My name is Andrew, I'm 20 years old, and have been having constant stomach problems since I was in seventh grade. I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux when I was in 9th grade and haven't had much progress since. I don't have insurance.
See, something I find odd about my "heartburn" is that it rarely, if ever, involves the main symptom. I don't get any reflux in my esophagus. In fact, all of the discomfort lies in my stomach, and pretty much always has. So why then, did doctors throw anti-acids at me like it was hard candy? Because it helped. It got rid of the discomfort, that's for sure - but I couldn't help but feel like it was only masking the problem.
A bit over a month ago I was in the ER after spitting up some blood that was in the back of my throat after waking up to stomach pain and nausea. They ran a blood test and did a couple x-rays (no dye or ink or w/e) and diagnosed me with a Peptic Ulcer and sent me on my way, recommending that I get a endoscopy when I get back - which my GP is telling me is expensive and that I don't need one.
Lately I've also had some lower abdominal (intestinal) pains too, namely a sharp, sometimes almost pinching pain right around where my belt sits on my waist about and inch and a half from the center of my stomach. As well as general pains in my entire abdominal area - not just my stomach.
So I find myself in a bit of disbelief. Did I ever have an ulcer? Do I have something more chronic or severe like H. Pylori or even worse something like cancer? It was this thinking that brought me back to my visit to Vegas recently, where I met my brother's girlfriend who just so happens to be a gluten intolerant - who's symptoms seemed to mirror my own. So I did some research.
Pretty soon I'm finding out that not only could my stomach problems be a sign of Celiac/Gluten Intolerance, but a large portion of my other medical problems could theoretically be linked to the same thing. Problem is - money. In the situation I'm in something like an endoscopy is a joke, that kind of money simply does not exist right now. In fact, a doctor visit is out for at least the rest of this month - just can't afford it.
So would my best bet be to just cut it out of my diet (gluten)? It seems nearly impossible.