unanswered question that needs an answer

[ph1]

In april, I woke up one night with a searing pain in my right side that caused me to have to go to the emergency room. Although my period had just started, I normally did not have bad cramps and had never had pain like this. They diagnosed it as severe cramps, gave me Motrin, and sent me home. One week later I started having severe acid reflux to the point that I could not sleep, or eat. Taking Prilosec would not help and I also ended up in the emergency room one night when the pressure in my chest built to the bursting point and I was having severe trouble breathing. Since then I have been put on a double dose of nexium and sucralfate, which has calmed it down, but I still have rather constant indigestion when i had none before. They have done sonograms on my lower abdomen, upper abdomen, and both left and right sides of my abdomen and found nothing but a tiny cyst on my kidney, which they said is unimportant. I have continually had chest pains, soreness, stomach pain, abdominal cramps, and a recurring pain in the same place in my right side around my period every month. The symptoms all get worse around my period and none of the doctors have been able to diagnose anything or help other than doping me up with 5 pills a day. I was fine before April and now I don't know what's wrong, can anyone please help me !?

[Jaybay]

I can only tell you of my own experience.  I don't have any statistics about the occurrence of acid reflux with bowel endo, but both my sister and I had the same problems.  Only you can decide about surgery, but I was more than willing to have it because the tests showed nothing.  If it were me, I would do it.

[ph1]

I was wondering whether or not I should undergo a laproscopy to test for endometriosis. Most of the information i found on the internet was about endometriosis on uterus or ovaries but I didn't realize it could cause acid reflux if formed on your bowels. How common is this? Could this also cause the change in bowel movements? I have noticed that I get hungrier quicker lately too, if i eat a good sized meal at 7 and wake up at 1, I am starving, could this be another symptom?

[Jaybay]

Since the symptoms still occur around the time of your period, I don't think you can entirely rule out a gynecological problem.  Endometriosis doesn't show up on ultrasound (or x-rays, or CT scans, or MRIs) and can cause the kind of symptoms you are having - particularly if you have implants on your bowels.  Bowel endo can cause scar tissue to form and if it wraps around intestines, it results in everything backing up and even causing reflux.  The food and waste just can't go through fast enough.

The only way to diagnose endo is thru laparascopic surgery, and at the same time, many of the implants can be lasered off, and adhesions (scar tissue) that may have formed can be cut at that time.  If endometriosis is confirmed, you can consider taking lupron (or other hormone shots) to throw you into medical menopause and prevent new implants from forming.  Side effects can be pretty nasty for some women, so ask your doc lots of questions if it comes to that.

[ph1]

I have had an ultrasound for ovarian cysts and they found none. I appreciate your help and support though.

[Curls]

Have you been to a gynocologist?  Had a transvaginal ultrasound for ovarian cysts?  It's worth a look since they can trigger cramping.  A good general practicisoner should hold your hand and guide you as you look for answers.  Wish I had the answer.  Hope you find them soon.