Anyone know anything about stomach acid/ulcers and want to diagnose me?

[Bella73]

Okay, so dd2 was born in May. Since her birth I have been having these episodes of tummy pain and then violent vomiting. Before she was born I was never sick (except through drink many many years ago).

I wondered if anyone recognised the symptoms - sorry this will be a bit long but I wanted to give all the info to see if anyone who has had something similar felt it sounded right...

It starts with an aching pain really high in my tummy - basically behind my floating ribs is the best explanation I can give. It gets worse and worse, a pressure like feeling as though there's a big ball of something behind there. The pain is just awful. I have been describing it as like contractions in labour, not because of where the pain is (it's much higher) but because it's a horrible feeling that I just can't get comfortable in any position or get any relief from at all. i'm ashamed to admit it has me in tears at its worst.

It was particularly bad in Sept-Oct but I put it all down to stress as I was finding it hard to cope with my two (there's a 15 month age gap so it can be physically quite hard work). I thought if I could just chill out a bit it would improve so I changed to eating mainly bland foods, tried to relax more, eat slowly, little and often etc and things did get better for a while. I don't think I had any episodes in November or December.

I went to the dr 3 weeks ago after 3 episodes in a week (pain but no vomiting). My v sympathetic gp mentioned muscle spasm at first, then felt my tummy (which was very tender after a day of the pain) and said he was thinking more about acid. I'm taking 150mg of ranitidine twice a day to try to control the acid and I have Domperidone tablets which are supposed to stop the vomiting. He tested for H. pylori but that came back negative.

It's a weird one though because obviously I'm capable of going several weeks without an episode so it's hard to know if the meds are working or if it just isn't there right now iykwim. Last night, the pain started at 4.30pm, I was sick at 11pm despite taking the anti-nausea tablets but still had the pain until 4am-ish and it was still there all day today. I ate a little bit of plain pasta for tea and within 30 mins, the pain was unbearable and I was sick again. I wonder if it is acid as the drugs don't seem to be doing anything. Anyone with similar experiences (gp said he thought from the position of the pain that the acid was damaging my stomach lining rather than coming up into the oesophagus which is why Gaviscon has never really helped)? Anyone who had an ulcer or anything else with similar symptoms? Any tips on how to manage this since the drugs don't seem to be working....??

Sorry to witter on but it's incredibly frustrating as I cannot look after the girls when I have this pain - I can't pick them, can't hold dd2 to bf her, can barely keep the pain and the tears from my sensitive and worried little dd1.

Sorry Bella the only thing I could suggest is to push your doctor for an endoscopy (camera down your throat into your stomach). It not as bad as it sounds (honest) and you can ask to get sedated. It's the only way they will be able to tell if it's an ulcer/ rule it out.

This sounds like classic gallstones/gallbladder problem to me (my sister had hers out about 15 months ago and had the same symptoms as you)

Cant belive your GP hasnt thought of this tbh

Becaroo - Well, I thought maybe the placing of the pain wasn't right for gallstones? I did wonder but forgot to mention it to him but maybe too high up? My mum had her gallbladder out too and I remember her saying (after 4 births without pain relief) that it was the worst pain she's ever known...

MoS - yikes, yes you might be right. Hard to really feel any enthusiasm for that though....!

Been reading up on gallstones again - it does sound right though it says the attacks happen 30-60mins after eating which isn't always the case with me. But otherwise does sound similar. I dont' really have any pain in my back/shoulder though. Will have to go back to the gp.

Im willing to bet you have gallstones. The symptoms can be really vague too. Under the right rib is exactly where you feel the pain. I am your doctor hasn't suggested this. When he examined you did he push under your ribs and upwards, asking you to breathe in - this is a classic test of gall stones. But it isn't always positive, i was hospitalised with the pain from my first attack - the doc did this test but i think the pain killers must have kicked in. My doc did it the next day and i nearly passed out.

The thing with the eating is true, but definately not always - my first attack was four in the morning! You don't always get pain in your back, you dont always feel sick, in fact you can have gallstones and by symptom free - i would definately go back to your doctors and ask about this. He may well have ruled it out already. Blood tests can indicate but not diagnose gallstones and i would have assumed they have done a full blood profile already if they have done a H.pylori test. Sometimes you can just feel sick to.

I would request an ultra-sound, you don't want this plauging you you - once you start getting frequent attacks it just gets worse as the gall bladder gets inflammed, you get adhesions and you do NOT want it to get infected like mine was - i thought i was going to die!

Yes, the pain was worse than childbirth, absolutely the worse pain i ever had - the only thing that really shifted it was morphine based painkillers, but i refused them because i was BF.

oh and pregnancy is well known to exacerbate gallstones - sorry to say.

Yes , my sisters got much worse during her pregnancies.

You need to get this sorted out....they can get infected and that is very nasty.

Ah, I finally worked out how to do a search and re-find this thread to say thank you to everyone who replied and especially becaroo, herbietea and LucyEllensmummy who were spot on about gallstones...

I went back to the gp (saw a different dr) and he agreed that it sounded too severe to put down to stress and probably wasn't acid so he ordered lots of blood tests (I had only done a stool sample before, not bloods). I asked about gallstones and he said it was unlikely as what I was describing was "classic stomach" stuff and wasn't directly linked to eating every time. However, the tests would give us a better idea. The liver function tests came back all wonky so I got a scan which has confirmed "a bucketful of gallstones" . I'm relieved to have a diagnosis and for it to be something I can do something about. Am waiting now for my referral to come through for an appointment to talk about getting it removed.

Sadly, all the pain, the attacks and the lack of eating (for fear of triggering an attack) has led to me losing lots of weight and my milk supply really dropping so I'm basically done bf'ing dd2 . I am sad but think it's probably for the best for my recovery and my ability to take lots of painkillers (bit selfish but best for me I think) after the op but still a bit glum about it (dd2 is 9 months though so she had a good run ).

hi ,i just wondered if you have had your op yet? i'm due to have my gallbladder removed on the 5th may and was curious as to recovery time as i've heard many different stories!! hope yours went well!