stomach gas and pain

my ? is  i am a us soldier who for the past 20 mnths has been dealin with stomach and digestive issue's.i got really sick in iraq and they told me that all my lympnodes ahd swelled on my intestines well as usual i got the hooah pill and was told to drive on. well since then my stomach has been out of whack, the last yr i have lost 50 plus lbs i have chronic gas and pain when i eat i get these pains in my chest about 1 to 2 hrs after i eat there are sharp and suddle, i am on a bland diet i exercise reguarly also i ahve a problem with severe constipation at times unable to go for 5 -6 days at a time i ahve been told i have a ulcer and been put on nexium no antibiotics at all i get pains under my ribs on the right and left side i have no h-pylori and my blood has been tested for everything  please i need help with this issue i am tired of dealin and like i said im a soldier who has a job to his nation to fulfill his duties to his country please help thank you

[patient915]

It sounds like you need some more testing to figure out what is going on.  You should talk to your doctor about getting an endoscopy and a colonoscopy.  Good luck.

[CassCore]

By "everything else" I hope you were tested for a parasite. If not you might check into that because when you are overseas your chances for contracting a parasite increase substantially. I have been on nexium before and it worked wonders for me. As a matter of fact I have dealt with some of the same problems you have before. I know that soldiers can get many aches and pains...my husband is one! Do you take a lot of ibprofen or asprin or motrin? These meds (NSAIDS) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause ulcers if you do not eat with them. You should not take them at all now if you have an exsisting ulcer for sure. As for the constipation eat a high fiber diet and stay hydrated. Hopefully your doctor has told you to stay away from chocolate, caffiene (hard for a soldier), carbonated drinks, and tomato products because these can increase reflux. However, everyone is different. I suggest keeping a food log...record what you eat every day and after each meal circle a number on a 1-10 scale corresponding to your pain level. Then after 2 weeks or so look for a pattern...lets say every time you eat milk products it causes more pain...so then you can try to eliminate or reduce milk products from your diet and see if you feel better. Anyway! Hope this helps. Ginger is something that helps with nausea and there is a pressure point on the palm side of your wrist just below the palm you can press to help with nausea too! These might be helpful hints for when you are overseas and may not have much access to meds. Hope this all helps!

[harrald]

Are you registered with the VA to get health benefits and treatment? I am a military veteran, too, and I receive very good service from a VA hospital. I do not know whether your relationship with the VA is favorable. Some veterans returning from Iraq received poor service at some VA hospitals. My reason for inquiring whether you are registered with the VA,  is  that you may need some special attention to correct your digestive system, and the costs for a Gastroenterologist that is a digestion expert are expensive. Nexium is a strong anti-acid medicine, but you need antibiotics if you do have an ulcer. Antibiotics and acid-reducers work together to heal the pain to  keep your stomach monitored.The pain under your ribs is probably a hiatal hernia. This ailment develops when the esophagus passes through an opening in your diapragm that separates your chest cavity from your abdomial (abdominal) cavity. A portion of your stomach can slip down into the opening causing pressure and pain. To find and confirm your stomach problems, the Gastroenterologist would need to look at your esophagus and stomach with an endoscope. The endoscope has a narrow tube with light and camera and is entered into your throat to view your esophagus and stomach. The procedure to check-you-out is named Upper GI Series. Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and can keep your stomach in pain that surely affects your bowels and constipation. In the meantime, I can offer some suggestions to maybe work on your constipation.

Buy from a supermarket or pharmacy, two mineral-oil enemas and a regular enema. Use one mineral-oil enema at a time to judge whether it helps. If not, try the second enema. Use the third enema, and if you get partial relief, you need to use a temporary laxative. Dulcolax, 5-mg, is a good laxative. The pills are tiny, so I take three pills for maximum results. Drink a full glass of liquid to help the laxative get started. Your bowels should begin to move in 5 to 6 hours.I forgot, when you lie down to use the enemas, raise your butt in the air to  allow the  enemas to move up your colon. To remember the names of the mentioned procedures, print a copy of this report so when you go for medical help, you will know the names.

I apologize for all the people who give war veterans  poor service.

Harrald