Stomach problems for the past 15 years.

[KayB87]

I have had stomach problems sense I was about 8 years old, so for about 15 years. I am a 23 yr old woman. When I was younger I would belch all the time, and sometime would vomit because of my gas, but then feel completely fine afterwards. My doctor didn't seem too concerned and told my mom to give me baby colic medicine, which seemed to help. Once I hit puberty my symptoms seem to get better and I stopped vomiting. I still had a lot of gas though and would get heartburn quite often. I just figured I had a sensitive stomach and tried to watch what I ate. Within the past few years though my stomach problems seem to have gotten worse. I have sever pain in my upper left stomach right under my rib cage, which is accompanied by gas and grumbling. The pain sometimes radiates to my left side and lower back. I don’t smoke or drink, but I do drink coffee every morning.

I went to a gastroenterologist and was put on omeprazole, which helped with the acid reflux but seemed to make the pain worse. He did a gastroscopy, which came back normal. He then focused on my gallbladder and did a HIDA scan and sonogram of my gallbladder and pancreas, which also showed nothing. He then said he knew of no dieses that explained my symptoms and dismissed me.

I am fed up with this on again off again pain, I can eat something completely bland or even nothing at all and it will start up. I really need some answers! I go see my Family Physician again in a few weeks and I am going to ask to be referred to a different gastroenterologist.

[KayB87]

Thank you! I will suggest that next time I talk to the Nurse Practitioner at my doctor’s office. It's kind of pathetic that she has been more helpful then the gastroenterologist that I went to see.

[patient915]

It might be a mild case of gastroparesis which would be tested for by a gastric emptying scan.

[KayB87]

I had a celiac panel and a stomach x-ray done by my primary care doctor, everything came back normal. She put me on Carafate and that has pretty much eliminated my pain, I still have the gas, acid reflux and nausea though. Oh well, pains gone which was my main concern.

[patient915]

DId you cut out 100% of all gluten for at least 2 months?  Have you tried cutting out all lactose from your diet for at least 2 weeks?  Have you had a gastric emptying scan?

[KayB87]

I have tried not eating different foods and while I know greasy or high acid food will trigger my pains I have had it happen after eating something supper bland or nothing at all as well. I have tried a gluten free diet because I thought it could be celiac but that seemed to not have any effect. Plus, I have had no significant weight loss and while I am not fat I am not skinny either. My weight will fluctuate between 150 and 165, and I am 5'5" so while not at a perfect weight I am not too over weight and I am physically active.

[mscynthia1969]

I have acid reflux.  I take nexium it helps me.  I have spoke to others that said it didn't help them.  Other say they love medications that didn't work for me.  try a different medication.

I've had horrible heartburn also causing vomitting.  Everyone in my family has acid reflux.  Take meds, don't eat high acid foods like tomato sauce, don't eat after 6pm, definitely don't eat right before bed.  

That being said, my mother's doctor wanted to put a pace maker in her stomach to control acid production.  This is extreme.  I'm sure you'll figure something out.
The Gallbladder and the pancreas can be very painful.  You can have a stone that only partially blocks the duct.  Every woman in my family has had their gallbladder removed including my 21 year old daughter just after Thanksgiving.  I have also read about bile sludge being painful.  I guess they're saying that the bile can cause pain just by being thick.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  It sounds like you need to see a new gastroenterologist that will take you seriously.  You need more testing done.  These include things like blood tests for celiac disease.  Also, have you tried eliminating different things from your diet?