper endoscopy will be the next test to consider. Some stomach masses may show on the CT scan, or an esophageal mass may show on plain film - but the endoscopy is the most comprehensive test. Other possibilities can be GERD, an ulcer, or inflammation of the upper digestive tract.
These options can be discussed with your GI doc - I would recommend endoscopy as the next step.
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.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
