Please help, been having digestive and GERD issues for months now

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I'm wondering if someone here can help me. Three months ago I had a stomach flu/virus. I was pretty sick for about a week and a half and noticed I wasn't getting any better so I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with GERD. I developed acid reflux and heartburn, something I didn't even know was happening because I had never felt it before. He put me on omeprazole and I've been on it since then. I got over the stomach flu but my stomach and bowel movements haven't felt normal since then. I either have constipation or really soft stools, I never feel hungry, I just eat because I know I have to. I can only eat very small portions because I get full really fast, and I'm bloated for a long time after eating anything, it feels like my food just sits in my stomach for a long time. I also have really bad indigestion, my stomach feels off and distended all the time, and I'm losing weight and I don't have much more to spare. Well, I started feeling worse about a week and a half ago so I went to my doctor and said to stop taking the omeprazole for two weeks so I can do an H. pylori test. Getting off the omeprazole has been difficult, the acid reflux was pretty bad the first couple of days, my stomach would get bloated and upset and unsettled, it's hard for me to eat like this. I did notice though being off the omeprazole for a week that my hunger came back, and I have a little more of an appetite, but I still feel full after a small meal. 

Two days ago I started taking digestive enzymes, I've only taken one a day with dinner, but after I took the first one and ate, I noticed this weird sensation on the left side of my stomach below my ribcage, it sort of starts in the front and shoots to the back, but didn't pay much attention to it. It feels like a tightness or heaviness or pressure. Well, I felt it all day today and I actually went to the emergency room because it felt really uncomfortable and weird after I ate. I haven't taken any digestive enzymes today. The doctor felt my stomach and they did blood tests, everything came back completely normal. I came back home and made myself some scrambled eggs and toast which I ate just fine but 2 hours later I developed a really bad upset stomach, which ended up being trapped gas, I made some ginger tea and had some mylanta and I started burping like crazy, and now my stomach just feels unsettled. 

I don't know, I'm sorry to ramble, I've been like this for 3 months, I'm losing weight, I'm missing work all the time, and no doctor has been able to figure out whats wrong with me. I have an appointment with a GI specialist but it's not for another 2 weeks. I feel really helpless, especially with this new symptom I'm having on the side of my stomach. If anyone has any advice to offer me or words of encouragement I would really appreciate it.

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  • Posted

    Hi Emmysorry to hear about your struggle. Is it posible the balance of the flora in your gut needs sorrtint. Your situation sounds very similar to one I went through where that was the problem. Tests wont show this and doctors do not acknowledge it.
  • Posted

    Good morning emmy, i hope today will greet you with a smile. Have u a problem with lemon? A lot of times low acid is diagnosed for two much acid, take this simple test. Squeeze a 1/2 lemon and drink the juice if u get a problem with that in your stomach swallow 1/2 tsp sugar this will stop it and if you dont then u may actually have a problem with low acid production and this would cause u the symptoms that you are having and when u see you gi let him know to make sure and check you for low acid production because they both have the same symptons and 98 percent of the time doc misdiagnose it. In the meantime dont take any acid reducing meds just stay natural.Garlic and ginger teas heals the ulcers and soothes the stomach also peppermint tea for any spasms in the stomach to the back and relax dont stress unless u have a goid reason. Remember it took a while to get here so it can take a while to get u back just drink the teas and eat fat free foods do probiotic no activia until your bowels tighten up and tea will also correct that. Try some ginger chews and milk thistle tablets or tea, if there is something hoing on with the liver milk thistle and dandelion tea or tanlets will correct. Try to stay active or a little excercise each day will help with your digestion if not the garlic do.when u eat sit somewhere quiet and relax while u eat. Take pleasure in what u eat not fear..Hope to hear from u soon. These suggestion are food for thought. Think about them, try them u will get results.
  • Posted

    hi emmy i feel for you as i have had a bad stomach for about 15 years i was told i had ibs and mostly caused by anxiety,i had the camera down my thought they said i had got H. pylori  and wanted me to take 2000mg of antibiotic a day plus antacid tablet which would make me feel ill for 2 weeks then go back for a breath test but it can still come back so i didnt take them i bought some manuka honey and probotics which helped my bloating and pain.i was ok for a while tese last few months it has got rearly bad pain all day and night the only time it easers off is when i go to bed with hot water bottle,i have had abdominal scan i insisted on that but came back normal apart from a bit of fatty tissue on my liver which doc says is ok i also suffer from acid reflux which can make you feel sick i have ginger tea tried every tablet doc has told me me to take still same bloated full of pain all the time,i cant eat large meals i dont have wheat or fatty foods or spicy which makes it worse do you suffer from anxiety or get a lot of stress it makes it worse  i find if i relax it is much better when the doc feels your stomach and he says it is soft he is feeling your bowel and they can tell if there is anything wrong,but you still dont believe them because you dont feel well do you get constipated then loose the pain in your side can be cased by cnstipation r not emptying properly it makes you feel awfull so uncomftable mine is like carrying a ton weight round it goes under my ribs that bad i feel as though i cant breath then i get more anxious have they told you about ibs i also get a rumbling in my stomach which you can hear.same as you uv i have had nearly every blood test going and nothing,if your still worrying about it insist on more tests,forgot to say im going for the camera opersite end lol i keep trying to i just want to get rid of it,you get loads of symptoms with i b s my hubby was the same,omeprazol has made his better everyone is different

    please keep in touch let me know how you go on yur not alone

     

    • Posted

      Hi mary, sounds like u have a hard tome. U said you have ginger tea, get rid of it make your own garlic with ginger keep in the fridge and drink it through out the day this will cal your stomach and yes do probiotic , try acidophilus with bifidum and you should try milk thistle tablets they work wonders on you fatty liver issue along with golden seal and barberry bark tea. Listen when u eat stay away from red meat and try to use a little more soy product because u sound like u have a taste of lactose intolerence going on. Stress is definitely not good for us . Find a quiet place for you to eat. Sync yourself with your food this also helps with digestion. And yes we are all different but our organs serve the same purpose therefore we need to keep them on the right track, after all the docs dont know everything so we have to try to help ourselves because they cant tell us how we are feeling and they dont like to listen, especially when they dont know what to tell us...
    • Posted

      hi luv thank you for the reply im late getting back not felt to good i have been taking acidophilus with bifidum for about 4 weeks my ultra sound came back normal apart frm a little fatty tissue but doc said nothing to worry about i wil try the ginger and galic i take a garlic tablet everyday i have red meat very rearly i eat low fat cant win cos since i cut down on fats all my mussle tone has gone and i cant put an ounce on cant look at myself  in mirror i wouldnt say my diet is unhealthy but boring mainly chicken salmon sardines jacket potoes porrage every morning it rearly gets me down with all the pain and bloating every day also tired all the time no energy if i do a lot my stomach feels wrse cant work this out sometimes i wish they wuld find something then maybe they could treat it not had a holiday for 15 years so uncomfortable to sit cant wait to get to bed with water bottle i no im not young in my 60s but young at heart am told i look in my late 40s i take the compliment what woman wouldnt lol  as im sat here i look 9 month pregnant but when i get up in the morning i wont have a stomach then it starts it has made me feel better having sombody t talk to your right about doctors they dont no push you off with a tablet say it is ibs i wouldnt wish how i feel but sometime i d wish deep down they had it if only for a day then they would no how we feel here i go again rambling on nice to get it off your chest

      thanx so much i will try what you said

      mary

    • Posted

      Hi mary, how are you feeling today? Just wanted to check in on you. You got back your results bur I have a question , have you ever checked your B12 to see what you stomach is pulling in? If this is low you will hurt very bad and loose energy along with blood being low. B12 can cripple you if your body is not taking it in. Please look into this because a lor of times when you have issues with the stomach your B12 is not right. Just giving you something to think about and this goes for all of us who are having a tough time with our tummies.
    • Posted

      hi luv im feeling awfull my blood isnt low everything came back apart fr what i said about liver fatty low vit d which has gone up and the parathyroid i feel quite sick tonight and i agony i havnt checked my bs but i do take a multi vitamin that i have been taking for years n pescription has all the vitamins and minerals in i dont no if doc will d that test i bet she sick of me keep going back

      you make e feel a bit better knowig there is sombody to talk to

      tank you mary

  • Posted

    hi again emmy dont know if i mensiioned it  cos i was going on try to keep off acid food and drinks fatty food the worst thing is spicy food,get some probotics from holland and barratt

    hope you feel batter soon

    mary

  • Posted

    The enzymes did not do anything all they do is break down what you eat in smaller pieces so it can be properly digested. This you need to help with you flora.you also need probiotics for balance. Are you sure u arent having issues with constipation? I would try a colon cleanse to begin with and stay on your teas this also will stop your loose stools.
  • Posted

    Thank you everyone for your replies, I drink this probiotic yogurt drink called Kefir, not everyday though, only a couple times a week. Should I be doing it more? Possibly switch to a capsule version or probiotics so I can do it everyday? I just wanted to mention that before I got this stomach virus I never had any problem with my stomach whatsoever, I just want to be normal again! I have not had any lemon as I was told to stay away from acidic foods with the acid reflux, but the test is worth a try. A co-worker was telling me to try going grain and wheat free for a few days to see how I feel, I don’t know if this would help in my case, it would be hard for me to find things to eat without any grains or wheat, when my stomach is upset, the only thing I really feel like eating is a piece of toast or noodles. Sexysimba, do you suggest I stop taking the enzymes? I was feeling constipated while I was on the omeprazole, now that it’s been 8 days off the omeprazole I’m having soft and loose stools. I try so hard not to worry and to try and relax, but I feel like I wake up every morning smaller and smaller because I keep losing weight and it’s really bringing a lot of anxiety into the situation.
    • Posted

      I think that kefir is very harsh on your stomach. Try something chewable like acidophilus strawberry wafers. You chew them 1 with each meal and they are tasty. These also have bifidus like activia in them with billions of good bacteria for your flora. Do not stop taking the enzymes . Do you have any burning when u use lemon? If not then its not too much acid in your stomach. Drink regular lipton tea when u have loose bowels this will tighten them up for sure. Tea is very good for our stomach and stay away from from fatty foods. Eggs are very easy to digest and can be eaten anytime of the day. I sometimes have an egg with turkey cut up in it like an omlet in a burger bun for dinner with a cup of peppermint tea. No cheese.  Live a little dont be afraid and let this take control get back in ghe driver seat. Luv 
  • Posted

    Thank you so much everyone! I am going out and buying a good chewable probiotic, I do notice that sometimes when I drink the kefir it makes me feel bloated. I am trying to stay positive and I will keep everyone posted on my progress
    • Posted

      Good morning Emmy, I am glad to hear that you are willing to try. Go and get healthy and enjoy each rising of the sun. Make each day a beautiful one because you can.Remember try to eat your heaviest meal around noon that is when your body digest better and doesnt have to work to hard and keep it simple but enjoyable. Make sure you take time gor you. Gods blessing be with you on all your endeavors.

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