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Hi, I Have Been Having Consistent Discomfort In My Stomach.
Question: Hi, i have been having consistent discomfort in my stomach. Not belly. The pain is in my diaphragm area. I have acid reflux and am on prescription omeprazole for years, following stomach and esophagus.My esophagus was staying open and I had a hienial hernia. I tell you this because I'm feeling the familiar pain and now my esophagus closes sometimes and won't let me eat. I am experiencing gas, queaziness and off and on diahrrea and constipation. Symptoms worsen if I eat high fatty foods, acidic foods, or rich foods. Now, I'm having a lot of mucous in my bowel. By a lot, I mean that after an urgent trip to bathroom , when I wiped i got more mucous than fecis. I've been putting up with discomfort, dismissing it as I've been in a lot of stress. I also have IBS. We have gallbladder issues in my family. My mother, brothers, and niece have had to have theirs removed. I hate to go to the doctor if I'm just having stress related digestive issues that will soon pass . But, the new symptom is making me wonder if something else may be going on that shouldn't dismissed. What do you suspect may be going on? Or, what do you recommend?
Brief Answer:
Could be due to slowing of bowel movements
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.
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.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid spicy food. Take small but frequent meals. Avoid long gaps between meals.
* Avoid alcohol intake (if it a part of your habit).
* Take Prilosec (omeprazole) once daily before breakfast.
* 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.
* Regular morning walk and exercise to keep the bowel movements proper.
* If I had a patient like you I would perhaps have suggested Prodep (fluoxetine) 20 mg tablet (long term anxiolytic and a prescription drug) once daily for at least 2 months (it may take time for the action to set in). Discuss about this with your treating physician.
* 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.
Hopefully that should help.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Could be due to slowing of bowel movements
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.
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.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid spicy food. Take small but frequent meals. Avoid long gaps between meals.
* Avoid alcohol intake (if it a part of your habit).
* Take Prilosec (omeprazole) once daily before breakfast.
* 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.
* Regular morning walk and exercise to keep the bowel movements proper.
* If I had a patient like you I would perhaps have suggested Prodep (fluoxetine) 20 mg tablet (long term anxiolytic and a prescription drug) once daily for at least 2 months (it may take time for the action to set in). Discuss about this with your treating physician.
* 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.
Hopefully that should help.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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