Constant § consistent chest, stomach, abdominal pain and bloating

[McShields]

I was told I had a "nervous stomach" & lactose intolerance as a child b/c I would get terrible cramping for no reason. I've been more prone to vomiting than others all of my life. Several times since teenager I've woken up in the middle of the night and puked for no apparent reason. I regularly feel nauseated in the morning.

I'm 24, female, non-smoker, 5'7", 175lbs, desk/computer job w/ decent ergonomics for 1 1/2 years though I was feeling tenderness in chest muscles the end of the work day for a few months before the pain started.

Three weeks ago I got tightness in my chest at my sternum & acid in my throat for 1st week. Then, added stomach cramping,bloating & backaches near ribs, abdominal pain & dystention followed in 2nd week. Second week Dr. put me on Protonix-pain worse. Third (this) week 2 days on Prevacid until scope-no help. Had endoscopy 3/26 (yesterday),diagnosed w/ hiatal hernia & given Aciphex to try for 3 weeks. I've only been taking for 2 days now but no relief AT ALL.

Pain,discomfort has been constant & takes my breath away often, nausea sometimes that includes mucous in my mouth like I'm really going to vomit. I can't seem to link it to certain foods, even bland ones cause pain. Trouble sleeping b/c pain wakes me. Stomach very dystended.

My dad has similar problems & has had ulcers (treated w/ antibiotics),found relief from Aciphex & Zelnorm combo.He is also Type II diabetic and I am concerned I'm predisposed to that as well and need to try to prevent. I am very concerned since this pain suddenly appeared and isn't going away or even reducing,and no meds have helped yet. I can't live my entire life like this, and I will want to have kids in a few years and can't imagine the pregnancy complications that would go along with this.

My symptoms go beyond what I have read about hiatal hernias,is this a normal beginning for this disease?Do I just need to give it time?

Please help me, I am in pain all of the time and don't feel like I can get the answers and info I need from my doctors.I am desperately trying to be involved in the medical process but feel like I am given this med and that med to "try" and we're not getting to the bottom of this.

I'm even more concerned now after reading all these posts about similar problems w/ no clear solutions.I don't want to eat b/c all foods seem to make it worse,and I have to sip water to avoid seizing stomach,but then I get so hungry I eat anyway and down the roller coaster I go.

I appreciate your help so much, as well as the help of anyone who has ideas for me. Thank you for running this forum, I'm so glad I found it.

McKenzie

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.



Hiatal hernias can present with epigastric or substernal pain, postprandial fullness, substernal fullness, nausea, and retching.  Some of the complications of the hiatal hernia can cause symptoms such as problem swallowing (gastric volvulus), bleeding or respiratory complications.



If medical therapy is not helping, then surgical therapy should be considered.  This is dependant on the type of hiatal hernia.  Some hiatal hernias (i.e. Types II-IV - ask your physician which one you have) do not regress and progessively enlarge.  In some cases, not only can the hernia be repaired, but surgery for reflux may be simutaneously considered.  



One last thought - make sure you were checked for H Pylori (should have been done during the scope).  If positive, then treatment with antibiotics would be necessary.



A surgical referral would be reasonable if you are having symptoms despite medication.



Followup with your personal physician is essential.



This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.



Thanks,

Kevin, M.D.

[4gpact]

sounds like you may have a stomach motility disorder; your food isn't digesting properly. Ask your doctor about a gastric emptying scan. Easy test, and will give you many answers.

[McShields]

McShields here. I appreciate the response. I will check w/ Dr. about H. Pylori test and gastric emptying scan. I want surgery to be my last option as I don't want to experience what some of the people who posted messages have gone through-pain in the eyes when eating, etc. I wish my Dr. would have been mpre thorough in his explanation, I'm not sure which type I have. I just can't figure out how a supposedly minor problem in one small area can cause me this much constant pain all through my mid section.

[calli007]

Hi, I am 25 years old, 5'1, 100lbs and until November 2002 I did not have any stomache problems, except occasional constipation. In November, I started getting a burning feeling in my chest and my stomache was very bloated, I also felt nauseous. I went to the family physician who gave me Aciphex. The pain did not go away until a couple days later. Then in December the same thing happened again, this time the Aciphex did not work. I ended up in the emergency room on Christmas day!! Which of course they performed an array of tests that did not even have anything to do with my stomache!! The pain went away 5 days later. In January I went to a gastronoligist, who put me on a no alcohol,dairy, and acidic foods diet. I was doing a little better, I had an endoscopy in Feb. and I was put on the GERD diet. I pretty much stuck to it, except for this past Tues. when I had a glass of wine, I woke up in the middle of night and did not go back to sleep b/c the pain was so awful. I thought I would get over it, but still have not. Is there anything I can do, I have been taking my Aciphex, along with Dostinex for my prolactin levels. Please help, is there anything I can do to reduce the bloating of my stomache and the pain in my chest.

[nadia]

Hi, sorry to hear about your difficulties.  I am going through the same thing right now.  I have been living with the severe symptoms for over 2 years now.  I have a small hiatus hernia and mild chronic gastritis.  The chest pain is quite debilitating and it radiates into my back and I also have abdominal pain.  After these 2 years I am now thinking about having the surgery to correct the hernia.  I don't have extreme heartburn, just occasional. However, the pain is keeping me from leading a productive life and I feel the surgery is necessary.  You may want to do the same if it continues.

[mlabrego]

Hi Everyone. I'm sure glad I came on this board I just hope someonecan help me.



About three weeks ago I felt pain in my lower left rib cage it only occured when I slept and so I didn't sleep on my side anymore..then around the same time I felt a dull pain in my right abdoman. I thought it might be gas but it still continues. Every now and then I get a sharp pain even when I'm not moving or doing any strenuous labor. It doesn't hurt to press down in the area and I don't have a fever so I know it's not appendicitis. Also, about a week and half ago I developed a tightness in the center of my chest. It feels like something is trying to get out of my chest. I had a doctor perform an EKG and a chest X-ray and both came back fine but the pain is still there. After I eat anything (even a small lunch), I  have a feeling of extreme fullness in my stomach which seems to make the chest pain worse. Lying done only aggreviates the symptoms. I'm wondering if the pain in my right abdoman and the fullness in my stomach and the tightness in my chest are related. I'm supposed to see a GI soon and he said I will have a colonscopy done as well. Any ideas?

Thank you so much.

Miguel

[RoseLady]

I have pretty much the same symptoms described by McShields and many others.  Approx. 2 weeks ago I began experiencing bad pain across my back toward my front in my rib area.  The best description I have to explain is cramps or labor pains but up high (although I've never had a baby and base this on what I've been told).  Along with these pains is a sometimes dull/sometimes sharp pain on my right side, just under my breast. This is predominately in this location although I do feel the same type of pain right in the middle of my chest.  During this time I have noticed frequent nausea as well as frequent indigestion/burping. Also, I have occasional chest pain as well as intermittent pain in my left upper back and neck.   I will be at my doc later this week but want to provide as much info to him as possible.  I've been told it could be hiatal hernia, gallbladder or liver problems.  Many years ago I was diagnosed with costracardritis when I was experiencing chest and back pains.  Is it possible this condition is recurring?  I'm perplexed by the multi symptoms occuring of late.