Bile Reflux

[giupset]

I had my follow up appointment with the dr. from a colonoscopy and an endoscopy yesterday and was able to discuss all of my diagnosed conditions - diverticulosis, gastritis, hiatal hernia, acid reflux, and bile reflux.  Had my gall bladder removed many years ago.  He had given me prilosec to try for a week and I was taking promethazine for the nausea.  Didn't help too much so he switched me to Nexium during the day and pepcid before bed.  I know I should be more patient waiting for relief, but this situation is running me into the ground - no energy, get the shakes after I do anything strenuous, fingernails are becoming deformed due to poor nutrition, and I've started to run a low grade fever.  I'm used to being very active and this is a major life style change.  Anyone have any suggestions?

[CalGal]

I guess I can't post the link, unfortuantely. However, if you google 'diagnosing nail problems' you should be able to find some pics of different variations of nail problems to see if you can find any matches to what you're experiencing.

[CalGal]

Navel pain can mean problems at the opening of the common bile duct to the duodenum - the sphincter of Oddi - or it can also mean problems with the pancreas. Those are the two more 'serious' problems. It could also mean less serious things too, like being tied into gastritis. But you can't afford to guess when it comes to that kind of pain and what you've gone through, and what's happening now.

Make sure the doc checks your liver enzymes and pancreatic enzymes. Push your doc a bit if necessary.

[CalGal]

Nail problems something like: http://www.****html ?

A pain near or around the bellybutton can come from problems near where the common bile duct empties into the duodenum, or it could also come from pancreatic problems, too. So I'd really suggest that you at least tell your doc about the fever and the bellybutton pain. But also keep in mind that depending on someone's anatomical arrangement that pain near the navel could be related to your acid relflux, but that wouldn't address the fever issue.

Giupset, I'm not sure there is an answer, and I know you're fed up and docs are not the greatest conversationalists in the world, but you need to convey everything that's going on and hopefully you may get some more answers.

In the meantime, I hope the 'trying to eat well' means you're following a decent GERD diet. Meds are unfortunately not a cure. But hopefully they'll knock down the symptoms. If you're not sure what a GERD diet is check the decent list of things to avoid under the 'diet' list at www.gicare.com. Most people when they read through it are surprised at what they think is good and they end up finding out 'good' may not mean lower acid production. I quake when I hear people say 'I coat my stomach with milk or yogurt.' Dairy can be one of the bigger acid producing foods. So if you're not sure, please check a list.

The other thing you might want to talk to your doc about is using some form of stomach protectant like carafate. Just because you're taking an acid suppression med(s), that's not going to do anything for the bile reflux you're having. You need to protect your stomach from that and something like carafate may help.

[georgie439]

I "think" I may have bile reflux??  Although I have not had an endoscope in 2yrs.
Pain went away now it is worse, last endo, showed gastritis and duodenitis.

Now I have like it feels like burning right under the muscle of my abdomen, like it would
be on the front portion of my stomach.  I have had my Gb out and dr. has suspected
bile reflux in the past.

I also have a hernia, but the dr. felt it and said it soo very quickly, I almost forgot about
it cause was concentrating on the burning,  Calgal what does navel pain mean??

desperate for help!!!

[giupset]

Bowel habits have not changed.  Most of my pain is on my left side, but once in awhile a stabbing pain on the right after eating also pain to the left side of my navel.  Two of my fingernails have trough indentations from the cuticle to close to the tip. I figured it is a nutritional problem because I am trying to eat well, but as you know it can be difficult when you feel like you need to recover from eating a meal.  The dr. really didn't say anything about the fever and I didn't ask.  I'm not always the best patient.  I have also had a nagging cough for the last month or more that has gotten worse in the past few days.  The cough is triggered by the reflux.  Have a dr. appt. on the 1st, but might need to call for an earlier one.

[CalGal]

Are you experiencing any bowel habit changes? Any pain around the bellybutton or under the right side of the rib cage? And what do you mean by your fingernails are becoming deformed, can you explain that more fully? Fingernail changes can signal more than just changes in nutrition.

What does the doc say about the fever? With what you've 'got,' there's nothing there that should result in fever. So he's missing something.