Gastritis? ulcer? Please help if possible? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

Gaylord67 · 08-25-2005, 09:39 AM

Do any of you have gnawing stomach symptoms? Right below my rib cage in the center. I have had it off and on every since I had the diviticulitis colonostomy surgery in November and I don't know whats up. Even when I got my colon resected back together in Feb I still expierence it. I don't have black stool so I know its probably not a bleeding ulcer. I wonder if the gas backs up in my tummy since my colon was reduced in size or something? Its weird but I don't want to go back to the doctor again. Im tired of bills and doctors after last Winter's excitement. But my tummy (right below my rib cage) doesn't hurt it just feels hungry. And sometimes food does fixes it sometimes it doesn't. Its not really a heartburn. Its weird to explain but its been going on off and on every since the first surgery.
Any of ya'll have this? I know when I was in the hospital they had a drain pipe down my nose to my stomach to pump out the acids to keep me from getting sick after surgery. I hated that thing! I wonder if it scratched my tummy or something? I eat a lot of chicken I dont eat beef as grounded beef doesn't agree with me. I eat pork about once every two weeks but I eat chicken mostly baked some fried every day or so. I do drink Coke Cola all the time. I love potatoes. I have wondered if its my diet? But I have never noticed this stuff prior to my surgery. And why isn't it daily I deal with this instead of occasionally?
I rare have heartburn on occasion I have acid reflux but hardly ever. It does sometimes feel like food is coming up in my throat but it is hardly ever too. It just feels hungry or nausated. I hope its not stomach cancer? Maybe gastroitis?

Harry · 08-25-2005, 11:16 PM

Gaylord,
Your diet that includes alot of Coke --- contains alot of phosphoric acid that can contribute to reflux problems.

It sounds like your diet is causing you to have GERD.
This can and will irritate your esophagus. THe arera that you are having problems with sounds like the place where your esophagus connects to your stomach??

I think you need to eat a bland type diet for awhile and take a otc 20mgms of Prilosec for several weeks-- this is a stomach acid inhibitor. Take it before breakfast only once daily.

You only have 1 digestive system that is working all the time and it has to last your entire life -- like many organs in your body -- But, YOU control what you eat and drink so make it easier on your digestive system-- eat a good diet and drink more water.

Your body is made up of 70% water not coke--- your liver has to convert every coke you drink to water.

I wish you well---Harry

Gaylord67 · 08-26-2005, 03:00 AM

Thanks Harry! I didn't realize your liver has to change basically everything you drink into water but you have got a point. Any suggestions on what is good for our stomach to eat? Other than fiber that only sends me to the potty? I don't want to sit on the potty all the time. It seems like all the stuff good or us only is stuff that makes us go to the bathroom a lot.
Is that medicine you mentioned an over the counter medicine? Thanks for the suggestions.

Harry · 08-26-2005, 08:17 AM

Gaylord,

Prilosec is an OTC PPI (proton pump inhibitor)-- it makes some of the acid pumping cells in your stomach reduce their acid output. Thereby reducing the acidity of the stomach.

As you may know you had a colon resection because of chronic diverticulitis-- The major cause of diverticulars is constipation so you should eat a diet that contains enough fiber so you don't have constipation and have any more diverticular problems.

All meats, seafood and dairy products do not contain any fiber.

Some foods that are easy to digest are yogurt, rice, oatmeal, grits, or cream of wheat, chicken, fish, (you can use whey powder mixed with water as a protein drink), eggs , puddings, jello and some fruit like peaches and pears, applesauce, avacados--- some veggies like green beans, carrots, potatos.

I have had 2 1/2 feet of my colon removed for the same reason you did and I take psyllium twice daily to bulk up my stool and make me regular... It seem to make my stools more normal!!

Take Care---Harry

Gaylord67 · 08-26-2005, 09:03 AM

Its weird Harry because I was never constipated. I did get cramps, gas pains and what I call the gripes at times during BM's. Like after eating pop corn, ice cream, ground up hamburger meat with pasta. Id go and strain and nothing but SEVERE pain. The stool was loose but painful. Then it kept on until I ended up full of infection and an abcess on my colon and a cracked colon. They called it diviticulitis. I didnt consider it constipation though that led to it though thats what they say. So now I no longer eat pop corn, corn, seeds, nuts, hardly ever ice cream or beef. I eat a lot of what you mentioned. I need to drink more water I know. I just now have a fear that the stomach things going on with me now may be cancer or a ulcer, I hope its only GERD. I also constantly fear my colon will rupture again. At times it feels like my rectum is expanding some. Its weird to explain. I hope it doesnt rupture again. Did you have thin or flat stool after your resection for a while? And on occasion a few minor aches in the side? I just got this resection in Feb. Seven months almost. Its too late now for a leak isnt it? I Have all these thoughts and fears. I just dont want to EVER go through surgery and a ostamy again. Its was a nightmare.