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Posted 6/17/2011 5:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hi

I came across this website and it looked healthy and helpful so here we go.

Back in April I was experiencing some indigestion so my primary care physician put me on prevacid but the indigestion was not going away so I had an endoscopy done by gastrologist. It did reveal an ulcer towards the upper part of my stomach. I was put on Dexilant and told to watch what I ate and I did. about a month later I started to experience weird intestinal pains settling on my right side next to my belly button and lower stomach. I had never had this before so I had ultrasounds done, ct scan done, bloodwork done and hyda scan.  ALL have come back normal. I also had a colonoscopy and it did reveal a spasm so the gastrologist thinks I have IBS?  I have been losing weight but not drastically because I am on a bland diet and do notice certain foods (triggers) can make my symptoms worse. I have felt this pain mostly early morning where it has woken me up once or twice during the night and it is hard to get comfortable when I sleep at night because of this right side/lower stomach pain and also can feel this in my upper back at times.  I also feel it when I first get up each day and it will come and go throughout the day. This has been going on for a little over a month. It has definitely affected the quality of life for me.

The gastrologist nurse told me to take ibuprofen for 5 days 600 mgs 3 x a day and two dexilant to protect my stomach but that just made the pain worse. Finally I went back to my primary care physician again and he diagnosed it as ulcers/pylori and I am now on a treatment plan. I am just confused because I like and trust my doctor but don't know if this will end up being ulcers or IBS?

I guess at this point how long does it take an ulcer or ulcers to heal and is there some other test that can really confirm ulcers in my stomach and intestines, or would all of the test I have had done be able to find out if I have multiple ulcers?

Thanks for any advice:)

Healthy Resolution....

Posted 6/17/2011 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi HR...welcome to healing well...

I may have a few extra questions to help a bit further....but we are also just pain patients here and not Drs....so any suggestions we may have...obviously need to be discussed and made with your own Dr..

It sounds like they have done both an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy to make sure there isn't anything more serious going on...that is a good thing!!

Did you do a few rounds of different Antibiotics to see if it was H.pylori?

If you did that for some time...and it did not alleviate your symptoms...then it may not be that...or be a strain that is antibiotic resistant...

And trying Acid Blockers....such as Nexium...Prevacid, Prilosec...

The Dexilant is made for GERD...or heartburn issues...not to specifically treat the ulcers...

There are also Acid Reducers..(histamine blockers, H2) like Zantac, Pepcid, or Tagamet...

Medicine that helps protect your stomach lining are things like Pepto-Bismol, Carafate, or Cytotec...

And then Antacids can be added...

The Endoscopy is the test that you had to determine if you have ulcers or not...

Those are the usual types of treatment depending on the type of ulcers...

As well as you say...to absolutely watch your diet and stick to foods that will help as your Dr. recommends...

I don't understand that they would tell you to take Ibuprophen to help as those can make ulcers worse or actually cause them if they aren't H.pylori one's as things like Advil are very hard on the stomach lining...But that is something to work out with your Dr..

When I was younger (early 20's...)...I had an Endoscopy because I was having great pain in my stomach...and they found hundreds of small ulcers ....as well as that my lower esophagus sphincter (that little flap) is barely there...something since birth he said most likely...so I have more acid floating around and into my esophagus...

But at 42...I only take Tums once in awhile and just eat healthy and foods that won't exacerbate the issue....

Same thing with IBS for me...I use my healthy eating to keep those symptoms at bay...I can absolutely tell if I cheat and eat something that makes it worse...As well as being a chronic pain patients from fusion surgeries on my neck...I take pain medicine (narcotics) which make that worse...so I use Miralax to help keep me regular...

But again..your Gastroenterologist will help you best with the IBS...but Fiber supplements or anti-diarrheal medicines will help...eliminating high gas foods, sometimes antibiotics...as well as antidepressants are used...

It sounds like you have gotten all the necessary tests already....you just need to find the combination of things to help...I like to use as many non medicinal things I can because I have to take medicine for other things...but it's really what you and your Dr. decide..

Others can come along and help with suggestions...these are things I know from having these two issues...

We are happy that you have found us but sad you are having pain:(
Posted 6/17/2011 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Healthy Resolution. Welcome to our chronic pain forum. I don't have much to add that Snowbunny hasn't already told you. She gave you really good advice. I have GERD and I take Prilosec OTC.

I wish you good luck on finding things that help your pain. Take care.

hugs
Loretta
Posted 6/17/2011 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
blush  Thank you for the valuable information. It is appreciated.

I do remember my Dr. saying two significant words to me. Ulcer and Pylori and I think it was brought on by the abundance of ibuprfen I recently took and I definitely am not taking that anymore.

My treatment now is bland diet, two dexilant a day am/pm and two carafate per day.

It is scary being in my mid 40's and not having a lot of stomach ailments to all of a sudden yikes!

Again thank you,

Kindest Regards,

Health Resolution

Posted 6/18/2011 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
The H.Pylori is just the name of the bacteria that happens to cause most ulcers...that is why Antibiotics are usually the first round of treatment to see if your symptoms get better after usage...

That is why I was curious if you had tried the antibiotics already if he saw them to be caused by H.Pylori during the Endoscopy?

And try not to worry too much...ulcers and IBS are extremely common..and can be well treated by finding a good combination of non medicinal and medicinal treatments...

It is harder as we get older running into our body not working as well as it used to:(..lol....but thankfully they did the major tests to rule out other things for you and hope your medicine and diet will help you..
Posted 6/18/2011 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
you're having digestive issues and your doc told you to take ibuprofen??????????
yikes! that's not good. if you have ulcers or it turns out to be IBD then the ibuprofen can cause bleeding etc.
i have crohn's disease and won't touch that stuff! tylenol is the only over the counter pain reliever i have ever taken- i know not good for other reasons...if the pain is that bad maybe see a pain doc as well as the GI while you are trying to get everything resolved.
Posted 6/18/2011 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Pain is just no fun! It was the gastrologist's nurse who told me to take the ibuprofen and it was my regular primary care physician who was able to see me
and put me back on the correct treatment path. I can tell you he was not happy that the nurse at the gastrologist office did this and either was I. She thought my ulcer should be gone at the time she made the choice to have me do the ibuprophen for five days? They knew I had an ulcer that showed up on the endoscopy they did in April? I trusted her that this was the correct treatment at the time?

I am keeping a food journal. It is weird. For example, yesterday I had a great day with little pain, but in the wee early morning about 3.30 am I start to feel that uneasy pain again on my right side(upper guadrant) so it is hard to get back to sleep or feel comfortable and today I am having those periodic symptoms I get.

I am going on five weeks now with these symptoms all starting, so now it is a matter of finding what will work(medcations), trigger foods, etc.

Thanks to all for the wonderful advice.

Kindest Regards,
Healthy Resolution

Healthy Resolution
Posted 6/19/2011 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Healthy Resolution -

Have you identified any foods for sure that are triggers? You don't have to find classes of foods, just individual ones.
For example I have problems with gelatin, brown sugar, wine and beer, all sorts of processed foods, maple syrup, sodas, corn starch, etc. They all have sulfites in common.
Other people have problems with histamine releasers or MSG.
I can eat tomatoes just fine, but not a lot of commercially prepared tomato sauces. I can't eat commercial bread hardly at all, or pasta in any quantity. For me it's not about bland, but the additives (and a growing problem with wheat).

The type of medicine, not just the medicine itself, you take can be a problem too. I have problems with gel-caps and liquid meds, but not usually tablets. Again, it's sulfites.

After you get your list of foods you might want to do challenge testing. If you have a really bad reaction to your foods it's safer to do this under guidance of an allergist. It's nice to know how much of a food you tolerate so you don't eliminate everything just because there is a tiny amount - unless you have a true allergy, not just an intolerance like most of us have.
Posted 6/19/2011 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Alcie,

I started keeping a food journal every day. For example, "Super Lean Red Meat" is out! I also recently went to get food allergy testing done. I found out I do not have Celiac's disease and I had them test me for food allergies to eggs, wheat, cow's milk (dairy) and soy. Also if I have symptoms the next day, I am referencing my food journal to see exactly what could of caused the symptoms.

The mystery for me still is every night for this five weeks no matter what I eat I am getting these pains when I lay down no matter what side I turn to sleep on
and it is the early morning hours between like 1 am - 4.30 am I have the moderate pains in my stomach and right quadrant next to my belly button and
upper back at times. My primary care physician is stating it is ulcer or ulcers.

I just started Wednesday the medication of 2 dexilant per day and 2 x a day I have to take carafate. I may just have to give this more time? I see my doctor within two weeks and will be able to share with him the results and any existing symptoms.

This is all new ground for me and so unknown since before April I just had the indigestion and was taken prevacid for.


Thanks for your information.

Mary
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