terrible stomach problems

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by stonr, Dec 18, 2005.

  1. stonr

    stonr Member

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    hey ive never posted in the health section, ok so this is the deal:

    the week of thanks giving i started to loose my appetite, i figure well my
    Aunts in town, I have mid terms, etc., so I thought I could be stress so I didn't think much of it.
    So a week goes by I wouldn't have an appetite one day then I would eat any thing I could, weird, but again figure midterms maybe its stress.

    About another 2 weeks pass by, IM constantly hungry but no appetite, I would get food sit down and it just wasn't appetizing, it was like that with every food.

    So the last week or so I have had little to no appetite, I have dropped about 13 pounds since this started, I am hungry I know its not anorexia nervosa, and its not bulimia nervosa. But I can barely get any food down, not even half a salad without this puking feeling in my upper abdomen.

    so its not anorexia or bulimia nervosa i know this, its not the stomach flu cause i have had it for some time now and no one i live with has it. its similar to symptoms of liver problems but my eyes aren't yellow my tongue is fine, nails are fine so im sure its not that. there's no blood in my poop, no blood in my vomit, i haven't coughed up blood, nothing. I have no clue what this could be so ya, can someone help me figure out what's wrong???????

    thanks,
    stonr
     
  2. wiggy

    wiggy Bitch

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    So are you being sick with this then? i couldnt quite get that bit LOL

    It might be allergys to something e.g wheat, dairy etc.

    As its been going on for a while i would suggest you go and see your doctor and explain to them - its not good not eating!!!
     
  3. ihmurria

    ihmurria fini

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    go see the doctor

    my great aunt had something similar happen, she couldnt' eat anything, her own body wouldnt' even let her chew without her getting really really nauseaus. liquid diet only, and only a few sips at a time. Turns out she had a blockage in her intestine that had to be surgically removed, and her body knew she couldn't handle much food at once so it wasn't letting her eat.

    so go see the doctor, cuz it sounds like something potentially serious to me
     
  4. stonr

    stonr Member

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    ^^ya i figured that part out. im gonna see a doctor maybe tomm, im feeling better, for breakfast i had eggs, bacon, toast, butter, jelly etc, no problems i duno wtf it was but im feeling better for lunch i had lil smokeys (little bbq wieners) so id say im doing ok, im staying away from alcahol for now cause i dont wana piss my stomach off and have some more problems
     
  5. stonr

    stonr Member

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    ya, so i ate, pork, mashed potatoes, and some collard greens, i couldnt get the pork down but it was greasy so i wasnt supprised, the collard greens werent my taste cause ive never liked em, and the mashed potatoes were the best, but the smell of the food is now getting to me, its not the food it self its the smell of the food from it bieng cooked that seems to be bothering me right now.
     
  6. stonr

    stonr Member

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    so ya im doing alot better, the only thing that gets to me now is really rich foods, and smells, if that makes sence, so ya. i might see a doctor depending on if i want to, i dunno though
     
  7. bellystar

    bellystar Member

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    I don't want to assume anything but...a few years ago a friend of mine went through the same thing (and lost a ton of weight) before she found out that she was pregnant. Just a thought. Whatever the case, get to the doctor ASAP!!!!!
     
  8. stonr

    stonr Member

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    OMG i think im pregnant. haha na, i went to the doctor, did blood work, and nothing out of the ordinary......i have to get a gi xray thing and then theyr gonna stick a camera down my throat, im now on prevacid and its actualy helping alot so i duno,
     
  9. stonr

    stonr Member

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    bump, it was an ulsar speelings a bitch, ne wayz, nexium for a month, its all good. drank, no probs, just not, ya i drank hardcore, but not tons of hardcore drinking over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
     
  10. Maggie Sugar

    Maggie Sugar Senior Member

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    I'm glad you saw the doctor, stonr. Stay away from booze, it is no good for your tummy, especially if you may have an ulcer. Be careful of pills and things like speed, too. Speed can kill your stomach (only take it if you have a prescription for ADD, and even then, let your doctor who prescribed it know you have an ulcer.)

    Eat what appeals to you, in SMALL amounts. Probably 5-6 small meals a day is better than 2 or 3 large ones.

    I hope you are feeling better. Oh, one more thing. Milk is about the WORST thing for an ulcer. It actually increases acid production in the stomach, which is what you DON'T want, when you are waiting for an ulcer to heal. Also be careful with things like oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, and vinegar based stuff. These are all good foods, but not while you are battling an ulcer.

    You are young for an ulcer, make sure your doctor does follow up, even after you feel better.

    The great thing is now, there is medical treatment for ulcer. When I was a kid, people would just consume massive quantities of Roliaids and be sick for the rest of their lives, or have to have surgery. Now, there is medical treatment.

    Did your doctor do a H. Pylori test? This is a test they take by sampling either your blood or even taking some of your breathe (yep) H Pylori is responsible for a number of ulcers, and it requires antibiotics as well as something like Previcid. Talk to your mom, and make sure they tested you for this. It could cut your treatment time down by months or even years, if you did have it.

    Good luck, honey. I hope you are feeling better.
     
  11. Maggie Sugar

    Maggie Sugar Senior Member

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    Long, but helpful article.

    What is H. pylori?
    Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria. Researchers believe that H. pylori is responsible for the majority of peptic ulcers.

    H. pylori infection is common in the United States: About 20 percent of people under 40 years old and half of those over 60 years have it. Most infected people, however, do not develop ulcers. Why H. pylori does not cause ulcers in every infected person is not known. Most likely, infection depends on characteristics of the infected person, the type of H. pylori, and other factors yet to be discovered.

    Researchers are not certain how people contract H. pylori, but they think it may be through food or water.

    Researchers have found H. pylori in the saliva of some infected people, so the bacteria may also spread through mouth-to-mouth contact such as kissing.

    [Top]
    How does H. pylori cause a peptic ulcer?
    H. pylori weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum, which allows acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath. Both the acid and the bacteria irritate the lining and cause a sore, or ulcer.

    H. pylori is able to survive in stomach acid because it secretes enzymes that neutralize the acid. This mechanism allows H. pylori to make its way to the "safe" area—the protective mucous lining. Once there, the bacterium's spiral shape helps it burrow through the lining.

    [Top]
    What are the symptoms of an ulcer?
    Abdominal discomfort is the most common symptom. This discomfort usually

    is a dull, gnawing ache


    comes and goes for several days or weeks


    occurs 2 to 3 hours after a meal


    occurs in the middle of the night (when the stomach is empty)


    is relieved by eating


    is relieved by antacid medications
    Other symptoms include

    weight loss


    poor appetite


    bloating


    burping


    nausea


    vomiting
    Some people experience only very mild symptoms, or none at all.

    Emergency Symptoms
    If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away:

    sharp, sudden, persistent stomach pain


    bloody or black stools


    bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds


    They could be signs of a serious problem, such as

    perforation—when the ulcer burrows through the stomach or duodenal wall


    bleeding—when acid or the ulcer breaks a blood vessel


    obstruction—when the ulcer blocks the path of food trying to leave the stomach



    [Top]
    How is an H. pylori-related ulcer diagnosed?
    Diagnosing an Ulcer
    To see whether symptoms are caused by an ulcer, the doctor may do an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series or an endoscopy. An upper GI series is an x ray of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The patient drinks a chalky liquid called barium to make these organs and any ulcers show up more clearly on the x ray.

    An endoscopy is an exam that uses an endoscope, a thin, lighted tube with a tiny camera on the end. The patient is lightly sedated, and the doctor carefully eases the endoscope into the mouth and down the throat to the stomach and duodenum. This allows the doctor to see the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The doctor can use the endoscope to take photos of ulcers or remove a tiny piece of tissue to view under a microscope. This procedure is called a biopsy. If an ulcer is bleeding, the doctor can use the endoscope to inject drugs that promote clotting or to guide a heat probe that cauterizes the ulcer.


    H. pylori bacteria

    Diagnosing H. pylori
    If an ulcer is found, the doctor will test the patient for H. pylori. This test is important because treatment for an ulcer caused by H. pylori is different from that for an ulcer caused by NSAIDs.

    H. pylori is diagnosed through blood, breath, stool, and tissue tests. Blood tests are most common. They detect antibodies to H. pylori bacteria. Blood is taken at the doctor's office through a finger stick.

    Urea breath tests are an effective diagnostic method for H. pylori. They are also used after treatment to see whether it worked. In the doctor's office, the patient drinks a urea solution that contains a special carbon atom. If H. pylori is present, it breaks down the urea, releasing the carbon. The blood carries the carbon to the lungs, where the patient exhales it. The breath test is 96 percent to 98 percent accurate.

    Stool tests may be used to detect H. pylori infection in the patient's fecal matter. Studies have shown that this test, called the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test, is accurate for diagnosing H. pylori.

    Tissue tests are usually done using the biopsy sample that is removed with the endoscope. There are three types:

    The rapid urease test detects the enzyme urease, which is produced by H. pylori.


    A histology test allows the doctor to find and examine the actual bacteria.


    A culture test involves allowing H. pylori to grow in the tissue sample.
    In diagnosing H. pylori, blood, breath, and stool tests are often done before tissue tests because they are less invasive. However, blood tests are not used to detect H. pylori following treatment because a patient's blood can show positive results even after H. pylori has been eliminated.

    [Top]
    How are H. pylori peptic ulcers treated?
    Drugs Used to Treat H. pylori Peptic Ulcers
    Antibiotics: metronidazole, tetracycline, clarithromycin, amoxicillin

    H2 blockers: cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, nizatidine


    Proton pump inhibitors: omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprozole

    Stomach-lining protector: bismuth subsalicylate

    H. pylori peptic ulcers are treated with drugs that kill the bacteria, reduce stomach acid, and protect the stomach lining. Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria. Two types of acid-suppressing drugs might be used: H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors.

    H2 blockers work by blocking histamine, which stimulates acid secretion. They help reduce ulcer pain after a few weeks. Proton pump inhibitors suppress acid production by halting the mechanism that pumps the acid into the stomach. H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors have been prescribed alone for years as treatments for ulcers. But used alone, these drugs do not eradicate H. pylori and therefore do not cure H. pylori-related ulcers. Bismuth subsalicylate, a component of Pepto-Bismol, is used to protect the stomach lining from acid. It also kills H. pylori.

    Treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics, acid suppressors, and stomach protectors. Antibiotic regimens recommended for patients may differ across regions of the world because different areas have begun to show resistance to particular antibiotics.

    The use of only one medication to treat H. pylori is not recommended. At this time, the most proven effective treatment is a 2-week course of treatment called triple therapy. It involves taking two antibiotics to kill the bacteria and either an acid suppressor or stomach-lining shield. Two-week triple therapy reduces ulcer symptoms, kills the bacteria, and prevents ulcer recurrence in more than 90 percent of patients.

    Unfortunately, patients may find triple therapy complicated because it involves taking as many as 20 pills a day. Also, the antibiotics used in triple therapy may cause mild side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dark stools, metallic taste in the mouth, dizziness, headache, and yeast infections in women. (Most side effects can be treated with medication withdrawal.) Nevertheless, recent studies show that 2 weeks of triple therapy is ideal.

    Early results of studies in other countries suggest that 1 week of triple therapy may be as effective as the 2-week therapy, with fewer side effects.

    Another option is 2 weeks of dual therapy. Dual therapy involves two drugs: an antibiotic and an acid suppressor. It is not as effective as triple therapy.

    Two weeks of quadruple therapy, which uses two antibiotics, an acid suppressor, and a stomach-lining shield, looks promising in research studies. It is also called bismuth triple therapy.

    [Top]
    Can H. pylori infection be prevented?
    No one knows for sure how H. pylori spreads, so prevention is difficult. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine to prevent infection.

    [Top]
    Why don't all doctors automatically check for H. pylori?
    Changing medical belief and practice takes time. For nearly 100 years, scientists and doctors thought that ulcers were caused by stress, spicy food, and alcohol. Treatment involved bed rest and a bland diet. Later, researchers added stomach acid to the list of causes and began treating ulcers with antacids.

    Since H. pylori was discovered in 1982, studies conducted around the world have shown that using antibiotics to destroy H. pylori cures peptic ulcers. The prevalence of H. pylori ulcers is changing. The infection is becoming less common in people born in developed countries. The medical community, however, continues to debate H. pylori's role in peptic ulcers. If you have a peptic ulcer and have not been tested for H. pylori infection, talk to your doctor.

    Points to Remember
    A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.


    The majority of peptic ulcers are caused by the H. pylori bacterium. Many of the other cases are caused by NSAIDs. None are caused by spicy food or stress.


    H. pylori can be transmitted from person to person through close contact and exposure to vomit.


    Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating.


    A combination of antibiotics and other drugs is the most effective treatment for H. pylori peptic ulcers

    digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/
     

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