Could it be something else too?
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| Fri, 01-05-2007 - 10:14am |
I have posted her before with my various ailments, but I'll give a short summary before I ask my question. I have IBS (diarrhea) and GERD (with a hiatal hernia).
I have had GERD for over 30 years. When I was in HS and college I had to carry around a big bottle of Tums just to get through the day. As I got older it got worse and worse. I have also had IBS for about 25 years. When I first went to the dr (1984) he said that he thought I had a "spastic colon." He told me that a lot of drs didn't think it was real disease, but he did.
In 2001 my symptoms (GERD and IBS) were so bad that I finally went to a gastroenterologist. He did a colonoscopy and endoscopty. He said that the colonoscopy confirmed IBS because there were smooth spots in my colon indicating frequent spasms. He also found the hiatal hernia. He put me on Levsin (for the IBS), but it made me sleepy so I only took it when the IBS was really bad. He's put me on various meds for the GERD/reflux but the most successful was 40 mg of Prilosec and reglan in the mornign and 150 mg of ranitidine and reglan at night. I've since stopped taking the reglan.
Four years ago I was diagnosed with a cystocele (bladder problem) and was given Detrol LA. Believe it or not, it really helped my IBS. My urologist wants me to have bladder surgery to correct the problem, but I'd rather keep taking the Detrol LA.
A year and a half ago my refux was really bad. Even with all of the meds (that's when I was still taking reglan) I had severe reflux. My GE decided I needed some sort of procedure. He suggested a Plicator procedure. I had to have a esophageal motility test and 24 hour pH test prior to the procedure. Due to my strong gag reflex I was unable to complete those tests. So I had an Upper GI to test for motility and a pH capsule test to confirm reflux (I had to be sedated for that one). The Upper GI showed good motility and the capsule test confirmed severe reflux. I posted previously about the plicator procedure results and how it made my situation worse, so I wont' go into all of the details. I had an endoscopy done before the plicator procedure.
But now I'm thinking - what happens if I have a problem other than reflux (and IBS)? What happens if I'm still sick because it's not the reflux that's bothering me?
So my question to all of you is whether or not any of you have similar symptoms when you have reflux:
- I get a pain in my back. (I asked my chiropractor about that and he said that when the esophagus is irritated it in turn irritates a nerve and gives me a back ache). The back ache is sharp and mid-shoulder blade area.
- I vomit. (My GE and I have both attributed this to the fact that I have a strong gag reflex. When stomach acid comes up my throat I start gagging and vomit).
- I get a pain across my breasts (I can't figure that one out).
- I get abdominal/stomach/intestinal cramping and pain (Could this just be my IBS acting up when I have reflux?).
None of these symptoms are ever listed as typical GERD/reflux symptoms. Keep in mind that I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy a little longer than 4 years ago and I had an Upper GI and endoscopy last year. I also see my GE twice a year and he's felt my stomach and couldn't feel anything abnormal. Can this all just be GERD and IBS manifesting itself this way? I see my GE next week and want to ask the right questions. TIA.
Edited 1/5/2007 11:35 am ET by msfz

I am on my way out the door, but wanted to be sure that your post didn't scroll away! I will return either this evening or in the morning, but hope some other members will read and reply.
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