It doesn't seem as if my first posting went through the first time, so I'll try again. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

For over two to three weeks, I only had one bowel movement (not including the one time I took something for *assistance*). The stool was very dark (dark dark dark green?) and I knew I wasn't done...even though I was...(make sense?) It wasn't loose, but more on the solid side.

Every time I eat, I'm bloating and am gassy. It always feels as if something is stuck in the center of my chest. I feel the need to burp much more often. Lately (in the last day or two) it's getting worse.

The first week I noticed problems, I had a *funky* feeling in my lower intestinal area - almost made me think that whatever is stuck there (since I had been constipated) was festering in the area...I know, gross...but probably true..no?

What could this be?

My sister was diagnosed with IBS over a year ago and my mother is currently undergoing tests - I know she was experiencing really bad bloating which made her look pregnant. Is this genetics???

Any recommendations on finding a reputable specialist in the NYC area?

Thanks for any help!

one last thing...no pain, just a whole lot of discomfort!

Jujee, I am glad I found this post. I have very similar symptoms to you, especially the feeling that something is "stuck" in the chest. I had endoscopy so I know there is nothing really there, but it still feels that way to me. What it feels most like to me is that a belch is stuck right there in the chest - like it wants to come up but just can't make it. What does it feel like to you? And like you said, it is not painful, just very uncomfortable and frustrating! All of this started with a little tingle in my throat. My first endoscopy showed stomach ulcers and esophageal irritation, so I was diagnosed with GERD and put on Prevacid. A follow up endoscopy showed that the ulcers and the esophagus had healed well, but also that I had a hiatal hernia. But my symptoms are still here. My diet doesn't seem to effect them. My doctor has suggested gastroparesis as a possible cause, so I am going to have more tests done for that. How have you been doing and what have you found relieves the the sensation in the chest?