Gas, Occasional Cramps, Occasional Nausea, Mucus

[ERKstomach]

Hello,

Background:
In September 2008 husband and I went to dinner and both got sick from food; just bad diahrea.  He felt fine the next day and I don't know if it was a coincidence or not but I never felt quite right.
Never vomitted and never had further diahrea.
In October I went to doctor and had an abdominal ultrasound to ensure no gall bladder problems - all ok.
Next was stool samples, blood work - both ok.
HIDA scan - ejection rate 17% - doctor felt I might need my gallbladder removed so sent me to a surgeon.
November saw surgeon.  He was not convinced that it was my gallbladder; he said that although ejection was low - I had no classic symptoms - no pain where I would have pain, nothing triggered by eating a fatty meal, etc.
Surgeon sent me for a CT scan to rule out any ovarian cysts, etc. as I have been on the pill for 10+ years and rarely it can happen.  CT ok.
My surgeon and my doctor both agreed I needed a GI doctor.
Saw GI doctor in December - he said he could not tell anything without a colonoscopy - done in December - everything came back fine.
GI put me on Prilosec.  At March follow up he said that many patients just have to live with the gas and occasional nausea.  

I have a follow up in July.

I am having post nasal drip and I have read this can cause stomach problems.  I have also read that acid reflux can cause post nasal drip.  I'm wondering if one is causing the other.  As mucus is hard to digest I am wondering if this could be the cause for my gas & nausea - I have also had loose stools (not diahrea) lately and look a bit slimy.  Somtimes a bit of cramping or pain on my left side - heartburn?  Also seeing an allergist for PND.  I eat and go out but want my life back and want the occasional nausea (a couple times a week) to go away!  I'm attempting to solve this with a GI and an allergist if it's at all connected.  I want to have a child next year and imagine I can't be on prilosec - I want to feel like myself again.

Thnx

[ERKstomach]

Thank you Dr. Pho - I do not know if you'll read this or not but I'll respond.

For whatever reason my GI did not do an endoscopy at the time of my colonoscopy but I wish he had so I wouldn't need to go through this twice.  As gas was my main problem and occasional nausea he felt the colonoscopy was more useful.

Thus far all doctors are telling me this is not H-Pylori or celiac (my mother-in-law has celiac) and I have had bloodwork - not sure if they tested for that.  However my GI said when he did my colonscopy he saw no signs of bacteria, h-pylori, celiac, IBS, etc.

I have been suspecting IBS or a problem with the post nasal drip myself.

The allergist tested me for a variety of allergens including wheat and dairy and those came back negative with both the pricking test and the shot test both.

In January or February I was put on an antibiotic as a precaution to see if there was lingering bacteria in my system from when I might have had some food poisoning in September but it did not help.

Any additional suggestions based on what I've said regarding some of your recommendations?

Thanks very much for your time and help I greatly appreciate it.  I am desperate to solve this and get my life back.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You have had a pretty comprehensive evaluation for the symptoms, and I agree with the testing done thus far.

If you haven't had an upper endoscopy, I would obtain one, which can give a thorough evaluation of the esophagus and stomach.  

If negative, a 24-hr pH study to exclude GERD and an esophageal motility study can be considered.  I would also consider blood tests to look for celiac disease, which can uncommonly lead to your symptoms.

Increased gas can be due to lactose intolerance or bacterial overgrowth, each of which can be evaluated with the appropriate breath tests.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

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 Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd