Hi all--I posted on the acid reflux board and evidently no one knows what to do and that's ok--because neither do I! My sister-in-law has been suffering with digestive troubles for I think most of her life. She's 37, and was colicky as a baby with projectile vomiting (which sounds to me like pyloric stenosis, but I'm no doctor). By the age of 12 she would vomit and have almost flu-like symptoms after eating a hot dog. As time went on by the age of 30 she was diagnosed with acid reflux. Now mind you, she has had problem menstrual periods along with this and when the period would come, she would get some relief because there wouldn't be as much abdominal pressure. At age 30 she was told that she's have to keep taking meds like Nexium and Prevacid for the rest of her life. After 5-7 years she is steadily getting worse and has had endoscopies, colonoscopies, pap tests, urine tests that show elevated wbc, was told during pelvic ultrasound that supposedly "they couldn't see her ovaries", and all of this has got my mother-in-law worried sick. My question is: Can a person have female trouble that can cause all of this upper digestive mess? I know that there might be two separate problems going on, but has anyone ever had or heard of this happening? She also has pain in her upper back because of this and we are going nuts trying to find out what is wrong. If anyone has any ideas, please drop me a line as I would welcome any feedback. Thanks--Hopeto

Maybe It Is Ibs Did Anyone Check That Did She Have A Colonoscopy Or A Ph Test Of A Test To Touch The Function Of Her Asophogus.

Hi Chalupa! Thanks for writing. She is about to have a colonoscopy within the next week or so, but so far no one has considered the esophogeal function test. You know, late last night I was reading all of the side effects of Nexium and she has at least 75 % of the adverse side effects of that medicine. She's been on this for 5 YEARS!! I would have stopped it after about 3 months if it didn't work properly. Unfortunately, people always believe what every doctor tells them and don't rely on what their body is telling them. If you're lactose intolerant, you don't take a pill covered in lactose. I know--the pharmacists will tell you "well, there isn't that much in it to bother you" but if you're sensitive to it, it will bother you! She definitely has IBS--at least they're calling it that for now--and she is lactose intolerant, but I know that high anxiety and depression runs in their family (my mother in law would NEVER admit it!) so I'm sure the serotonin aspect is involved as well. Thank you so much for caring and I will definitely mention the esophagus test to her. Take care--Hopeto--

Hopeto,

It sound like she is having esophagus cramping and spasms caused by a lack of magnesium in her system.
Magnesium is in every cell of the body and lacking it can cause cramping in any body muscles including menstrual cramping.

I suggest you read some of the Sticky thread at the top of this page--" GERD Sufferers - I feel good let me tel you Why" started by blupumpkin.
He suffered for 9 years with a hiatal hernia and was cured using a Calcium/magnesium supplement and digestive enzymes.

I wish her well ---Harry

This is just a thought but has she ever been checked for endometriosis? Because of the way this grows outside of a woman's uterus it causes lots of "non-female" related problems with the other organs. My last surgery to clean up endo they found that it had adhered my bowel wall to my uterus causing me symptoms just like IBS. The only way this can be diagnosed is through a laporscopic surgery but I think it may be worth mentioning since she is also having female issues.

Hi Harry and JA! :) Thanks so much for your posts. I told my m-i-l about the possible magnesium deficiency and it fell on deaf ears.:mad: As far as the endometriosis, the nurse practitioner that she saw recently suspected this and in a couple of weeks she's going to go to the gynecologist for his opinion. I personally was suspected to have endo over 20 years ago because it caused a lot of bowel trouble, but it turned out to be polycystic ovaries with adhesions. I really feel that she has more than one issue going on as far as the reflux and pelvic trouble is concerned, but of course, she's like my husband in the respect that they won't see a doctor unless the whole family is in an uproar over them:mad: (big attention factor):mad: and I can't thank everyone enough for giving excellent feedback. I will definitely pass all of this along. Thanks again! Hopeto--:)