Vomiting, Diarrhea, Pain And Chills. On Omeprazole For Heartburn. What Could Be Causing This?

Posted on Wed, 30 Oct 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 Answered on

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I have random bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, pain, chills, trembling, always in the evening hours. From onset to relief is usually about 2 hours. First attack was 4 years ago, 2, a month apart. Then once a year. Now I have had one 5 weeks ago and one last night. The vomiting is minimal, but dry heaves and diarrhea. The diarrhea is not black, but like brown water with bits of food in it. I have been taking omeprazole for 10 years for gall bladder/heartburn. 1 pill, every morning.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (-4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Malabsorption, pancreas and/or gall bladder concern

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Diarrhea with bits of food in it shows for malabsorption.

One factor might be related to problems of pancreas.

Another factor could be gall bladder not functioning properly.

So, if I were your caring doctor, would ask for abdominal echo (with attention paid to gall bladder and bile ducts) and ask for blood lipase levels together with GGT and ALP levels.

I would also recommend to exam the feces for ova/parasites, candida and/or bacteria infection (culture).

At the end, I'd suggest to continue taking omeprazole and do the above-mentioned tests.

Dr.Klerida

p.s. if you have other problems, please write back to me.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D