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Stomach Issues
Hi my name is Pam and I am 32 year old mother of three who has been sufferring from (up until a few days ago) undiagnosed stomach and bowel problems for about 18-22months. Recently I had an Upper GI and it was found that I have a hiatal hernia as well as a delayed esophageal process (what ever that means). But I am not sure that that is my only problem.
You see, over the last 18 months I have battled with these ubelievable upper stomach pains as well as severe cramps and diarhea. I have pain on an empty stomach as well as right after I have eaten. The pain usually begins in my upper stomach right below my sternum and then a few minutes or so later I get severe abdominal cramping and diahrea. This makes going out for a nice dinner at a restaraunt almost impossible because within minutes of finishing my meal I am in agony. Sometimes as I said, I get the pain on an empty stomach, and don't dare to eat as I will suffer the consequences. Over the last 2 wks I have lost approx 12lbs.
Over the last year I have been to the doctors approxiamtely 6 or 7 times only to be told that it is stress and to relax. Finally, they did an UGI and found this hiatal hernia, but again just prescribed Prevacid to cut down on the stomach acid and advised me not to eat late at night.
I have done some reading on hiatal hernias and don't see anywhere that It can also cause bowel problems. Many times when I have these bouts of cramping and diahrea it is only mucus or stomach bile that I pass. At this point I am at a loss for what to do and where to turn. Any ideas?
Sincerely,
Pam
You see, over the last 18 months I have battled with these ubelievable upper stomach pains as well as severe cramps and diarhea. I have pain on an empty stomach as well as right after I have eaten. The pain usually begins in my upper stomach right below my sternum and then a few minutes or so later I get severe abdominal cramping and diahrea. This makes going out for a nice dinner at a restaraunt almost impossible because within minutes of finishing my meal I am in agony. Sometimes as I said, I get the pain on an empty stomach, and don't dare to eat as I will suffer the consequences. Over the last 2 wks I have lost approx 12lbs.
Over the last year I have been to the doctors approxiamtely 6 or 7 times only to be told that it is stress and to relax. Finally, they did an UGI and found this hiatal hernia, but again just prescribed Prevacid to cut down on the stomach acid and advised me not to eat late at night.
I have done some reading on hiatal hernias and don't see anywhere that It can also cause bowel problems. Many times when I have these bouts of cramping and diahrea it is only mucus or stomach bile that I pass. At this point I am at a loss for what to do and where to turn. Any ideas?
Sincerely,
Pam
I have been taking acidolphilus recently for diarrehea. So far so good. Stopped the cramping too.
I Have some of the same symtoms as you. You posted me a message asking me if I found that differnt foods caused me to cramp up. Just about any meal I eat makes me crampy afterward. The only thing that doesn't seem to bother me as much are like cereals and stuff like that. Alcohol most definately bothers my stomach. I haven't been to the doctor, but I go tomorrow. I will let you know if I should find out anything. As I hope you will do the same for me!
I also have a Hiatal Hernia! If your doctor has imaged your gallbladder you might also find that you may have gallstones as well!
You might ask your doctor to prescribe Prilosec as that is what has worked for me. Protonix,Nexium, and Prevacid didn't work at all. If you don't eat you will have bile reflux. If you eat meat you will pay for it especially beef or old food as your stomach may now be sensitive to certain foods. You will have low motility or what is commonly called slow process of the esophagus! You will have abdominal cramps if you eat those things you aren't supposed to like beef (hard), chocolate, hot spicy foods...
They tend to erode the cardiosphincter because of either fat(lack of bile because of gallstones)or hyper acidity that is produced when you can't digest that meat or spicy food that irritates the exposed linnings in your stomach. Don't take solid pills like vitamins because they are hard and will wound your linnings as well as that they are acid producers and will cause serious pain!
It is a lifestyle change and a sign that we are getting older. The best thing for you to do is to excercise and drink 2 cups of water in the morning and then in the evening to try and desolve the gallstones the increased circulation will help. Take vitamins in gel capsule form as well.
I hope that helps.
You might ask your doctor to prescribe Prilosec as that is what has worked for me. Protonix,Nexium, and Prevacid didn't work at all. If you don't eat you will have bile reflux. If you eat meat you will pay for it especially beef or old food as your stomach may now be sensitive to certain foods. You will have low motility or what is commonly called slow process of the esophagus! You will have abdominal cramps if you eat those things you aren't supposed to like beef (hard), chocolate, hot spicy foods...
They tend to erode the cardiosphincter because of either fat(lack of bile because of gallstones)or hyper acidity that is produced when you can't digest that meat or spicy food that irritates the exposed linnings in your stomach. Don't take solid pills like vitamins because they are hard and will wound your linnings as well as that they are acid producers and will cause serious pain!
It is a lifestyle change and a sign that we are getting older. The best thing for you to do is to excercise and drink 2 cups of water in the morning and then in the evening to try and desolve the gallstones the increased circulation will help. Take vitamins in gel capsule form as well.
I hope that helps.
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