stomach problem at nite and headache

[yoshi]

since i was a teenager,i have a flabby and protruded stomach,exercise does not make it go away.family members and neighbors etc think i have an underactive thyroid,altho medical testing showed otherwise,but in the mean time i have gulped down kelp tablets,multi vitamins and synthroid pills until a good endocrinologist put a stop to it .In later years i thought i have chest pain at nite,and i call it angina.
i start taking aspirin and bumex and thought they will help my problem.
during that time,i contracted h pylori from swallowing filthy water in a swimming pool,treated with 14 days medication.unfortunately i still have stomach problem,then the family practice doc treated me for gastritis with prevacid,prilosec.
i felt better but my nite ordeal continues.
i finally went to see a cardiologist and he gave me a resting EKG and it showed i do not have a heart problem.then i asked for further testing-blood test and echoscan and the only problem is high level of cholestral.He said ANGINA IS A technical term and i sure do not have angina.he did not test me for c-reative protein but in a separate test done standalone,it said i have high c reactive protein count.
anyway,then i went to see a gastro specialist and he prescribed nexxium and said compared to others,my case of GERD is mild.
but he also said some of the symptoms i have at nite is not GERD related(chest pain)-if i sleep sideway and my heart is slightly folded,i will have chest pain ).
anyway,i have been on prilosev ,then now i am on prevacid.
it seems to help with my stomach problem but the nitely chest expansion continues.
sometimes i noticed the chest expansion becomes stomach expansion,meaning it is happening in my stomach instead.
on july 4th,i deliberately did not take my prevacid (after 10 days of taking ) and want to see what can happen at nite.
well i have this stomach expansion which put pressure on both sides of my temples and created a headache.
in the morning (july 5th),i took 1 prevacid and some aspirin and the headache went away.
assuming my prevacid is still effective,i went to bed last nite and experience the same problem at dawn-stomach expansion and then pressure on both temples and a headache.
as i get up and move around,it finally went away with no aspirin or any medication.
MY question is this-
what do i really have??heart problem or stomach problem??
does stomach problem shot up to my head and affected both temples and give me a headache??
what is actually going on when the stomach started expanding?
is it gas??then why is it moving lower,from chest area to my stomach,i noticed it moved lower as i continue taking prevacid?
as for the flabby and protruding stomach i have almost all my life,what is the cause??also as a teenager i also have swollen glands behind my ears which made my face swollen,espcially before my period(i have now reached menopause so i dont have swollen glands anymore).
thanks in advance,any insight will be appreciated.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.

Without examining you or your tests, it is impossible to say what you have.  

To ensure that it is not your heart, I would suggest some kind of stress test (i.e. exercise treadmill test).  If negative, then it makes it unlikely that the symptoms are coming from your heart.

To evaluate your stomach, I would suggest either an upper GI series or (better yet) an endoscopy.  A hiatal hernia can certainly cause some of your symptoms.  If negative, other tests to consider would be a 24-hr pH study to see whether you have GERD or not.  

Increased bloating and gas can certainly be a possibility.  Irritable bowel syndrome can result in increased sensitivity in the organs, causing the sensation of gas and bloating.  However, make sure that the endoscopy and tests are negative before considering the diagnosis of irritable bowel.  

As for the flabby and protruding stomach.  Other than obesity, you may want to be examined to make sure an abdominal hernia isn't present.

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.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[yoshi]

i also want to add that i have a nordic track machine called the eclipliser?? sorry for bad spelling and i use it everyday for one hour with no problem during or after workout and i do not eat large meal at nite.

[roxnsox]

Hello,  It sounds like you have spent a lot of time and effort going to doctors and having tests done.  I have been there and done that too.  You describe your apple shape.  I have that too.  You might do some research on the web on insulin resistance.  Is anyone in your family diabetic?  
   When you have blood work done how are your cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels?  Are your liver enzymes slightly elevated?

[yoshi]

thanks for response.
i dont have apple shape,if you are referring to my figure,i just have a flabby and protruding stomach,when i wear clothes,it is not too visible.
no one in my family is diabetic,my cholestral level is high but they told me it is manageable and could be brought down by exercise,i take lipitor on and off,i dont like the side effects.
they did not mention liver problem from the test results,so i assume it is okay.
with prevacid,i can live with the minor discomfort during the day,it is the nightly ordeal which is unbearable.

[Prime]

This is Prime from the USA. I took Prevacid too. I was more thouroughly examined though. I do have GERD. Prevacid caused me to be really anxious and gave me a headache. I did not know why I was nervous, so I went to my old doctor and got paxil to take care of the problem. She didn't know what she was doing and the paxil game me a flushing headache in the back of my head. Thus, don't take PAXIL and Prevacid together. Really, both of these drugs are bad! a good Diet, excersice, loosing weight and Maalox are the best way to take care of a GERD problem.

[Prime]

This is Prime from the USA. I took Prevacid too. I was more thouroughly examined though. I do have GERD. Prevacid caused me to be really anxious and gave me a headache. I did not know why I was nervous, so I went to my old doctor and got paxil to take care of the problem. She didn't know what she was doing and the paxil game me a flushing headache in the back of my head. Thus, don't take PAXIL and Prevacid together. Really, both of these drugs are bad! a good Diet, excersice, loosing weight and Maalox are the best way to take care of a GERD problem.