stomach ache and heartburn - worrying myself stupid!

[Beautifullettuce]

Please help me stop driving myself demented. I had DD2 4 months ago, for last 2 months have had persistent tummy ache and heartburn, with an intermittent sensation of something being stuck in my chest (like when you don't swallow a pill properly). Been to GP several times who thought it was acid reflux and prescribed ranitidine and then omeprazole but neither seem to have much effect. Have been referred to a gastro specialist, in meantime am worrying myself stupid about early symptoms of stomach cancer. I'm 31 and know this is statistically unlikely but am terrified nonetheless...

First of all don't Google your symptoms.

Secondly, I think it is quite common to have tummy problems after pregnancy. I have had heartburn a lot since having ds, and I never had it before.

I think the muscles around the tummy relax and allow acid to flow up the oesophagus.

Try not to worry, I am sure you will be fine .

Please don't worry the chances are that it is something minor and /or fixable . I had a lot of acid reflux a year ago and ended up having an endoscopy . Omeprazole etc didn't work for me either . Was told that I had a small hiatus hernia and may have been a legacy of having two kids. I think the stress was making it worse because I got a lot better after the endoscopy - and now take omeprazole in short bursts as and when I need it . Have also worked out that there are some food triggers and I avoid these foods now.
Hope all goes well

M.

Thanks for replying ladies - what you're saying makes a lot of sense, it does seem likely it's related to my body adjusting post pregnancy, flippin' uncomfortable though it is.

Minnie - out of interest, which foods are you avoiding?

Hi

I am avoiding wheat and also find that I am unable to tolerate milk in anything more than minute quantities - ie just in tea and coffee.Drinking a glass of milk would mean instant heartburn - followed by very upset tummy.
hth

M

i think you might find that it is a hernia. the omeprazole should help but you might also want to take an antacid. long lasting gaviscon is bllllggh but should help. also need high fibre and water to help stomach empty.

ooh just remembered you can get whats called motility drugs but not sure of brand names these days. they help your stomach empty faster.

you could also try a couple of pieces of licorice every day. this does two things. one ehlps stomach move on. two helps thicken lining mucus of stomach.

its rare to have cancer at your age but do not let reflux go untrated as it can eventauly cause cancer.

try gastrocote tablets instead of gaviscon They are superb

My DH had symptoms like yours and they got worse and worse. Eventually he could not swallow anything other than water (over a period of 2.5 years).

We were pushed from pillar to post (3 endoscopies, scans, x-rays) and evenutally he has such a bad attack one day I just took him to the hospital.

He was on a drip for 10 days and had more tests than I care to remember. I was more worried than I ever had been in my life.

It turns out he has a rare condition called Achalasia - in short it's when the oesaphagus stops working as it should. It's treatable - he had an operation in December 2008 and he is now much better.

I suppose I am telling you all of this to give you some reassurance that it's probably something minor. As moowcowme says though, you shouldn't leave it, as long term acid reflux can be a factor in Stomach/Esophageal cancer.

Another one here for intermittent use of omeprazole - now when he is feeling a bit off he has a short course of omeprazole and it works very quickly.

Good luck.

there are other PPi's that you can try like lansoprazole,nexium, or maybe you need a higher strength

Thanks all - I saw a gastro specialsist last night who was very reassuring but is going to perform an endoscope in a fortnight just to be sure.

Have any of you had this procedure - would you recommend being sedated or just going with the throat spray?

OP- I could have written your post this time last year!
Ask also for a blood test for h.pylori (and this is one you are allowed to google as it is easily dealt with!)
That's what my "stomach cancer" turned out to be!

Definitely agree also with Aly about the gastrocote! Following her advice before Christmas I went cold turkey on the omeprazole and relied on the gastrocote till I felt I could stop with those too. Have now been "clean" since December! (also told the lady in Boots who had never heard of them how fab they were!)

Thanks Bucharest - I've had the blood test for H pylori - it was negative - will check out the gastrocote - thanks for the tip.

Just had a thought - am b/f so maybe sedation for endoscopy won't be an option?!

I think (not sure though) that as it's a localised spray thingy it won't matter that you're bf?

Hope it goes OK for you!

Def get some gastrocote as well, hoooooge tub for £8 and apparently also available on prescription.

glad the gastrocote worked for you bucharest.
BF and his mum are on them and i take them occasionally. we all think they are brilliant and they are less likely to cause side effects than PPI's

Quick update: I had my endoscopy this afternoon. Decided to pass on the sedation - just wanted to get on with it and be compus mentis afterwards to hear the results. Whilst it wasn't a picnic (I wretched a lot) it was totally manageable. In fact there was only one point where I got a bit spooked and thought I couldn't cope and that was just as they 'hit the bottom' and said it was almost over. Was really surprised I was still able to breathe through my mouth - certainly no pain, and no ill effects afterwards.

Most importantly though, the consultant said everything was normal. He's given me another month's course of omeprazole and some domperidone to speed up my digestion. My follow-up appointment is in one month. I'm really hoping that now I know my symptoms aren't anything sinister, my outlook will be much more positive and I'll start to get better. This has been the first thing I've thought about each morning and the last thing on my mind each night for 3 months, and that in itself is completely unhealthy and is no doubt contributing to my discomfort.

Of course, I now feel daft for scaring myself, but glad I had it checked out thoroughly. Thanks for reading my posts and you support and advice ladies.