Undiagnosed and Questions
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 02-07-2006 - 11:00pm |
I am delurking (from the now defunct Heartburn/GERD board.) I've experienced heartburn symptoms for 10 weeks after a day surgery which included me taking a strong antibiotic, Levaquin, for 7 days. Doctors keep telling me it's not related to the surgery but I've never had a problem with what I eat or heartburn ever until this procedure. Anyway, after 5 weeks of complaints, a doctor prescribed Prilosec, no relief. Then another doc gave me AcipHex and Reglan, no relief. Then I saw a gastro, who advised me against taking the Reglan (contraindications, some other unrelated condition I have) and he gave me Protonix. I've been on Protonix for 3 weeks now, no relief.
Gastro also did an endoscopy, took swabs for biopsy, and tested for Helibacter Pylori. Suggested a colonoscopy if nothing significant was found. Endoscopy revealed inflammation and redness in the lower stomach (evidence of damage that is caused by pain relievers) except I've not been on any pain meds. The results were negative for cancer and infection. He also seems very perplexed by my symptoms/complaints and non-response to meds, and recommended I see a cardio and hold off on exercising. He told me after the tests and seeing my food diary that there doesn't seem to be a correlation between my diet and the burn. Sometimes it occurs when I drink H2O or haven't eaten at all.
But the heartburn is still there.
Two questions: Has anyone experienced burning in the upper chest to throat, a full feeling all the time, general feeling that your GI system is not moving as fast as it used to, flatulence sometimes, excessive burping sometimes, less frequent bowel movements and have it attributed to a heart problem?
Could all this havoc have been created simply by stress?
~Keron

Hi Keron,
What a unique name...spelled the way it sounds.
Do you or did you take lots of Ibuprofen, tylenol, aspirin?? These drugs can cause inflammation in the lining of the stomach. I typed "Endoscopy revealed inflammation and redness in the lower stomach (evidence of damage that is caused by pain relievers) except I've not been on any pain meds."
I've not taken any pain meds for 3.5 years. I was told 3.5 years ago, ibuprofen is contraindicative of the condition I had so never take it or similar drugs again. I've taken a Tylenol twice in those 3.5 years. Prior to that, I took ibuprofen occasionally, but again, it's been 4 years and never "lots." I don't experience menstrual cramps or any pain to have a reason to take pain meds.
When are you suppose to find out about the biopsy results?? I would also suggest having the colonoscopy if nothing shows up with the endoscopy. I typed "Gastro also did an endoscopy, took swabs for biopsy, and tested for Helibacter Pylori. Suggested a colonoscopy if nothing significant was found." and "The results were negative for cancer..."
Saw the gastro again this a.m. and he gave me samples of Prevacid to try. *sigh* I'm uncomfortable now as I type this.
Thanks.
~K
Hi Keron! and Welcome to the Board!
sorry you fel so miserable. I dont't have any answers for you but I can definitely empathize with you.
I wonder if it was the Levaquin? In January 2004 I was on Levaquin for a week for a UTI and sinus infection and it did a number on me including cause terrible indigestion and chest pains that I went to the ER and they admitted me for observation for 24 hours! They said it was not cardio and all gastro.
Last February I had my first endoscopy and it showed erosive esophagitis with GERD and a hiatal hernia. Also had a colonscopy and Doc said lower gut was fine - I just had IBS.
I've been back & forth to GI doc for a year now and have been on Protonix, then Prilosec then back to Protonix along with prescription Pepcid and I still have random GERD attacks. Ironically I keep a food diary and often what I eat today might bother me but 3 weeks ago the same thing didn't bother me. And I have terrible belching all the time! I burp worse than my husband! And sometimes I hurt so much that I ask him to pat me on the back (like you burp a baby) to help bring it up. What really agrravates me is that I have done all the right stuff: lost 50 pounds, put my bed on blocks, don't drink carbonated beverages, don't eat spicy or fried foods,chocolate and coffee.
Unlike you I don't get a burning feel in my chest to my throat but I do have pain sometimes sharp stabbing pains. I also have a full feeling and get full real easy which is so unlike the old me who never had trouble eating!!! and I do have flatulence from time to time that is excessive. And a constant pain in my the left gut (under the ribs but above my waist) that is sometimes relieved by a BM which alternate from soft and mushy to dry and hard.
Tuesday I had a follow-up with my GI doctor for the results of a follow-up MRI on my liver. I got good news and bad sort of - the indeterminate lesion that was first seen in October is still there but it has not changed in size or characteristics so I need to "put this on the backburner" (says the Doc) and have a repeat in 6 months. Doc gave me a new prescription for Nexium and is sending me for a CT chest scan because of all the chest pain I have from my indigestion.
It's all very frustrating! I've been told that stress doesn't help so that could be causing some of your woes. I know you said you tested negative for the H Pylori infection that causes ulcers but what else would cause the stomach irritation. Did the endoscopy show gastritis? Are you going back to the doctor soon? I hope so and I hope he has some answers for you.
I wish you well!
Sue
Thanks, Susieq.
No gastritis, just the redness which could be "the beginnings of an ulcer" he says. I go back March 6. Prevacid for 2 weeks then, if no relief, add Carate (I think that's the name)to coat the stomach.
~K
~K