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What Should I Ask My GI Specialist For Next? I
Posted on
Sat, 17 Aug 2019
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 17 Aug 2019
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : What should I ask my GI specialist for next? I keep thinking I have some sort of cancer. 3 months ago I started getting gastritis symptoms. When they did the endoscopy they found redness in the lower 1/3 of my esophagus and in my stomach. I had blood on my diarrhea and it was so forceful, that they assumed it came from an internal hemorrhoid. I was told that if it came from the small bowel the blood would have been black by the assistant GI specialist. I wasn't so sure given how quickly the diarrhea came that it couldn't have come from the small bowel, but I digress. Nothing unusual was reported in my Duodenum or Colon. They put me on acid blockers and assumed I had some sort of irritable bowel with mild peptic disease. I have since had an ultrasound and a CT scan. The CT scan showed what they thought were benign liver cysts scattered in my liver. I am getting a 2nd opinion on that because I don't see how they can know they were benign for sure and especially since there is more than one and they are scattered. I had a HIDA scan, but it appears my gall bladder is acting as it should. I had burning off and on for probably a month or longer. Anxiety may have made the gastritis worse. The burning went away, I think, but I still get some stomach pain, bloating, and burping every day. More worrisome is that I've lost 20 lbs since the end of May without intentional exercise. I am not sure what to ask the doctor for next. Should I ask for a EUS to check my pancreas closer? It seems like I've burped more whenever I have something like Boost meal replacement or even water. Is there some way to test the small bowel? Also, I feel like I am getting surges of some kind of hormone in my gut, bladder, or pelvis. I get this weird feeling that lasts all day. Also, my entire back hurts me really bad. Originally it was just the left side and center. Now my right shoulder is tingling, too. On the left side by my bra line I have one sore rib. I get pains under my left breast and sometimes it feels like acid or gas is slapping me in that area. My stomach issues were messing with my heart rate, but my heart rate was going back down in between meals and at night. Now, I am on a beta blocker because it decided to stay at 115 bpm while I was trying to sleep and wouldn't go back down. What is your advice?
Brief Answer:
Proper medication.
Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Thanks for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query.
Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food along with the digestive juices would stagnate, stomach acid will reflux into the food pipe and on the other hand the bowel habits would not be proper. Degradation of undigested food in the intestines by the intestinal bacteria would lead to the excess gas formation. This undigested food produces large amount of highly toxic gases which compresses the intestines. As we know that nerves and blood vessels passes through these intestines the pressure applied causes the nerves to stretch hence causing pain. Incomplete fermentation is also involved with inflammation of intestines which again cause spasms and pain.
Redness in lower one third of esophagus is suggestive of mucosal redness and inflammation as a result of acid reflux.
As far as cysts are concerned either a MRI or biopsy sample should be taken from one of the cyst to see if it's benign or malignant in nature.
Multiple scattered cysts could be a sign of malignancy also.
When ever you take food your autonomous nerves get stimulated causing surge of acid stimulating vagal nerve which causes tachycardia.
Small bowel bacteria's should be checked by a stool culture and sensitivity.
A small bowel emptying test could also be done.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid spicy food.
* Add activated charcoal tablets thrice daily to absorb gas.Take Probiotics daily three times a day like Econorm for proper digestion of food.
* Take Prilosec (omeprazole) once daily before breakfast along with reflux inhibitor like domeridom to prevent acidity and reflux of acid back.
* Take plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as other sources of dietary fibers. Take fiber supplements like isabgol/psyllium husk or senna. I would insist you to increase your dietary fiber intake.
* Take curd or yogurt on daily basis. It contains beneficial bacteria and should help.
* Stress reduction has a very important role to play. Yoga and meditation should help.
Lastly you should ask your doctor to add Clonazepam and fluoxetine into your regimen for few days.Anxiety is cause of almost all the problems you are telling and right now you are really under lots of anxiety.
Feel free to follow up.
Hope I was helpful,
Thanks.
Proper medication.
Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Thanks for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query.
Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food along with the digestive juices would stagnate, stomach acid will reflux into the food pipe and on the other hand the bowel habits would not be proper. Degradation of undigested food in the intestines by the intestinal bacteria would lead to the excess gas formation. This undigested food produces large amount of highly toxic gases which compresses the intestines. As we know that nerves and blood vessels passes through these intestines the pressure applied causes the nerves to stretch hence causing pain. Incomplete fermentation is also involved with inflammation of intestines which again cause spasms and pain.
Redness in lower one third of esophagus is suggestive of mucosal redness and inflammation as a result of acid reflux.
As far as cysts are concerned either a MRI or biopsy sample should be taken from one of the cyst to see if it's benign or malignant in nature.
Multiple scattered cysts could be a sign of malignancy also.
When ever you take food your autonomous nerves get stimulated causing surge of acid stimulating vagal nerve which causes tachycardia.
Small bowel bacteria's should be checked by a stool culture and sensitivity.
A small bowel emptying test could also be done.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid spicy food.
* Add activated charcoal tablets thrice daily to absorb gas.Take Probiotics daily three times a day like Econorm for proper digestion of food.
* Take Prilosec (omeprazole) once daily before breakfast along with reflux inhibitor like domeridom to prevent acidity and reflux of acid back.
* Take plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as other sources of dietary fibers. Take fiber supplements like isabgol/psyllium husk or senna. I would insist you to increase your dietary fiber intake.
* Take curd or yogurt on daily basis. It contains beneficial bacteria and should help.
* Stress reduction has a very important role to play. Yoga and meditation should help.
Lastly you should ask your doctor to add Clonazepam and fluoxetine into your regimen for few days.Anxiety is cause of almost all the problems you are telling and right now you are really under lots of anxiety.
Feel free to follow up.
Hope I was helpful,
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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