What Can I Eat to Sooth Burning stomach

Hi Allie

I am glad you asked this question because I am also having difficulty with eating. I hope someone answers b/c I spend a lot of the time researching this and all I find is what not to eat...and the list is extensive. I am losing my appetite because I am afraid to eat ... I eat bananas and yogurt and am drinking a lot of cold water. I find frozen fruit (berries, mangoes) helpful but I think only because they are cold. I'm not sure if the pain actually goes or if I'm distracted for a bit. Today is the first day that I haven't eaten a meal, only picked at food.
I had an ultrasound and x-ray done today (my doctor thinks I may have a pelvic hernia)... and I go back on the 10th to talk about an endoscopy.
I also hope someone has some suggestions as to what to eat or drink. Someone mentioned cabbage juice somewhere in here... could someone please explain this further - I will try just about anything. I apologize if it has already been explained in advance.
Thanks for being the first to ask Allie
Wendy

it is funny you mention the cold water tip - I use to be an avid runner and I read somewhere that if you drink room temperature water - you wont need to expel it as quick as you would drinking cold water. I applied this theory to my ultrasound yesterday and it actually worked so well that they made me sit for another 10 min b/c my bladder wasn't full enough. It wasn't uncomfortable at all as it is with cold water. So, it makes sense that it slows down your metabolism/digestion/absorption etc. I am going to stop and see if that helps yet the cold was a little soothing on my throat. I will be drinking it like tea..without he tea (I heard ginger tea with honey helps as well)
Yes, I most definitely have burning in my back (lower part on both sides and in-between shoulder blades), also in-between the bottom of my rib cages (near sternum) and up my throat and feels like I have something stuck in my Adams apple area (off and on depending on the burning). My abdomen sometimes feels tender right under the sternum. I am convinced this is stress related as I experienced something really traumatic recently and whenever I try to talk about it, the burning increases and it becomes very difficult to swallow. It gets worse really quick and I can feel the acid creeping up my throat. I can feel the burning in the front and back but in the identical spots (hope that makes sense). painful because nothing seems to ease it. I do however, fall asleep sitting up. I have noticed when I am able to sleep and when I wake up it is not that bad....yet gets worse throughout the day and by late afternoon it is painful/burning again. My doctor checked my spleen, pancreas, gallbladder and liver etc., through a previous ultrasound but didn't say much (no news is good news I guess). you mentioned your gallbladder was removed...is all this connected or separate issues? It is funny because when I read the title of this forum (GERDS: heartburn) I was thinking it was so much more than the title suggests! The more I read the more I think I am in the right forum - very helpful...THANK-YOU

Hi Ailie,

Sorry you are having such a difficult time with the gallstones. One would think it would get better after removal...
The ultrasound I had yesterday was for my pelvic area. My hip hurts a lot and I get a sharp pain in my groin pelvis area. My doctor thought I might have a sports hernia. The x-ray was to rule out arthritis in the hip. What I find both a relief and strange is the pain that radiates. My mother died of lung cancer when I was a teenager and when I first started getting pain in my back, I was too scared to tell anyone in case it was lung cancer. I finally had to tell my doctor and she said that gallbladder can cause back pain and so the tests began. Bloodwork (CBC, iron, dehydration etc..etc...ruled out a lot of things). I was also tested for H.pylori, would explain everything but came back neg.
Luckily ( or unlucky - depending on how you look at it) I have been on and off medication for reflux for about 10 years but not with this much problem. I would take ranitidine for awhile and it would help immediately - I would stay on it for a bit and then for years went off it with no problem. It has only been the last 2 years that it got to this degree - around the time I experienced trauma...
My doctor would have told me if there was something wrong with my upper GI ultrasound (liver, spleen, pancreas, gallbladder etc)..and she didn't say anything.
The last ultrasound only takes 2 days for the results to get back to her however I have an appointment on the 10th so will probably find out then unless something is really wrong.
I understand your frustration and depression to a degree even though we have different issues. I have had more tests this last couple of months than I have had in my lifetime. I am fortunate. The confusion of not knowing is scary and the burning is off the charts. Nor did I realize how serious reflux is and the myriad of problems it can cause... scary.
When you get cold at night do you have a fever??

Ailie said...
I had gallbladder out 10/28/08 along with emergency ERCP for stone stuck in common duct. Since then I've had burning in stomach, chest, esophogus, even on back - like fluid is moving around. Dr dx gerd - been on many things - currently taking Aciphex with no relief. Dr scheduled another ERCP for possible missed stone in duct on 2/25/09 - but I don't know what I should eat - afraid I will make burning worse. I've been mainly eating small amounts of lowfat food, like chicken breast, veggies, fruit, etc. but lately with stomach burning all the time it's hard to know what to do.

Any food or drink suggestions?

Try some organic aloe vera juice. That may help.

just did a quick search

someone suggests "homopathic product called zypan"

again...I know nothing about iT

(oops sorry, didnt know we couldnt post links to sites...)

Post Edited (Chipsygrl) : 2/3/2009 6:26:52 PM (GMT-7)

I have tried a few different kinds of aloe vera juice. One was clear,odorless and tasteless. Exactly like drinking water. Then I was told that GOOD aloe vera tastes horrible. (it does). does anyone know if it matters;is one type better than others?

Someone mentioned Aloecure specifically made for heartburn. Right now I've been drinking berry flavored aloe vera juice - for two months - I first thought it was helping, but nothing helps anymore.

Drinking warm water helps a bit. At least I'm able to sleep - get a break from the burning.

I finally talked to my specialist and told him aciphex wasn't working after 4 days, so now I'm trying zeregid - first day.