IBS or GERD?

[Hilomom]

Hello there,   I have been living with GERD for over 10 years.  Omeprozale  keeps the burning acid at bay.  Within the last year, I have started having bloating, up high, like right under my breasts, which happens with even the smallest bit of food or water.  My Dr did an endoscopy and it showed a patch of gastritis but normal esophagus and duodenum.

My regular doctor, off handedly said I probably have IBS, but I don't seem to have all the symptoms.  My gastro guy told me (after) my last colonoscopy, that I have a "long, looping colon, so I seem to take longer to process food than other folks.  

This bloating up high in my stomach is very distressing and uncomfortable and I have also been having a dull throbbing pain (kind of feels like I'm ovulating, but I'm post-menopausal.  Now I am worried I could have ovarian cancer.  

Does anyone have any ideas,thoughts or suggestions?

I no longer have medical insurance, but I am saving up for an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound that my regular doctor has ordered.  

[TheLightSeeker]

My opinion is neither.

There's a good possibility that your doctors got all this wrong!
I suspect that you might actually suffer from hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) and not too much acid.

If my suspicion is correct, this could change things for you, dramatically!

In low acid situations, intra-abdominal pressure  increases, pushing the lower esophageal sphincter to open, so even the presence of a small amount of acid will cause a lot of pain and burning symptoms.

The majority of people on anti-acids for gerd symptoms, have low acid levels! Not an ideal situation for trying to stay  healthy.

Healthy Stomach acid levels are vital for absorption and assimilation of nutrients/minerals/ proteins, for destroying harmful bacteria in the stomach and preventing bacteria moving up in the stomach from the intestines.

Your symptoms you mention are more consistent with low stomach acid.

But, you don't have to take my word for this.
All you have to do is  a Betaine HCL trial (very inexpensive)l, as a test.
Follow the instructions on the label and if it helps and if you feel better,
your acid levels are indeed LOW.
So should this be the case and you have a few days to a week of feeling better on beataine HCL, it  might be time to ditch the Omeprozale and cancel the ultrasound.
For the gastritis, you can try demulcent herbs, which can soothe and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissues.
Look into aloe vera , slippery elm, licorice...

Please note that my suggestions are not a substitute for medical advice
-actually most conventional doctors would disagree with me, but at least
I don't have any professional bias and nothing to sell.

Best wishes,
Niko