Where to go from here?

[chockbic]

History of acid in stomach and gullet. Confirmed as acid reflux a few years ago.

I now have a pain under the right rib, sort of a pressure sensation. No gall stones or other issues seen on ultrasound.

It's utterly miserable. I can't eat properly without feeling uncomfortable. There is bloating and a general clogged up stomach.

GP is saying as ultrasound fine maybe it's a stress thing.

Just fed up really. Thanks for reading.

I have a condition called GERD, another name for the diagnosis you have.

The only thing I found that helped, and I mean only thing, was omeprazole tablets twice a day. Nothing else, including the capsules did anything at all. I also have clear ultrasounds and similar pain to you.

I suggest you try asking your gp for omeprazole - try the capsules first as most people find they work (I'm a difficult bugger ) and also look up GERD as there are some things you can try that can help.

So am I the GP has given up.

Have tried omeprazole. It helps a bit with acid but not other pain.

But was it the tablets (oblong and a terracotta colour) or is it the capsules? There can be a massive difference between the two but GPs don't like prescribing the tablet as it is very expensive.

I don't mean to sound patronising, as you could be on the actual tablets, but the difference for me between the capsule and tablet was huge and it deals with the pain for me as well.

I sorry you are struggling and no one else has been along to offer you some advice (I'm not great at advice and can't think of anything else to suggest).

Not patronising at all. I appreciate your reply

I've got the capsules, not the tablets. So I need to ask for those...

Some advice I've been given is to try a prokinetic. This speeds the food along, emptying the stomach quicker. Otherwise gas and acid can accumulate in the area.

Might help you as well?

Glad you didn't think I was being patronising!

Do ask for the tablets, but be prepared for a fight and some pharmacies don't tend to stock them and give out the capsules instead so if you get them (hope you will!!) you need to check and make sure they give you the right ones!

I don't have a problem with my stomach not emptying quick enough -actually for me it is the opposite, no one knows why as given the medication I take I should be really struggling the opposite way! i appreciate the suggestion though thankyou.

I had reflux for years, had various PPI's - Omeprazole, Lanzoprazole all worked with limited success. I then developed a pain on my right side, under my rib cage. It wasn't awful but was there. I had blood tests, ultrasounds all of which were normal.

GP fobbed me off for about a year as they were at a loss but I went back monthly.

Eventually the reflux got worse, I was having difficulty swallowing so they sent me for an endoscopy. It came back positive for gastritis, oesophagitis and coeliac disease. The pain was caused by the damage to the villi in my duodenum from the coeliac. It was complete unexpected but since hoping gluten free I have never had reflux since!

Thanks both.

Shall ask g/e about coeliac.

I can feel a heaviness in the right rib area when I breathe. Wish I was on morphine or something

Hi Choc, found your thread now. A bit of background about my reflux probs.
It all seemed to start around the time I gave birth to my daughter in October 2013. I have been under tremendous stress which I don't think helps.
I was initially prescribed Buscopan tablets (for IBS) then Zantac, then stronger Zantac, then Omeprazole capsules (not tablets) which have been increased to twice a day.

Becca, are you happy to be on Omeprazole long term? I read somewhere there was a study which linked this medication with gallstones?

Superworm, I feel like I am getting fobbed off from my GP. I think she thinks I'm a hypocondriac despite the fact that prior to July 2012 (when baby son died at full term) the GP, would not have even recognised me as one of her patients due to never needing an appointment in about 7 years.....those were the days wish I could turn the clock back at times! Oh my symptoms suddenly became worse too....difficulty swallowing etc but haven't been referred as yet for an endoscopy.

Choc, sorry the pain is so bad you feel like you need morphine. Mine is more of a constant dull ache on my right side.

Glad I'm not alone with this although sorry you are suffering x

My GP said well the scan came back clear, so that ought to reassure you.

Not really since I'm still in a lot of pain.

Have you been to see a gastroenterologist, Babyh200?

It seems you have to keep pushing with this one x

The omeprazole tablets (max dose twice a day) are literally the only thing that help me. Without them my GERD is so bad I vomit blood streaked bile and am in severe pain. So given the choice I'd rather have the omeprazole tablets and risk the gallstones.

The capsules were useless for me.

I already take strong pain killers for other conditions, so my idea of pain is warped by that somewhat.

Sorry for the TMI!!

Mine definitely flares up, then settles down a little.

Becca have you had an endoscopy?

Not recently. When I had one I had all kinds of problems and was recommended not to have one again unless it was an emergency situation (the problems were due to my other medical conditions and usually there isn't any problem with the procedure - don't want to go scaring anyone!)

So they have found something on my liver on the ultrasound scan :(
My GP phoned for me on Monday, there are three things, I asked what they are eg: tumours, masses, nodules etc apparently one is just a simple cyst the other two are are of unknown etoligy?

I have been referred to a liver specialist and need an MRI scan. I'm bloody terrified I have secondary cancer from my somewhere.

All my other upper right organs are clear eg, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas.

I haven't had an endoscopy yet but my bloods were all normal 4 weeks ago.

Any advice appreciated x

Baby - sorry to hear this - please try not to panic, hard I know. It could be lots of things.

It's good they have picked it up and referred you to a specialist. Hopefully the appointment should come through quickly. Here to hand hold if you need it and I'm so sorry for the loss of your DS

Hope the MRI goes OK.

I think cancer markers show up in bloods.

I'm booked for a CT scan.

Thanks I would be very grateful for a handhold Superworm, I'm just praying it's something they can fix that doesn't involve dying ;)

When's your CT scan Chocbic?

The waiting game is awful. I am seeing a Liver Specialist next Friday x

Should be in the next 2-3weeks.

Fingers crossed and hand holds x

Thanks Choc, how are you feeling? What is the difference between a CT and an MRI?
The days are dragging until Friday my nerves are gone.
Thanks for the handhold I am holding yours back x

Not much different and hoping the scan has some answers.

I think the CT is a little more detailed than MRI.

Do you have your appointment today baby ?

Hope you are doing ok, must have been a long week of waiting. Fingers crossed you get some answers.

Good luck for today x

Thanks to both of you. The consultant Liver specialist was reassuring, he said I don't have any 'RED FLAGS' which make him think I have cancer. He is hoping they are nothing more than harmless lumps but I have an MRI scan on Monday to establish exactly what they are.
He said he thinks that my stomach issues are not connected to these lumps and they were simply discovered by accident.
I'm still worried obviously but hopefully I won't have much longer to wait.
Hope you have a good weekend and thanks for thinking of me x

OK that sounds reassuring, doesn't it?

Let us know how you get on

Thanks Choc, MRI all done yesterday.

Just got to wait to see the consultant on Thursday night now.......god the waiting game is awful. I did feel reassured at first but as the appointment is approaching I am bloody terrified!!