Hello,

I am new to the board. Looks like there are a lot of people here with a lot of digestive disorders. Hopefully, one of you has experienced what I have and can tell me what I should be looking for?

This is my history:

October 98 Gallbladder removed--by December the same year started having same symptoms of having a diseased gallbladder. Chest Pain and just totally tired of feeling sick.

January 99--Went back to GI doctor ordered a battery of test--upper GI, endoscopy, PH Probe.

March 99--All test came back showing severe Acid Reflux Disease, small Hiatel Hernia and H-ploryi.

March 99--Given Prilosec to see if it would relieve symptoms--did not work.

May 99--Had Nissan Fundoplication Wrap and repaired small Hiatel Hernia at that time.

July 99--Symptoms back in full force--By this time fed up with doctors and just dealt with pain.

....fast forward to 2003 finally decided to check back with another doctor.

January 03--Food began sticking in my throat and began having chest pain everyday.

March 03--Another endoscopy, loosened up esophagus to stop food from sticking and showed an 3 ulcers developing in lower part of stomach. Test stomach tissue--showed H-pylori again.

March 03--Given a prev pac (8 pills total to take a day for 14 days) After that is done back on prilosec.

Todays Date--Still having chest pain and food has begun sticking again. Have a follow up appt May 21.


What is wrong with me? Is this what I have to look forward to the rest of my life? I just hate feeling this way. Also, I have changed diet--no more fatty foods--have cut back on smoking cigs--down to 1 pack a week and I never drink alcohol unless it is holiday or special occasion like anniversary.

Anyone out there like me and been further in the process and it ended up being something else? Any responses will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

LML

Hi there. So sorry for your troubles. Don't know if I can help, but I have a similar history to yours. Reflux for many years and subsequent fundoplication in 2001. I had difficulty with food sticking afterwards too, but was dilated a year after surgery. Still have occasional trouble with starchy foods sticking like bread or potatoes. I have to eat small bites, and learn to chew more thoroughly. I sometimes rush through a meal and then I get severe chest pains from trapped gas and just have to wait it out.

So far no stomach issues like ulcers so can't respond to your difficulties there. Unfortunately for you, the fundo may have stopped the reflux, but the wrap may still be too tight causing the sensation of sticking. You may have to be dilated periodically forever. As far as the ulcers, the fundo will not stop that because it's only controlling reflux, but if your stomach is intolerant to its own acid, you may have to continue on PPIs and antibiotics to control H. pylori.

Don't know if I've helped at all, but I'll keep you in my thoughts/prayers. Keep us posted on your progress.

Good luck,
Katie G

Katie,

Thanks for responding. I have been reading some of the post and it seems that you almost always have to get dilated often after having this surgery. If this is so common place? Patients should be informed of this side effect. I was never told anything just that it may not work as far as reducing acid from backing into the esophagus. I will keep you posted as to what happens.

Take Care, LML

Well, unfortunately I was unable to keep my May 21 appt to see the GI doctor.

Now, I am feeling sick again. Today I woke up and after a cup of coffee I began having pains in sternum and back. I knew that I needed to eat due to the ulcer. So I toasted some bread.

I couldn't even get down half a slice of bread down b/4 I began feeling nauseated. I went and laid down and just began burping up a storm trying to get rid of excess air in stomache and the feeling to vomit.

This lasted about 30 minutes and I felt fine. I didn't eat anything until dinner time. I tried to eat some corn on the cob and it happened again. I began to feel as if I needed to vomit. This time the episode lasted at least an hour.

Now I wish I had gone to see the GI doc. I know it will be another 2-3 weeks b/4 I can get another appt. I hope there isn't anything seriously wrong now. I have dealt with enough--GERD, Gallbladder removal, hiatal hernia, ulcer and h-pylori. I don't need another medical problem.

Has anyone had a wave of nausea hit you just out of the blue and it was a sign of trouble?

LML

I have had problems with nausea, but I'm pretty sure that mine are always just from excess stomach acid and not anything else. By the way, if you have any type of stomach problem - coffee is evil - even if it's decaffinated.
To help with your nausea try drinking 1/4 to 1/2 baking soda in a small amount of water. Yeah, it tastes gross and makes you burp, but it really helps nausea. Also, peppermint helps nausea, but I'm not sure if you should try it since you have problems with ulcers.

Did you have acid reflux at all BEFORE you had your gallbladder out?

I have gallbladder symptoms, and I'm scheduled to have my gallbladder removed...
And I've NEVER (knock on wood) had any problems with chest pain or acid reflux!

Even now, when I suffer daily with right side pain, I can eat spicy food, REALLY spicy vegetables. Just not bread products or high protein foods.

Also, my mother has acid reflux, and she says to me "I just had a cup of coffee and I'm getting it terrible."
I'm like - DON'T DRINK THE COFFEE!!!!! DUH. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif LOL

Everyone seems to agree coffee is BAD for acid reflux.

If it's the caffeine you can't give up - maybe see if tea is any better? Or try ginseng for the lift.
(Believe me, I KNOW how hard it is to give up caffeine!)

Thanks Amethystle on the tip of baking soda to help w/nausea. I haven't had an episode today but I will definitely try it if it happens again.

lckwp--No, I wasn't diagnosed with acid reflux b/4 I had my gallbladder out. But shortly after I had it out I began to have the same pain they stated was attributed to the gallbladder. It makes me think that maybe my problem was acid reflux in the beginning.

Although, I have heard that a lot of people develop acid reflux after gallbladder is removed. I don't know--I just know that digestive problems are very tricky to diagnose and it is a lot of trial and error before the real culprit is discovered.

Take Care, LML

[This message has been edited by llawrence36 (edited 05-26-2003).]

So in other words - you had this chest pain BEFORE the gallbladder out - and they said it was gallbladder... and then AFTER you had your gallbladder out, they said it's acid reflux?

Well, I'm really beginning to wonder if a lot of people with gallbladder problems had acid reflux to begin with, and it's not really caused by lack of gallbladder at all.

All I know is that I've been diagnosed with a gallbladder problem. I'm said to have every symptom of gallbladder dysfunction - right side pain, queasiness & sometimes nausea, yellow stool...
I have a 35% ejection fraction, and my ultrasound showed a "polyp" on my gallbladder.

And I've not had chest pain of any type... I DO get pain right up at the bottom of my right breast. But again, ONLy on the right side.

Of course I'll let everyone know what happens after my surgery. LOL. I'll make a point of visiting the message board, even if I'm hopefully totally cured! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif Just to share my experience like everyone here has been so kind to do for me.

lckwp--when is your surgery scheduled? When I had my ultrasound done it just showed stones, no polyps. Maybe it is a good thing it is removed just because of that factor alone.

As far as the chest pains--let me clarify. I say chest pains because it is in that general vicinity. But the pain is actually right where your esophagus ends and stomache begins. The doctor told me it is the sternum area. The pain begins slow and radiates to my back and sometimes my shoulders and arms become tingly.

Once the pain begins to subside I get a light headed feeling and that is when I know the pain is going to stop.

Well, good luck with your surgery and definitely keep us posted with how you are feeling.

Take Care, LML

Gerd symptoms can mimic gall bladder problems,they both can manifest the same symptoms.So can an h.pylori infection.

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