Stomach wall thickening but endoscopy ok

Question

Hello and thanks for taking the time and consideration of my needs here.  

I've had a dull pain in my stomach, upper left just under rib cage, sensitive to touch also, for many years but has recently become more regular with burping and hiccups after eating or drinking.  Sometimes there is minor bloating.  I do have mild proctitis occasionally (diagnosed over 10 yrs ago) but otherwise a healthy active 56 yr old with a good diet (fruit, veges, fish, eggs, chicken, whole grains and healthy yogurt, ice cream.  Tea drinker but have been drinking expresso this summer).  

  I just had an ultrasound (august 2013) to see if this pain is a hiatal hernia.  On the ultrasound no hernia but the stomach wall shows significant thickening.  Don't have the report yet to give exact measurements.  Below is some history and other tests that have been done.  We still don't know what is causing the thickening and my question is:  what do I do now to diagnose the issue and be sure this is not stomach cancer?   we have a lot of cancer in my family and i grew up next to a superfund site.  I am also having low grade fevers, sort of like hot flashes and I don't sleep so great but I take herbs that help ("Happy Sleeper").  I am a light drinker-  glass of wine with dinner -    But I am not having caffeine, alcohol, sugar and cows milk now to help heal hopefully (and maybe diagnose what is causing this stomach wall thickening)c

Please see below to see the tests already done -

A CT scan of abdomen and pelvis (in march 2013) showed thickening of stomach wall and sigmoid colon wall.  Followed up with upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy.   Esophagus looked normal.   In the stomach no erosions or ulcers and no findings suggesting thickening of the gastric wall.  The pyloric channel was normal.  Duodenum was normal through the second part.  (This is all from the operation report.)   "Colonoscopy was completed to the cecum.  Preparation was excellent. ...  Colonic mucus appeared normal.  No polyps, diverticula, or inflammatory changes of the colon were seen.  The sigmoid colon in particular appeared quite normal.  Examination of distal rectum revealed some nonspecific mild erythema and mild friability which in this clinical context is consistent with some minimally active ulcerative proctitis. ". 

Two biopsies of the stomach for "for rapid urease testing, rule out H. pylori..  These were negative for H. pylori."

My concern is to rule out stomach cancer, and then to help everything heal.  Like I said,  I have been aware of this pain for many years, maybe even almost 10 years, but it has become worse -  I am aware of it most the time and the burping, feeling of some reflux -   I have had a coupe episodes of reflux when i burp up stuff.  One of my doctors says that I "am very aware and sensitive to my body but I also have a high pain tolerance".

I hope you can help me know what the best thing to do now is.  I am the parent of an adult child with multiple and complex disabilities who depends on me to be well and live long.    Thank you and hope to hear back soon.

Anitamartini2 · Answer

How are you feeling, my story is almost identical.  I have a GI, have had colonoscopy with similar results, am having Endoscopy this week and am very scared.  I hope you are feeling better.  <3

CalGal · Answer

Jewel, there are a number of papers that suggest that gastric wall thickening can be a normal finding. However, as you know wall thickening can also be caused due to more serious problems. In this case, although I hate to say it, I think the only way to know would be via a biopsy of the involved areas of the stomach. Any other way of finding out would be pure guess-work. I would think that if your doc gets the report back and it shows significant thickening in specific areas of the stomach, he or she will order a biopsy to be done.