Stomach issues

MCass:

Try not to be nervous, the endoscopy will be the quickest way to see what's going on. The PPIs helped before, and that means that they will probably help again. Try and start a strict GERD-friendly diet, and keep a food diary to try and pinpoint your potential trigger foods. I know you are suffering, but you've only been experiencing these symptoms for about a month, so that's good. Speak to your doctor about discontinuing the diclofenac, it might not have anything to do with your symptoms and may cause you additional discomfort.

Sharon

MCass:

Another suggestion would be to try and chew your food thoroughly. I've found that very helpful. Also, ask your doctor for an anti-nausea medication such as Zofran.

Good Luck, and let us know how your appointment goes.

Sharon

Just following up, I read the report, it said mild antral erythema. He said he took biopsies for celiac. I haven’t heard anything back yet. I’m following up with him on Monday. I’m still feeling nauseous though. I was fine all day until after dinner. I’m worried as to why. I had blood work done January 20th. And had a ct scan of the abdomen on 12/05 with out contrast. My gastro had ordered an abdominal sono almost two weeks ago now. Other then a lot of gas, it was normal. Wondering what I can do. I’d appreciate any advice.

MCass:

I can relate to some of what you're mentioning in your post. I also have other medical issues as well. I don't take Celebrex, but I do take other meds for my heart and thyroid. I have been for almost 20 years. I've been dealing with some kind of stomach/gastritis problem for the last 2-3 years, and have had two endoscopies and a colonoscopy. One endoscopy a little over a month ago. What they found on all of that, was basically "gastritis". That's the docs catch all term for irritation and inflammation...erythema. I also have a small hiatal hernia. I've had to change my diet several times over the past 20 years, and again a couple times in the last 2-3 years due to this stomach issue. I was on a couple different ppi's 3 years ago when this first started, and I'll NEVER take them again. Made me sicker than the condition. The side effects are brutal for me. I'm very sensitive to all meds and seem to be extremely sensitive to anti-acid meds. I weaned off the ppi's to Ranitidine, then weaned off that too. Felt somewhat better for 18 months or so. This latest time, I started having more stomach issues and started taking Famotidine, since I kind of knew what was going on. Ranitidine is off the market. Had another endoscopy and they found gastritis again. No ulcers, no celiac, no H Pylori, all biopsies negative. All "good" news...I suppose. With my GI doc's input, I was on the Famotidine, and then added Sucralfate a about a month after that. Was on both for a period of about 3.5 months total. The side effects from both drugs were very bad for me. I weaned off both and right now I'm trying to not take anything. I'm still dealing with the rebound effect and it's making it very tough. I have no idea how long that will last. It could be months. I have a post in here about acid hypersecretion if you want to read it. I went into more detail in that post. I wake up every morning and wonder..."ok, how am I going to feel today?" I get all kinds of odd pains and sensations at different times of the day. They come and go, and don't seem to be linked to anything I'm currently ingesting or doing. Hopefully, I've eliminated whatever is causing the irritation...I honestly don't know yet. I get what apparently are acid surges...which are kind of like a hot flash of some kind. They're very unpleasant. I also have nausea every day along with some indigestion. I'm hoping that all this will resolve at some point when I get over the withdrawal, and maybe I'll start to feel better. I go in to my GP for a complete blood work up in a couple weeks. I hope all of that is ok. Acid reducing drugs can mess with your blood levels too.

In any event...the endoscopy is the only way to find out what may or may not be going on in your gut. Don't be afraid to do it and don't be afraid about the results. Knowledge is power. My only advice would be to be very cautious about doing a ppi or H2 blocker, and take a great deal of time when you wean off either one. No matter what any GI doc says, there ARE major rebound effects from them and it can be far worse than the original condition. Alot of GI docs are clueless about acid rebound. They deny it exists. Your stomach needs to make acid and a ppi shuts that all down. An H2 blocker does too, but to a slightly lesser extent. When you go off the drugs, your body goes into overdrive making stomach acid and you'll feel worse. From what I've read, the rebound will eventually subside and the stomach acid will return to "normal" levels. I sure hope that's correct. I wish you the best of luck with your situation. Keep us posted.

Hello everyone. Crf, I am sorry to hear of the symptoms that you have been experiencing. I followed up with my doctor yesterday. He said that all biopsies were normal. So the erythema could have been from the diclofenac. I have decreased the pantoprazole to 40 mg 1x daily. I take it first thing in the morning. But I am still experiencing nausea and pain in the mid to upper left abdomen. If I eat light I’m fine. I went out to eat with family a few days ago and had more food then normal and felt awful after dinner. Very full and pain in upper left abdomen almost feels like a chest pain. I had a ct scan with out contrast in December as a yearly fu to something else. It was normal. But the original ct scan in December 2019 had contrast. So the dr I saw yesterday was thinking of ordering another one but then decided not to. Too much exposure at young age etc. Should I request another ct scan with contrast?? Would a ct scan with out contrast have seen anything abnormal? Thank you for any advice.

You are probably experiencing some rebound acid from cutting the dosage of your Protonix. You need the PPI to take care of the gastritis. Did you doctor tell you to reduce your dosage? All of your symptoms are consistent with your gastritis diagnosis. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Your endoscopy and biopsies were normal, so I would go with what your doctor is telling you.

Sharon

Hi MCass. My GI doc also didn't think that my irritation/inflammation/erythma should be causing symptoms to the extent I'm having. My belief is...that's too much of a generalization, which I suppose docs have to do somewhat. Everyone is completely different and what affects one person may not affect another the same way. I do agree with Sharon...you're probably going thru some rebound from the PPI.

From what I 've read, Diclofenac is a pretty potent NSAID. Much more than aspirin. I'd be willing to bet that could be contributing to your irritation. Do you take that with food? I don't know what the protocol is for it. I also don't know what the protocol is for CT scans/ x-rays. I don't think it's advisable to have too many, too close together.

As always, you need to talk with your doc and work out what's best for you. Best of luck. .

My doctor seemed very uninterested to be honest. I stopped taking the diclofenac. I had been taking it orally for about two months. I have used the cream as well but not on a regular basis.