mike18
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Joined: 25 Dec 2006
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 Posted: 01/02/07 - 01:37 Post subject: Gas on Empty Stomach; Goes away when I eat. |
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Can anybody help?
My symptoms are the same as Tubby's (see his email below). He's 44, I'm 65 and otherwise quite healthy. I'm not under stress. I get regular exercise. I'm possibly 5 or 10 lbs. overweight at 170 (5'9"). I've not seen anyone else post a similar set of symptoms except Tubby and do not know how to contact him.
During most of 2004 immediately after a few bites of dinner meals (especially if it was a fatty or spicy dish), I experienced sequencially during 30-minute episodes: salivation, hiccups, naseau, and regurgitation. I often also had heartburn during the day.
Does ANYONE know what's going on?
I was first directed to over-the-counter Prilosec to no avail. During late 2005 and 2006 Prevacid was prescribed and my symptoms mostly disappeared, although not quite completely.
Now and for the last two months of 2006, I have suddenly been plagued by a lot of burping and some flatulence. I'm told I burp a lot most of the night while I sleep. I even have a lot of burping when I arise in the morning on an empty stomach. Eating some toast immediatly stops the burping. I have found that if I'm burping at night and get up to eat a few crackers, the burping stops promptly. Later, though, the gas resumes.
Before being prescribed the Prevacid, I had a complete upper and lower GI . I also had a tube exam through my esophagus into my stomach. A hiatal hernia of the top of the stomach was reported, a condition first discovered at age 40. No doctors ever considered it surgically necessary to correct. Two key 'valves' (one at top of stomach and the other in the intestines) were apparently normal. The only other things found were minor/moderate diverticulitis, a fatty liver, and only one small polyp. I drink very little alcohol. I do not drink milk. I use vegetarian creamers instead. I do drink perhaps 4 cups or sometimes more per day. I quit drinking coffee for two weeks last month, but that seemed to help just a little. My blood test results are normal for everything although I take meds for some problems. I almost never have a stomach ache or head ache.
I take very low dosage Liprinosil and HCZT for moderately elevated blood pressure (starting a year ago), Lipitor for cholesterol, a baby aspirin daily, low dosage Lavoxyl for thyroid, Paxil and some vitamins and diet supplements. Except for the blood pressure medicine, I have been taking all the other stuff for about 12 years or more. I had a fully monitored stress test that raised my pulse to 190 without any problems detected.
Any thoughts? My internist and my GI doctors seem clueless. The latter says I need to quit both decaf and regular coffee entirely, but that helped only modestly.
Also, can anyone forward this to Tubby, who wrote in on 08/03/2003, and let him know I'd like to hear how he's been doing and what he has tried.
Thank you,
Mike
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From: tubby
08/03/2003
I am 44yrs old. Six yrs ago i was scoped, and told i had mild gastritis, I was put on prilosec, which worked great for 2 years, the symptoms of excess gas and burping or the need to burp returned. I was put on prevacid and it worked most of the time with only occasional symptoms. now the prevacid does not seem to help as well. My symptoms are upper gas, only occassional slight stomach pains. I can not go to sleep for hours after eating (gas). I seem to get gas and slight acidy feeling also on a empty stomach. I eat to much, and am about 50 lbs overweight. I did have a stress test 2 yrs ago, and had no problems. What can cause this feeling of needing to belch and belch
thanks
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Forum-M.D.-KYP
08/09/2003
tubby There are several causes of increased gas. This can include irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, GERD or malabsorption syndromes.
I would suggest an upper endoscopy to evaluate for any of the causesof dyspepsia (i.e. ulcers, GERD or inflammation). Testing your stool for malabsorption (i.e. fat malabsorption) and serum tests for celiac disease can also be considered. A test for lactose malabsorption can also be done.
There are a variety of OTC medications that can control gas - such as Beano, activated charcoal or Simethicone. These can be used for transient relief while the cause is investigated.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D. |
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