Stomach aches... but it doesn't...

[Dungeoner]

Sounds odd, I know. Similar symtoms to other members of the forum, but didn't want to step on their posts. My stomach frequently rumbles & or flutters and at times feels like it does a quick spasm. It then settles for a few minutes & does the same thing over again. Sometimes it wont do it for hours, sometimes days. I think it depends on the amount of attention I allow it to take. There's not really any pain associated with it at all. It's just surprising everytime it does it.

It does however bring on a fair amount of anxiety as it feel's like the stomach itself. Well, I'm not a medical expert on the where abouts of organs, but the area it does this grumble/spasm is just below the heart. About at the bottom of the sternum I guess is better termed. There were times I actually thought it WAS my heart to the point of my Dr. getting ticked off that I had him doing EKGs on me everytime I had an appointment. I even had a stress test because I thought the fluttering was my heart & not my stomach. Well... every test I had that dealt with my heart came back with flying colors, thus this posting.

My stool has become rather dark the past few days. I read the post about possible internal bleeding, but mine didn't start till I started taking some Pepto-Bismol, if that matters or not. I haven't stopped taking it to see if the color changes back or not yet, but I may gave that a try if I convince myself that that isn't helping. My diet HAS been horrible (Some stress too)the past few years, eating, not eating ect. ect...so I'm wondering if that has posibly caused an ulser, or not?

[Dr. Erik]

Pepto Bismol causes darkening of the stool which can look like blood. It is most likely the Pepto Bismol causing the dark stool.
The fluttering you feel just below your sternum is possibly esophageal spasms. This can feel like flutters of the heart. It is not life threatening. You might want to talk to your doctor about a motility study (manometry study) which measure contractions and pressure of the esophagus. This may expose the problem. There are medications such as Levsin (anti-spasmodic) which can help esophageal spasms. Please discuss these possibilities with your physician.

[Dungeoner]

I appreciate the post. What you had mentioned makes a ton of sense. When I feel that spasm/flutter transpiring I almost always feel a gas bubble(for lack of a better term), working it's way up my throat. Perhaps a bad explaination of what it feels like, but I'll be sure to tell my doctor about this.

Thank you.