Is it H Pylori or something more sinister?

[Demenace]

Hi has anyone here had digestive issues that include abdomen and radiating back pain?
I had gall bladder removed over a year ago and was fine until around 2 months ago. Since then I’ve had back pain, bad indigestion, and now pain in my mid abdomen and under right rib cage.
I initially took PPI medication but have stopped to enable H Pylori testing. ( 1 more week to go!)
ive had blood tested and ultrasound which were fine.
Pain is worse lying down at night.and is a fairly unpleasant pain radiating to the back.
GP seems unconcerned and has referred me non urgently back to the gastrointestinal team for follow up.
any thoughts?
Im worried about pancreatic cancer.

Please don't worry about cancer. If your GP suspected that they'd have fast tracked you for further investigation.

Did the PPIs help with your symptoms? If so, even a little bit then it could well be an ulcer (caused by H. pylori). When I had one the pain was worse when lying down and i know someone who had pain coming through to their back with their ulcer.

Thanks for replying. Yes the PPIs helped a little bit - I maxed the dose for a couple of days and did see a little bit of improvement, and the night time pain has been worse since stopping taking them. The GP does not seem very concerned as you say. The abdomen / back pain is what is concerning me as it doesn't feel like it is radiating from the stomach, although it is accoampanied by some unpleasant churning feelings in the stomach.

They can be very uncomfortable and painful. Can you take antacids while waiting for the H. pylori test?? They should help.

I found I felt better with a full stomach. Coffee and red wine made it worse.

You mean Gaviscon and such like? They don’t seem to do much at all.

Ah that's a pity. Well just try to hang n there for the test. Let us know how it goes.

PPIs did nothing for me …..Famotidine was my life saver

I have a similar pain in my back - I think it's GERDs - I got tested for everything and they can't find anything. This has been a perimenopause symptom for me - with some awful IBS / food intolerances thrown in. Sometimes have to sleep sitting up. Enormous life style changes have helped - I eat a very low histamine diet, no snacking, no booze or anything exciting - no sugar etc - and I take apple cider vinegar in the mornings - plus histamine friendly probiotics. It has helped the pain between my shoulder blades and IBS.

Have you lost weight @Demenace ? Any nausea? Any nightsweats? If you are really suffering, please keep pushing and don't let your GP dismiss your concerns. There are blood cancers that don't show up in blood tests. I'm not suggesting at all that this is what's happening but do be persistent if not okay.

I had the awful back pain when GERD was at its worst. It was right in the middle under my bra strap and worse in bed. The GP prescribed codiene / I had two absolutely sleepless nights.
I thought I was dying and even booked a private mri. It was all GERD, possibly h pylori as that was subsequently found on endoscopy.

Could be post cholecystectomy syndrome, maybe sphincter of oddi dysfunction/biliary disorder, gallbladder removal can cause a range of issues. I get radiating right upper quadrant pain with SOD since I had mine removed, mine is triggered by codeine, alcohol, some foods, sometimes it’s just random. Mix that with reflux and bile acid malabsorption that have been side effects for me too; the digestive system can just be v unhappy for some people without a gallbladder.

Thanks - maybe I can try that. I’ll ask the GP

Yes that is what the GP thinks. I had a ultrasound which showed nothing remarkable and GP has referred me back to the gastro team, I know this will take months.
from what I’ve read the sphincter of oddi causes very sharp pain which mainly I haven’t experienced, it’s a dull pulsating pain.
the odd thing is I was fine after surgery for months and then this all started!
Did you get diagnosed with SOD?

Thanks. Presume you were tested for h pylori?

I had endoscopy and samples and bloods done. Have had worst 2 years of health but that's another story.

I really hope you get the answers you need and right treatment

Hi I’ve had it for last few weeks on and off. Last few nights have been awful. I’m convinced myself it’s my pancreas 😧

Yes to loss of appetite but haven’t lost weight. No night sweats.

Changes to diet will be my next step after the ah pylori test is back. I have a healthy diet already but of course certain food might be aggravating it.
thanks for the suggestions about foods.

SOD not diagnosed as GPs have been quite rubbish but the last I saw said ‘it sounds likely’ and that was the most interest they’ve had.
I sometimes have very sharp pain that is identical to what my gallbladder attacks felt like, sometimes more lower grade dull heavy or constricting pain, it’s quite variable. Has been so bad sometimes that I’ve gone to a&e and been variously told it’s muscular pain/trapped wind/indigestion, even when LFTs and amylase etc have indicated my pancreas/liver are grumbling.

I had no problems for at least a year after my surgery before it all kicked off. I think sometimes it takes the system a while to start being dramatic.

Buscopan helps with my low grade pain as it’s a smooth muscle relaxer so can help the sphincter/biliary tract open up.

Did you get any answers @Demenace ?

I’m sorry to come on and add this but please push for an endoscopy urgently with these symptoms. I don’t want to scare you but in a similar circumstance I was found to have stomach cancer. It’s of course very unlikely but please get checked.