gnawing stomach pain

[jeanerama]

For 6 months now, I have had gnawing pain in my stomach.  This started right after I overdid the ibuprofen that I took for a bad neck injury.  AFter about two weeks straight of taking 10 a day, I developed this pain.  I originally thought it was an ulcer, but gi tests, cat scans, hpylori tests etc., all are showing normal.  The pain continues intermittently, and I can't drink wine anymore.  I find that wine irritates my stomach and causes me great discomfort.  Any thoughts???  Oh yes, my liver enzymes are slightly elevated as well.  I'm perplexed and concerned as I can't enjoy my glass of wine with my dinner anymore, and the docs don't seem to have an answer for me.  HELP!

[KLC68]

I was diagnosed by an EGD with some gastritis and wine can really cause a flare up...red a little more than white & worse on an empty stomach.  Worried I might be allergic since I get very flushed from it, again red more than white but this does not happen with other alcohol so I'm trying to narrow it down but I do enjoy mt wine.

[3strikes]

Get an esophageal scope and manometry. Prilosec and other gastro relief meds, cause problems with LES valve and the backwash of stomach acid into the esophagus. My son has this problem and is extremely knowledgeable on this subject. Doctors think that Prilosec or the like fix acid probs, wrong! They actually do more harm than good. Eat dinner by 5 pm or so.

[3strikes]

I too have these symptoms in rt front, about 4 inches to right of nave. And then around to mid back. I found your's and other comments while researching this on line. I haven't had a glass of red wine in 4 days. The dull ache/pain is gone. Usually only have two glasses per night.

[3strikes]

I too have these symptoms in rt front, about 4 inches to right of nave. And then around to mid back. I found your's and other comments while researching this on line. I haven't had a glass of red wine in 4 days. The dull ache/pain is gone. Usually only have two glasses per night.

[jeanerama]

Yes, sometimes the pain does radiate to the back.  My doc considered this when she ordered the CT scan.  It didn't show anything though...

[jeanerama]

Thanks Boron for all your input.  I'm beginning to think that it is gastritis and that I have to be patient.  I am trying the "ginger tea" route, to see if this helps somewhat.  I did have a glass of wine with my meal last evening, and followed it up with a cup of ginger tea.  This morning, I don't have any discomfort in my stomach, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I am also going to try avoiding all of the known triggers and see what I can come up with.  As my doc says, if I am not pain free in two months, the endoscopy is the next step.  

[budjaz]

does your pain radiate to your back at all?  

[boron]

Few thoughts:

1. Upper GI with barium can reveal only diseases which phisically change the shape of gastric mucosa. But barium or CT can't show a  gastritis, which is "only" an inflammation in the level of mucosa. So, you can still have a gastritis or even a shallow ulcer...

2. Pepto-Bismol should not be taken more than 3 weeks, can't explain why, but it's in the drug description. This drug coats the lining of your stomach, thus protect it a little.

3. What contains acid: wine, fruits (especially citruses), fruit juices (vitamine C),
What triggers acid secretion: proteins (meat, milk eggs); salty food(!), candies, stress; caffeine, spices, aspirin, alcohol, nicotine.

4. I can't say how long you'll need to heal. If with a diet, pain won't go away in a week, I would think about upper endoscopy, since previous investigations, you had, did NOT ruled the ulcer out.

[jeanerama]

I believe the pain is coming from my stomach.  I feel it right under the breastbone.  I haven't had a gastroscopy, but have had both an upper gi series and a cat scan.  Both produced negative results for ulcer, abnormalities etc.  I try to minimize my acidic intake to see if that will help, and yes, pepto-bismol definitely helps.  I wonder how long it takes to repair damaged stomach lining, from Nsaid overuse???  Any thoughts on that.  I am going to try drinking ginger tea to see if that helps...

[boron]

Ibuprofen may cause strong gastritis, even ulcer. Any acid, which comes into contact with an ulcer, causes pain. Wine is basically an acid.

To make an exact diagnosis (gastritis or ulcer...), gastroscopy would be needed - this was already done?

Pepto-Bismol releaves your pain? Interesting. When you say pain in the stomach - you mean exactly stomach - or entire abdomen?

[jeanerama]

Any wine does it, as does anything acidic, such as grapefruit etc.  I've always drank wine so I don' think it's an allergy.  It's just a pain (more like discomfort) in my stomach.  Right under the breastbone.  It's concerning as I'm obviously trying to rule out anything serious.  I'm fairly certain that the abuse of the NSAID has caused this problem.  But what is it??  And, when will it disappear.  It's been a while now.  Oh yes, Pepto Bismal is my best friend as it does relieve the symptom.

[boron]

Any wine or just red wine? Can you describe symptoms after trying wine? Only pain in the stomach or...? Headache?

The "red wine headache" (RWH) is a disorder which may occur after taking ibuprofen.
http://winegeeks.com/articles/4

An allergy to wine (all sorts) also exists. Allergy symptoms: face flushing or edema, itchy skin, difficult breathing, coughing...few minutes after drinking.