need help with new gastro symptoms

[quackers57]

I have had GERD since 1994.  I have been on several medications. In most recent years I have been taking omeprazole. I think it's been helping over the years but I now have some symptoms that seem different.  Almost 4 years ago I had a peptic ulcer. It was rather small. My gastro doctor did a follow up endoscopy about 8 weeks later and all was clear. I was using omeprazole to clear the ulcer.  Fast forward to now. I have the following symptoms.  Lumpy throat (on and off) very short like pinch sensation lower esophagus (on and off)  Upper abdominal stomach "raw" type ache on the left and right side - happened twice recently. Occasional heartburn and really bad foul smelling flatulence.  I did have a ultrasound done on my gallbladder over 5 years ago and it confirmed that I have gallbladder sludge - a little achy there (on and off too). Very concerned.  My doctor said to take omeprazole for 1 month twice a day and if the symptoms don't improve he'll do an endoscopy.  I was eating Activia yogurt for a couple of weeks thinking it would help my gut.  That's when I felt the abdominal pain - so I stopped eating that.  Anyone have similar symptoms?  The occasional pinching feeling worries me.  Maybe an ulcer, h pylori?  Unfortunately when you think the worst the  anxiety doesn't help GERD symptoms.  Any thoughts would be helpful.  I see my doctor May 18th.  

[gassylassy]

So glad to hear that your results were pretty good..........just be aware that prolonged use of omreprazole causes osteoporosis......used it for 15 years and had almost no reflux issues.......but according to scans my bones got worse and worse.......gastro MD told me to get off the drug immediately (after being PRESCRIBED for 15 years).............just thought you should know

[selmaS]

  Glad to hear it was good overall....

Oh deffinately soda or carbonation is a trigger for reflux as is alcohol, and certain foods that are greasy, acidic, or spicy.....modification of diet is important as the meds can not work alone.

Also eating smaller but more meals is usually very helpful too....so 4 to 6 smaller meals instead of 3.....

When bloated it can put pressure on the vagus nerve causing the palps as well....but good to have a cardio avail you to be sure especially since you have MVP.

May I ask, were you given a reason for your MVP? I ask, bcuz I know EDS can  be a condition where having that is possible and then the reflux issues make more sense too as GI issues are also a EDS symptom.

[quackers57]

No reason for the MVP diagnosis. My cardio seems like it is not a major concern at this time. He does monitor my aortic valve since it is a little larger than it should be but not in a dangerous range.

[selmaS]

  I sense from no more on this thread you got good news?

Drs do not have the same outlook on test results as we the patients do....so they do not rush results unless they are dire.

Do let us know what you are doing for your reflux and how you are feeling.

[quackers57]

overall it was good news. Dr. said I have mild gastritis with some reflux in the esophagus.  He told me to come back in 6 months.  He said I could take up to 80mg of omeprazole daily if I had to.  He said I could try to wane myself off the omeprazole. My normal dose is 20mg - 40mg daily. For controlling reflux I try not to overeat. My reflux usually doesn't cause too much heartburn but it seems like I get other symptoms (like lumpy throat, maybe spasms) I could do better eating. I'm trying to lose a couple of pounds.  Right now I'm near 180pds (about 6 feet tall) I stay away from soda.  I think there's a relation that my reflux is causing some of my heart palpitations. I've had those since 2005. I'm seeing a cardiologist for that.  I have a mild case of mitral valve prolapse witch could cause palpitations too but I tend to have palpitations when I have bouts of gas. I'm monitoring that situation. I'm keep you updated on any thing that changes!

[quackers57]

No reason for the MVP diagnosis. My cardio seems like it is not a major concern at this time. He does monitor my aortic valve since it is a little larger than it should be but not in a dangerous range.

[quackers57]

quick update just got a call from the doctors nurse she said that they found overall some irritation in my stomach caused by acid and they found some "reflux in the esophagus" but she said the doctor will go into it in further detail today.

[quackers57]

I get a strange call yesterday from my Gastro doctors office.  They wanted to give me results - I wasn't home but my mother in law answered the phone. She asked them "does he need to call back?"  the person from the office replied "Oh I see he has an appointment tomorrow with the doctor he can discuss it then"  Now I'm kind of freaked out a bit. Why would it take almost a month to tell me results? If it was bad news wouldn't the doctor call himself and wouldn't they have called about three weeks ago?  Yikes.  So I'll find out what's happening in a few hours when I go for my follow-up.

[selmaS]

  I am not certain, but think they will need the results of the biopsy if one was done.....but you would find out b4 a months time...

It does seem like the Dr felt things looked good....so try to stay positive and keep hoping that is all you have is a hiatal hernia/....I was DX'd with mine when I was 27....and I am much older now and it has not caused me any real bother.

[quackers57]

Thanks!  Completed my endoscopy yesterday. Preliminary results of the endoscopy were good. Only thing was found was a slight hiatal hernia.  Waiting for pathology reports.  Doctor said to me "things look good" (as I was in a daze from the anesthesia) I asked him if he saw any inflammation and didn't see any. He wants me to come back for a follow up visit in a month.  Do you know if Barrett's and Stomach cancers can be seen immediately by an endoscopy? Or is it determined by the pathology results?  I guess that if nothing didn't look too suspicious when he was down there it's hopefully a good sign.

[selmaS]

  Wishing you all the best....let us know how this works out for you.

[quackers57]

Having an endoscopy tomorrow.  A little bit nervous about this one.  Felt a little better last week.  Hoping for the best!

[selmaS]

  Not sure about the ulcer....but I do know it can take time to heal after being DX'd with H. Pylori....

[selmaS]

  Hi...to me the sludge says possible H. Pylori...only bcuz my dad had it and he was in and out of the ER with pain until they finally took out his GB and then the sludge was a constant thing for months and again Drs ignored it.....finally he was DX'd with H.Pylori and it took 4 courses of meds to get rid of it....push for more testing to make sure it is not this infection.

[quackers57]

Thank you for the advice. I guess if I do have H pylori - I could very well still get an ulcer even if I'm taking omeprazole?