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Relentless bile reflux / pain
Hi all,
In short, I've been suffering from the following for the last 2.5 years...
- daily burning in esophagus from reflux pretty much immediately after meals, can last for up to 2 hours
- dull, progressive pain on right side of abdomen just next to belly button and under rib. Can be sharp sometimes and radiate into right shoulder. Longest stint of pain was 4 - 5 days. Worse after eating
- burping and trapped air which causes sharp pain in my back
- Reflux is so bad that food gets stuck on its way down my food pipe and throat hurts a lot in general
- consistently yellow stools - been like that for years now
- Frequent 'IBS-like' symptoms - bloating, sharp cramps, intolerance to fatty heavy foods
I've had the following tests...
- x2 gastroscopy (gastritis and biopsies showed inflammation)
- x1 colonoscopy - clear
- H pylori breath tests - clear
- Fecal elastase to check pancreas function - clear
- Parasite testing - clear
- x3 ultrasounds - all clear
- HIDA scan - around 78%
- various blood tests (LFT, renal profile, CBC etc etc) - all clear apart from a slightly high white blood count during my worst time of pain
- food intolerance testing (celiac, lactose etc) - all clear
- MRCP - all clear
Here's what I've tried...
- lifestyle changes: I've cut out fatty, fizzy, acidic and spicy foods, eating smaller and more frequent meals, elevating pillows at bedtime, not wearing tight clothing, not bending down after meals, not eating too close to bedtime, stopped drinking alcohol, chewing food properly and thoroughly
- omeprazole, esomeprazole, rantidine, gaviscon advanced - no help at all
- cut out gluten and dairy for months - no help
- digestive enzymes, ginger tablets, silicolgel, cold milk, ginger beer
- apercap, colpermin, mebeverine, amitriptyline, prozac, buscopan
- apple cider vinegar, ginger tablets, chamomile tea, milk thistle
- good strength probiotic
- beet juice, potato juice, parsley and all the good stuff for gallbladders
Sooooo totally running out of options here. Seen two specialists, been told I have bile reflux and IBS and that there isn't much else for me. Can anyone shed some light? I've just started charcoal tablets today.
Note... I never get the right dull ache in my abdomen and the reflux at the same time. It is always one or the other. Been told NO to gallbladder removal and that I am too young to have problems with it (I'm 22).
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@ss0909- I can’t even imagine the pain and discomfort you have. It is a good thing for you to start TPN. TPN provides easily absorbed nutrients - including protein which will help heal you. This healing process hopefully will improve the pain too. Please keep posting to let us know how you are doing!
I have been suffering with these symptoms for over 4 years. I had the nissen fundoplication surgery that did nothing for me except my Bravo test was normal after the surgery. I feel better while eating and chewing peppermint gum. I am at my wits end. Have been to half a dozen gastroenterologist and I was denied by the Mayo Clinic. Anyone with suggestions would be appreciated
Hi @backdoc88, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear that your surgery failed. That can be very discouraging. You will see that I moved your comment to a conversation that has being going on for some time about the same symptoms you have been experiencing. Can you share with us a little more of what you are experiencing so other members in this discussion can offer up what they did to help their condition?
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2 ReactionsI had the LYNX surgery but still get blaoting and gas after eating, also if gas or acid builds up puts pressure on the device and causes pain. I've eliminated most foods, I started with fruits and that helped a lot and was able to get off all meds. Then eliminated some vegetables that helped more but still had some issues with the gas, bloating and bending over trying to force out a burp. Not pretty! Finally on a suggestion from a cardiac surgeon I went on the carnivore diet! He explained that vegetables are hard to digest. I know I have a difficult time with fiber, it ferments in my small intestine and that causes the build up. He said contrary to all the fruit and vegetable hype we don't really need it. I do feel MUCH better since I cut them out! Also lost a little weight and lowered my A1C to normal! I do take a few vitamins like C,D,E,A, zinc and selenium, and I'm starting to feel really good, hope it keeps up! BTW I use quality meat, grass-fed and no hormones or antibiotics. Lipids so far are great!
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1 Reaction@backdoc88 I had a Nissen fundoplication surgery to reduce my GERD.. It failed miserably ... I asked my Primary Care Doc to refer me to Mayo MN.. Dr. Halland and 3 tests figured out what was wrong in the morning of my visit.. they gave me a way to cope in the Afternoon.. the diagnosis was post-operative gastroparesis ... the Nutritionist at Mayo and others ... they told me that 1 in 6 Nissen surgeries fail.. it is often more difficult to get into Mayo JaxFL ... Cleveland Clinic also has a great GI department.. but I have not been there..If Mayo MN is #1.... Cleveland is there in the top range from what I read.. If you are a Veteran you can as the VA to refer you to Mayo... Good Luck.. Ken
@backdoc88 @saucy - Very interesting @saucy with the improvement using a carnivore diet. I also have bloat, gas etc and rarely feel “ normal”. When I think back, there have been times when for some reason I don’t have access to fruits and vegetables and I have actually felt better. I love to eat fiber, but my body disagrees.
@backdoc88 Have you tried to eliminate fruits and vegetables for some time?
The problem is I have he symptoms all the time. It doesn't matter what I eat. It is definitely worse on an empty stomach and therefore I was very thin to begin with and now I am overweight. Foods like pretzels and carbs soothe it while i'm eating but it comes back right after. I am constantly chewing gum. I also have gall stones and My Hida scan showed a reduction of function but some say operate and others say it won't help. Endoscopies are normal. One GI doctor said gastritis . The nausea accompanies the acid taste. It comes from my stomach, up my esophagus to my mouth
What other symptoms are you having? I also have an acid taste in my mouth almost all the time. My endoscopy came back normal. I’m experiencing acid/pepsin that is going to my ears and throat which is effecting my voice. Also, the acid/pepsin is going to my lungs which is causing asthma symptoms. I’m on 40 mg of nexium 2x a day but it is not working.
I’m also on an alkaline diet but it is not helping.
I cut out fruits over 2 years ago! I loved them! Some vegetables that were really fruit like peppers and cucumbers really anything with seed, I cut out over a year ago but started carnivore about 6 weeks ago and don't have that gas and blasting after eating. As a side note I don't eat any carbs including breads, pasta, cereals ect. It's a great sacrifice but when I start feeling better it's worth it. When I cheat I pay the price for several days but it takes till the next day before I feel the effect. You can go online and see the carnivore diet or go to Dr Wolfson's website he talks about it.
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