pain after eating

[HAM5]

I've been under the care of a gastroenterologist for the past couple of years for acid reflux.  I take 40mg of famotidine every night before bed.

A couple of weeks ago I started having very bad pain in my upper left chest area along with a resurgence of reflux and nausea - I assumed it was due to the food I had eaten that day but it did not go away.  I had an echo stress test and an ultrasound - both were normal.  My doctor put me on 10mg of dicyclomine before every meal - it helped a bit but not much.  Now he's got me on OTC Prilosec for the past few days but I'm still having problems.

Any time I swallow something, and I've been limiting myself to water, cereal, and other bland food, I feel a sharp pain in my left side that takes a long time to go away.  I also feel bloated and have a lot of gas.  Sometimes I feel like I have to burp but I can't get it up and I gag.  I'm not passing any blood and it's not keeping me awake at night, but it's very uncomfortable and hard to concentrate when it hits me.

My doctor wants to wait until I finish the 2-week Prilosec regimen before seeing me again - any suggestions for the interim would be appreciated.

[momma3boys]

I realize some time has gone by since this post but I gave birth to my son in 2008 and lost my gallbladder before he was 3 months old.  I have had the same issues you describe ever since.. he will be 3 in 2 months.  I wondered if the doctors ever figured out what was going on with you or if you have any suggestions for relief?  I have had numerous tests done and try have all come back normal.  I just want to be able to enjoy my kids.  Any suggestions appreciated!

[kaylasmommy]

I am 21 years old and gave birth to a baby girl on October 9th, 2003. Shortly after I was experiencing very bad pains to where I would vomit. I went to the hospital and found out I had gallstones so they needed to remove my gallbladder. No one had told me anything that would happen after my surgery but a few months later I started to get terrible pains in my stomach after almost everything I ate and the only way to relieve the pain was to go to the bathroom (diarrhea). I had lost 20lbs in one month at that time. I went for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy and the results were normal. The doctors had told me to change my diet but I didn't because I would get the pain whenever it decided to haunt me. I could eat a slice of pizza and I would be fine and the next day I could have a piece of toast and my stomach would hurt so bad. Since I have acid reflux disease my doctor had prescribed Prevacid to me, telling me that the pain would go away and it was from the heartburn. So I took Prevacid for about 6 months and since my insurance doesn't cover the medicine I was paying $168 a month for it. So I spoke to my pharmacist and asked him if there was anything else I could take that would relieve my symptoms and he told me to take Prilosec. So I have been on that now for awhile and my stomach pains were getting better. Instead of getting them everyday I was getting them maybe once a week, if that. I finally thought my pains were almost gone and I was feeling alot better about myself and not worrying so much about what was wrong with me but now for the past month I have been getting pains again after everything I eat. I thought I was the only person with this problem but I guess not. If anyone has any suggestions or knows exactly what my problem is I would really appreciate it if I could get some feedback. Thanks :)

[Ms_Makita]

I also suffer from severe stomach pain/chest pain , especially after eating,altered bowel movements,just been told it is just ibs but im still not sure that can cause so much pain!lost 40lbs in 2 months!,had ultrasounds,catscan,colonoscopy,endoscope,hida scan,stool test with negative results..next is lapascropy to check for endometrosis in sept. I found a  high fiber shake recipe that works when i cant tolerate food and relieves constipation.Peppermint oil works good for cramps and gas too.Good luck to everyone
1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup kashi go lean crunch cereal
1 cup fat free milk or vanilla soy milk
1 cup froze blueberries
1 tablespoon psyllium husk powder (sold at any health food store)
1 tablespoon barleans flaxoil (sold at any health food store)

[NormalGuy]

I was having the exact same problem as this since I was nearly 11 years old. There was never anything anyone was able to do to correctly diagnose any of the problems I had. It seemed that if all I ate was fruit, it would go away for a while, but then inevitably, after some time (maybe months or weeks), it would be back once again. And I was in the category that a lot of you are in where the pain was so bad at times, that if I had a gun, I am sure I would have done something permanent to myself.

For relief, I have found that alternating between almost scalding hot showers and sitting silent on the toilet in the normal position, to work to stop the pain in about 30-60 minutes most times.

Over the years (31 years old now) I have managed to fast a few days, and it would be gone for a while. Through doing my own research and observation, and through sheer cooincidence, a friend that has problems with constipation let me try a few tablets of his. From a place online named GHC health:

http://www.ghchealth.com/health-products/product_info.php?ref=167669&products_id=28

I have now been a full time user of these tablets, and while taking them, I have not had any more occurrences of the pain. When I went through a dry spell, and was not taking them, I found that too many espressos or coffee drinks brought the symptoms right back within a few weeks. But it I just moderated my coffee intake, I could get away with only using the tabs every few months or so.

I have recently bought a Green star Juicer, and have found that I can get the same great results simply by going on a juice fast for one week, every 6 months.

My assumption of this problem is that it has something to do with constipation, or some form of obstruction of the large intestine. The reason I say this, is because there was a time when I was having a nice hot shower, and the pain started shifting from upper-right abdomin, to center, to left, then started to drop as though it was descending towards the backside to be pooped out! The process took about 30 minutes from the start ofthe pain's movement, to ready to dump.

Now combining that experience with understanding what the Oxy-Powder in the above link does,  it makes sense to me that the pain is some form of bowel distress caused by an impaction or adhesion or something with the fecal matter.

Anyhow, I would highly recommend you try that supplement at the link above. It was kinda pricey, but the fact that it helped my pain go away on a semi-permanent basis, I couldn't put a price on that!! Also, a whole body cleansing has done me good as well, to help clean out my liver and kidneys. Here is the link to their cleansing system.

http://www.ghchealth.com/health-products/product_info.php?ref=167669&products_id=197

Please post back here if this information helps any of your conditions.

[HAM5]

CLZ,

What is the surgery for?  To repair the hernia?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I believe that further testing can be considered.  An upper endoscopy can be done to comprehensively evaluate the upper digestive tract, looking for strictures, anatomical abnormalities, ulcers, or inflammation.

If negative, I would consider a gatric emptying scan looking for gastroparesis.  Another consideration would be an esophageal motility study.

The ultrasound and echocardiogram would make gallbladder or heart disease less likely.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.  

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.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[clz712]

I have the exact same thing. I had an Endoscopy done and they found that I have a hiatal hernia and also TIEZE Syndrome which is benign and it it inflammation of the ribs.  I have been on water cereal and bland diet forever.  Nothing I do works.  My dr. did tell me to elevate the head of my bed and that seems to help at nite. I am having surgery on the24th. Also had a PH and Manometry test done and found the top of my esophagus has quit working.  I am on Nexium at nite and Aciphex in the morning. Hope this information helps you.