Im female, 44, and have been progressively getting some kind of stomach problem.

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Im female, 44, and have been progressively getting some kind of stomach problem. Can you help? (I will add details after I get your answers!!!!) I think Ive had IBS for at least 20 years, getting progressively worse. The dr%26#039;s tell me this. Im getting a new symptom lately this year, that is scary. Last month I went to the ER because I woke up in the dead of the night, with my stomach on fire. It literally felt on fire, burning and so painful. I was so worried. Thought I was dying. Didn%26#039;t know what to do. I walked around, disoriented, finally took alka seltzer and that pretty much took most of the pain away. I went to the ER and was told I had %26quot;gastroenteritis%26quot; who knows if that is true.

Since then I have been getting stomach aches often. My stomach gets very bloated, hard, I have a pain behind my upper left rib in front, My stomach gets hard %26amp; bloated %26amp; I can%26#039;t lie down. I had pain 24 hrs 2 days ago. I fear an endoscopy and don%26#039;t know how to cope with the reality of that. What can I do in the meantime to sooth this pain.problem? I am waiting 4 my referral. Pls email me too.

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3 months ago

Nothing quite like talking about blood in my urine or other and feeling panicked! its not that I am fearful of finding out what I have, I would have anxiety having something plunged down my throat.. or worse somewhere else, I dont know how I will handle it. I am on Prylosec already.. because I told my nurse that I had a burning feeling. At times, although not often, I have had a small bit of acid reflux to my surprise. The burning horrible feeling feels behind my solar plexus, in my upper abdomen area. How can I have an ULCER?!?! IM TOO YOUNG! Plus I look in my 20%26#039;s, I guess thats why i feel Im so young. I know ulcers arent caused by worrying, thats been disproved, they are caused by a bacteria. I feel so sad that this is happening to me, and that I have to have an endoscopy before anyone even KNOWS whats wrong. Im waiting 4 the referral though as Ive already asked for it, and then I go to a gastroenterolgist.. one that is nice this time I hope.. as the other one was rude and distant.

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The burning sounds like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where stomach acid goes up past the sphincter muscle up into your esophogus. I%26#039;ve had it since my mid thirties (I%26#039;m male, 52), never going more than a few steps away from a pack of antacids.

This past summer I had endoscopy, and was told that I have Barrett%26#039;s Esophogus, where the cells in the esophogus try to imitate stomach lining cells in an attempt to protect from further damage.

My situation was made more complicated by the fact that I had become lactose intolerant -- sometime in my thirties my body stopped being able to produce the enzymes needed to digest milk. So I had gas and bloating, including major pains under the ribs, similar to what you describe.

The prescription medication Nexium or the over-the-counter version, Prilosec, is often used to treat GERD.

WARNING -- danger, Penny Robinson! If there%26#039;s ANY reason to suspect stomach or esophogal bleeding it is DANGEROUS to take these medications.

For the moment, if I were you as a TEMPORARY MEASURE I would take lactase enzyme (available in health food stores) when I just CAN%26#039;T avoid dairy, antacids for the pain, and NEVER NEVER NEVER lie down less than two hours after eating.

Avoid Alka Seltzer - it may temporarily relieve pain but the acidity of the aspirin it contains can do further damage, and sometimes causes a %26quot;bounce-back%26quot; effect that causes more pain later. You need to take regular antacids without aspirin -- Rolaids, Tums, Gelusil, Maalox -- all are available over the counter. If you%26#039;re broke, try a small amount of baking soda mixed with warm water. Tastes awful, but it works.

But these all are *temporary measures*. You need to get over your fear and GET TO A DOCTOR ASAP. GERD often causes Barrett%26#039;s, and Barrett%26#039;s can be a precourser to esophogal cancer!

I hate to sound alarmist, but I AM deliberately trying to scare you -- GET TREATMENT OR BE PREPARED TO DIE.

Feel free to email me.

EDIT -- A colleague of mine is 22. She has ulcers. There%26#039;s no such thing as %26quot;too young.%26quot; personal experience since the time Reagan slept through cabinet meetings and Nancy ran the country 100% 1 Vote

Im female, 44, and have been progressively getting some kind of stomach problem.

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