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Original poster

What is going on with my stomach? SO scared!

87 replies

SaunteringDownwards · 21/03/2023 15:58

I've felt like horrendous for weeks now (after having Covid at the end of January). I have had really disrupted sleep, incredibly vivid dreams every.single.night and I am completely exhausted all day.

These past two weeks my stomach has been acting up a lot. I am burping non-stop and have heartburn multiple times a day, even if I haven't eaten. It feels like food gets stuck more than it used to and I have to chew a lot more to make swallowing easier. Nothing I eat or don't eat seems to make a difference and I idiotically googled and I have convinced myself I have stomach cancer Sad. I know it is very unlikely to be that but I am not someone who has ever had stomach issues before. The GP has said over the phone to take indigestion meds for a week or two and see what happens but I am really starting to worry something isn't right. I have just slept for three hours in the middle of the day and still can't keep my eyes open. I am 34 and feel like I am wasting away!

I have been under huge amounts of stress since around last October so I know it is probably just that but with the way the NHS is (and my GP) I am really worried I wouldn't get diagnosed in time if it was something serious - which I am becoming increasingly convinced it is.

Some ideas on how to feel better/reassurance would be really appreciated. Going out of my mind with worry about it.

OP posts:
mrsnjw · 21/03/2023 16:02

I was like this and it turned out I had low iron. Get some blood tests and see GP.

Original poster
SaunteringDownwards · 21/03/2023 16:15

Unfortunately GP doesn't want to see me until I have been taking indigestion meds for 'a week or two' Sad

OP posts:
mibbelucieachwell · 21/03/2023 16:16

Take the indigestion meds.

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General health
Surplus2requirements · 21/03/2023 16:17

Stomach issues bloating etc are a common symptom of long covid

Paturday · 21/03/2023 16:18

Omg I could have written that with a few changes. Sorry you’re so worried. It’s such a stress. And I’m the type that even if tests show everything is fine, would worry what if they missed something?

For me I’ve had indigestion, abdo pain (low), pure mucous poo which was alarming as never even knew that was a thing. So have been imagining dying of bowel cancer and leaving my 3 kids. Ugh! BUT! Probably just an infection.

Paturday · 21/03/2023 16:18

Meant to say - we probably just have one of the horrendous and endless viruses going around at the mo.

mibbelucieachwell · 21/03/2023 16:19

Stomach cancer is very rare.

IBS on the other hand is very common. So is indigestion. Especially if you are stressed and anxious. Taking indigestion meds will probably sort your burping and indigestion and will hopefully help to take your mind off your symptoms.

whosaidtha · 21/03/2023 16:20

Could you be pregnant?

mibbelucieachwell · 21/03/2023 16:21

You might have a slight hiatal hernia.
The treatment for it is also indigestion meds.

Original poster
SaunteringDownwards · 21/03/2023 16:21

No chance of being pregnant. Does IBS cause a lot of gastro issues too then such as nausea/heartburn? I've never had issues in this area ever so it's all been really worrying for me.

OP posts:
KnownByAssociation · 21/03/2023 16:22

I don't want to sound blaise but it could be anxiety? It sounds like the symptoms I get. Maybe the more you worry, the more it's happening. A bit of a vicious cycle?

Choconut · 21/03/2023 16:24

I would say this all could well be down to stress and anxiety. I particularly recognise feeling like food is getting stuck.

cathyandclare · 21/03/2023 16:24

Did you take lots of ibuprofen or similar when you had Covid? It can irritate your stomach and cause ulcers. You can get acid blockers OTC at a pharmacy that can help.

CertainUncertain · 21/03/2023 16:29

It feels like food gets stuck more than it used to and I have to chew a lot more to make swallowing easier.

Honestly, it does sound like indigestion or reflux. I know quite a few people who have had this crop up post-covid (Covid is inflammatory). Take a good quality probiotic and they should give you a high does (higher than OTC) of omeprazole for a few weeks to see if it clears up. Also, I know easier said than done, but try not to worry as it will exacerbate stomach issues. Hope you feel better soon!

Original poster
SaunteringDownwards · 21/03/2023 16:31

Yes could definitely be anxiety as I have had generalised anxiety disorder since I was seven, but it's never resulted in stomach issues before - but as I say the last few months have been particularly horrendous. Obviously worrying it is cancer is not helping Hmm

OP posts:
Bramshott · 21/03/2023 16:43

I have had various stomach issues over the years (mostly stress related) and IME they don't really worry about them if your description starts "I feel" rather than "I am" - so I feel nauseous & dizzy = not likely to be anything to worry about; I am vomiting and fainting = much more of a concern. As others have said, Covid can really upset your gut...

chronictonic · 21/03/2023 16:46

I could also have written your post with a few adjustments.

I have never had so many stomach issues, very similar ones. I had a covid a year ago, and took a lot of Ibuprofen, as a PP suggested, I have wondered if that has contributed to my stomach issues.
But I have also had a very stressful year, a lot of trauma, and I believe that's contributed too.
It is tricky as it's a bit of a vicious cycle.
Today I've been in bed sleeping all day with diarrhoea and nausea... have felt nauseous for days which raises my heart rate which sets of anxiety.. so could be why I have diarrhoea?!
Or maybe it's just one of many bugs going round.

Caramac555 · 21/03/2023 16:50

Try peppermint tea, when I had issues such as bloating and nausea it really helped.

Ultimately getting my gallbladder out fixed me but whilst I waiting peppermint tea was a big help

Grumpybutfunny · 21/03/2023 16:52

I would give it a week or so as your GP suggested. I have reflux on the more severe end of the scale but over the years it has been mistaken for chest sepsis (A&E consultant involved is a friend and it wasn't an unjust diagnosis), GI bleed and a heart attack at 21! The bloating also happens as I find I breath through my mouth as my chest hurts when it's bad so then I end up with a stomach full of air plus the countless antacids I've swallowed

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 21/03/2023 17:22

Could be a hiatus hernia, symptoms sound similar to my DPs a few years ago.

Original poster
SaunteringDownwards · 21/03/2023 21:32

Hiatus hernia sounds like it could be a possibility, the pain definitely feels towards the top of my stomach. I've eaten tonight and though I don't get full any easier than normal I have an unsettled stomach for a couple of hours after I eat with burping etc lasting ages. I'm just so fed up with it, really hoping the indigestion tablets do the job!

OP posts:
newusernamegloria · 22/03/2023 01:36

I had awful digestive issues after covid. Awful diarrhea that took months to go away completely. It was in the early days of covid when no one really knew anything. Probably took a year to get back to normal. It doesn't sound exactly like your symptoms but covid really can mess with your stomach. I ended up going off dairy and gluten to let my stomach heal and then gradually added it back in again.

YearoftheRabbit23 · 22/03/2023 01:39

COVID lingers in the gut and is known to cause long term gastro issues. There's plenty of literature out there on this. Probiotics could help.

Imtootired · 22/03/2023 01:42

It could be worms. I had them a few weeks ago and has so much wind, pain, tiredness. No itchy bottom so if I hadn’t seen them on my toddlers bottom I never would have guessed that was the problem