Upper g.i. problems also

[bourne62]

Hi

You are all so helpful to me with my ibs I wondered if anyone had upper g.i. problems. I am having a really bad flare. Awful nausea, pain just under sternum, sore, burning and pains under right and left ribs.

I had upper g.i.scope jan, two abdominal ultrasounds last year last in dec all clear. This is awful and I stress and worry. I have been under a lot of stress before this flare.

Please anyone with these symptoms. I have a small hiatus hernia. I cannot keep having tests which is more stress.

Thank you

[Nica06]

My Gas Dr finally gave me nitroglycerin for that horrible pain in the sternum. I used to endure that pain for up to 5 hours, now, maybe one minute. He said it relaxes 'spacticity' for people who are suffering from IBS. Ask your Gas Dr. and good luck.

[MattGY]

Oh my goodness, reading your post is like reading about my own symptoms. I don't actually have a diagnosis of IBS (yet) but having been reading about the symptoms and I have come to the conclusion I have it. I am having an upper GI endoscopy on Monday for a check but the more I read the more convinced I am that I have IBS. I have the same feeling of a burning in the sternum, pain in lower ribs, nausea, but not too much and I have been under a lot of stress recently. I also have a lot of (untreated) anxiety. I too stress and worry about the symptoms and this seems to bring them on as well. I don't know what the answer is, I take omeprazole twice per day which does eliminate my acid indigestion; these other pains are different form that. It is reassuring to know that there are others like me and I'm not alone with this though.

[Elaine1956]

Hi,bourne 62. I also had the upper GI involvement and have had a few scopes.Nothing was detected since the first one when they diagnosed that heliobactor bug. That disappeared after a course of antibiotics and never bothered since.

However I am prone to pain just under my left ribs-again,nothing found. I sometimes get heartburn but Gaviscon helps with that,and I would get the sickly nausea feeling but not so much now.

hope this helps.

Elaine

[PatV]

one thing for sure, don't eat spicy food close to bed time. I did and woke up thinking I had a heart attack.

I don't know if abdominal massage for pain works for upper ab, but does wonders for lower ab and relieves stress. I got a referral from GI doctor.

[pgiese]

I have similar problems with IBS and upper GI. A large consumption of Gaviscon was no longer helping. The GP put me on Lansoprazole which has helped a lot. Also I found the FODMAP diet helped me identify a number of problem foods (especially, for me, beer, wine and wheat). All this keeps me fairly stable, but stress can still cause a lot of problems with the GI and IBS. For stress, I've had success with teas from Daimiana and Kava (since "self-medicating" with beer and wine is no longer an option).

[Hidden]

Have you tried intolerance tests - leaving out certain foods like dairy and lactose - as opposed to just taking medication ?

I also have a small hiatus hernia which doesn't give me any problems.

I had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy to get my diagnosis of IBS - I thought it was probably something I was eating but didn't leave anything out until all the tests were done and I had the diagnosis.

Within 3 weeks of being completely lactose and dairy free my symptoms of diarrhorea were under control and I'd had diarrhorea everyday all day.

I am also very careful with tablet medication as a lot contains lactose and a bulking agent.

[frasiahmugo]

Your symptoms are so similar to mine.I usually get severe pains on my upper centre stomach that never seems to go.I have been on Gaviscon,actually almost all acid suppressants including the apple cider vinegar.The pain can be too much dat I have no appetite and even vomiting.I wish I would get something to ease the pain and soothe the stomach.Endoscopy does not reveal anything.

[frasiahmugo]

Your symptoms are so similar to mine.I usually get severe pains on my upper centre stomach that never seems to go.I have been on Gaviscon,actually almost all acid suppressants including the apple cider vinegar.The pain can be too much dat I have no appetite and even vomiting.I wish I would get something to ease the pain and soothe the stomach.Endoscopy does not reveal anything.

[lleg70]

Wow I have all the same pains too in ribs and sternum too. I was diagnosed with acid reflux 2 years ago and take pantoprazole. I have had endoscopys, mri and various other tests over past year as suspected colitis but was clear. I saw a gp yesterday as stomach and rib pains returned. She said was ibs and prescribed mebeverine. Just reading your post I now realise the gastric and ibs are related and it explains so much. I also upped my fluoxetine dose yesterday and have just read today it is a symptom of ibs.

I gave up smoking 6 weeks ago and these symptoms stared not long after. I guess smoking was my stress relief and not smoking has resulted in ibs flair up. Reading that others experience the same pain as me has put my mind at rest that it isn't something more serious.