if not Zollinger Ellison then what is it

[madmax777]

I am  29 year old woman.  Ever since I can remember I have had a "sensitive" stomach.  For years I thought it was just stress as well as most of my doctors.  I was put on prilosec as a teenager and back then it was prescribed...not OTC.  I would have issues off and on throughout my life.  I've never been able to drink much because my stomach doesn't tolerate it.  I don't take aspirin or any NSAIDS as they too have upset my stomach and make me sick.  My symptoms have gotten drastically worse in the last two years. Originally my Doctor and I thought it was just stress because I lost my husband to suicide and months later I lost my son to cancer but my symptoms were persistent.  I started having diarrhea badly and vomiting almost daily.  I had a scope done and it showed severe gastritis with a small ulcer.  I was put on nexium results for H. Pylori were negative. Symptoms improved but only for  a couple of weeks.  Once again I am vomiting and no appetite.  I have lost over 30lbs without trying.  6 months after the first scope I just had another one done.  This showed that in less then 6 months I now have 6 large ulcers, but none in the duodenum.  Biopsies were negative once again for H. pylori and celiac disease.  Doctor has me do a fasting gastrin test.  It came back elevated at 1045.  My doctor then told me about ZES. They want me to re-do the gastrin test after being off of nexium because I had started taking it 5 days before my test.  My question is can taking nexium for 5 days elevate your gastrin levels that much that fast?  Also if not ZES what is another likely cause??  I am in treatment but can never get answers fast enough!!! Please help.

[AOKarim]

I had Gastrin test of 6384 way high and I am so scared of gastronomy. My doctor retired and now looking for a GI doctor. I wished I new what the result of you test. I fasted for 12 hours and I am on protonix.

[patient915]

Yes I do think you fit the profile for zollinger-ellison syndrome, but it is very rare.  I hope you figure out what is wrong very soon and find some relief soon too.

[madmax777]

yeah. My scope was just done last week...and I went from one small ulcer to 6 ulcers in about 7 months time...I was also on prilosec then switched to nexium and the ulcers still got worse.  I still can't eat much and am loosing weight. I am just tired and want to know whats going on with me.  Do you think I fit the profile for zollinger ellison syndrome?  My gastrin levels were elevated a little above 1000....but I was on nexium at the time.  I really hate having to wait to figure out what's going on.  Sometimes I feel they never will figure it out

[patient915]

And the endoscopy that showed the ulcers was recent (long after you stopped taking NSAID's)?

[madmax777]

No I don't anymore. I never really have other then excedrin for my migraines but I even stopped that.  Haven't taken any NSAID's for at least 7 months.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  The ulcers worry me, especially because the tests came back negative for h pylori.  Do you ever take NSAIDS's anymore?