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Gastroenterology  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Varying Gastro issues
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.

Varying Gastro issues

by protoolsnerd, Oct 08, 2009 04:09PM
Hello , i've had various gastroenterological issues over the past 9 months and still have no clue what it is. It all started with vague camping in my lower left abdomen / flank which also has a tender spot if i push fairly deep in. That seems to come and go with no specific cause. It is also not relieved by a bowel movement. Not extremely painful but def noticeable .
  
Now a couple times i've had what i call attacks where my esophagus gets irritated and i feel discomfort in the midchest area.I get a lot of gas in my stomach and discomfort.  It is also accompanied by changes in bowel habbits and odd stools.  The stool varies between diarrhea and thinish solid stools but seem to be accompanied by yellow liquid and sometimes appears slimy or gloppy or without defined shape.  And in the past week i've seen a lot of undigested food in my stool such as  pieces of protein, olives and other things.  No more stomach pain but the stool is still abnormal. This last episode has gone on for about a week and i've had very mild upper right abdominal cramping, but not too bad.

I also fine that burp up the " taste " of what i've eaten somtimes many many hours after i've eaten. My GI doctor has used the the IBS blanket statement.  I'm just worried that a problem in some other organ ( pancreas, gallbladder, liver )  could be causing this . Could i have celiac and have a negative blood result? I have medical anxiety and am def. guilty of over researching, but these issues are def real.
cbc-normal
Celiac blood pannel- negative
H. Pylori stool test - negative
abdominal ultrasound - nothing abnormal
abdomimal ct - nothing abnormal
abdominal x ray - nothing abnormal
colonoscopy - nothing abnormal
egd with biopsy- normal apart from gastric mucosal abnormality characterized by erythema (awaiting results)

I'm all for this being a functional disorder and not something more serious but i don't want to be hit with something more serious because i gave up my search.

by Kevin Pho, MD, Oct 09, 2009 10:13AM
You have had a comprehensive workup, including several imaging scans.  Negative imaging scans would make organ disease less likely, as the CT scan would closely examine the liver, gallbladder or pancreas.  

The upper endoscopy would comprehensively look at the esophagus and stomach.

At this time, you can consider more specialized tests, like a 24-hr pH study or esophageal motility tests.  

Looking at the biliary tree can also be considered to exclude a stone there.  If that is suspected, an MRCP or ERCP can be done.

These options can be discussed in conjunction with a GI referral.

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 Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd
Member Comments (4)

by jane1915, Oct 09, 2009 11:17AM
To: Kevin Pho, MD
Hi Dr.Kevin
I need your help,I am 33 years old, I have 35 weeks pregnancy now,
7/2009 my hepatitis B virus DNA is 208,000,000H <100 IU-ml
hepatitis B virus DNA is 956,323,004H<160 copies/ml
11/19/2008 it was hepatitis B virus DNA is 16,600,000H <100 IU-ml
hepatitis B virus DNA is 63,300,000H<160 copies/ml
Doctor said I need to treat before baby born, but I was worry the medicine will hurt my baby, should I really need to treat at this time? or I can treat after my baby was born?
Are this medicine safe to use during pregnancy?
1st Viread
2nd Epivir 100mg
3rd baraclude 0.5mg
which one is better?thank you.

by hangern, Oct 10, 2009 03:50PM
Will someone please advise how to start a new topic on this message board. I have not been able to find the way!  

by hangern, Oct 10, 2009 03:57PM
To: Kevin Pho, MD
For about one week:

o No matter what I eat I have morning cramps before BM  
o The cramp is eventually relieved by the BM (one to three BM’s.)
o Stool is loose but it’s not usually diarrhea.
o This occurs only about once a day.
o I am eating light but this happens no matter how bland the diet.
o I feel chilled until the episodes are finished each day.
o No fever, no blood.
o I have had IBS for many years but this seems different because it makes no difference what I eat, and the BM’s do not happen immediately after I eat, as with the case with IBS.  
o Could this be some type of virus? Can they last for over a week? Or does it sound like something more serious?


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