Question:
Dear members or guests, I need help to find out what is actually
going on with my abdominal pain. 1. I am a mother of a 3 years old
girl. My health condition history is I do have a gastritis problem
even before I had her. And occasionally it will gave me some pain if I
was under a lot of pressure and stress or eating too much of spicy
foods and has a vinegar in it. But as soon as I take some antacid the
pain will be gone shortly after that. 2. My problem start when I
am still the hospital for giving a birth of my daughter. It was a
Cesarean delivery. My OB Gyn Doctor had to give me Percocet for the
pain killer combined with some dosage of Ibuprofen. I have no
constipation problem while they say most people do. But my gastristis
condition occured immediately. But like usual they gave me a lot of
antacid. 3. The day four or maybe three I am not sure anymore I
went home , stayed home my first symptoms starts. As soon as I took
Percocet I feel not just the dizziness but also very nervous even my
fingers feels jittery. And I just fell asleep (or maybe fainted) I
wasn't sure. Not so long after that, every time I am taking any kind
of pain medication even as safe for the stomach as Tylenol , I started
to feel the pain in my stomach. 4. About 8 Months after that I had
this occurence where out of nowhere my vision is like divided and the
other side of the vision is like having a lot of watermark in it. And
then my right neck started to became very stiff, follows with nausea
and then I am about to faint, in some other cases I really am fainted.
5. About a year after I had this very painful stomach pain (It was
on December 2003) I have to stay in bed all the time and only eating
very soft liquid food (very mushy food like a baby food), and it was
not just that but I fainted about 3 times a day. The Gastroentologist
had to do the Endoscopy procedure and I was diagnosed for having a
GERD and Hyatal Hernia that seems to be caused by the pregnancy. So
I am under the treatment by taking GERD kind of medication. And I feel
I am in my best condition after that. 6. But right on December last
year (2003) The same symptoms occurred again. And my Family Practice
Doctor's said that it was my GERD problem again. But this time the
prescription that he gave me does not help me. And I recalled that
the pain started because I had cold and I have to take Tylenol but I
can't tolerate Tylenol (Acetaminophen) anymore make me started to
faint, but when I take Ibuprofen medication it hurts my stomach very
badly. So my big question is what do I have to do and what my
sickness is or I was wondering , do the Doctor need to prescribe me
some special medication when I have a cold or even start coughing so I
don't have to take any kind of Over the counter medication anymore,
because my stomach is very sensitive. And with my GERD problem my
condition is not very good either, because I had to avoiding a lot of
food especially fruits and vegetables. So I loss a lot of vitamins and
feel very weak most of the time. Could anyone help me or maybe
there is someone might have the same problem and want to share the
experience. Thank you in advance. Sincerely, Anita

Answer:
Anita, What is the name of the medicine you are currently taking? How
many milligrams and how often? It sounds as though you may be
experiencing problems with gastric ulcers. As for the episode where
you experienced stiffness in your right neck combined with vision
problems, you may have experienced a migraine headache. Or, you may
have pinched a nerve in your neck at that time. Or, perhaps it was due
to stress (with a new baby and all). It could be any number of things.
So the neck problem has gone away and basically you are concerned
about your stomach disorder? If your GERD medication is not working
for you, you need to notify your doctor so that your prescription can
be changed to a different dose or a different type altogether. If you
are feeling weak most of the time, you need to let your doctor know.
If you don't get good results, you need to find yourself another
doctor for a second opinion. An Abdominal Ultrasound might be a good
idea also. Please see a doctor soon.

Answer:
Hey Anita, how are you doing? The gesture of desparation should be
deffered as long as possible because there have been some reports of
spontaneous improvment or complete reversal of the disease. The
constant dismissal of insults to the stomach by habital alcohol,
excessive drug intake, or even over-indulgence in coffe can allow for
the condition to heal. Chronic gastritis is a disease that persists
for months, even years, and is often the sequel to the acute form as a
result of continuously insulting the inflammation of the mucous lining
of the stomach. Most often caused by too much alcohol or the excessive
intake or drugs e.g. asprin, coal-tar products, and ammonium chloride
(a diuretic phlegm loosener), iodides, bromides, and quinine. Spicy
foods also may precipitate gastritis. Some forms of the disease can
lead to carcinoma of the stomach. Plain but varied food is
recommended, spicy foods are to be avoided. In more severe cases, a
bland diet is advised. Some foods should be avoided e.g. heavy fibrous
vegetables and very hot or very cold foods. Antispasmodics,
antacids, and sedatives may be helpful. Antacids available are
aluminum hydrooxide combined with magnesium trisilicate and calcium
carbonate (liquid form usually more effective than tablet). Exchew
all substances that can stimulate gastric acid secretion - spices,
coffee, tea, and alcohol (including beer and wine). Meals should be
eaten at regular intervals. Small to moderate food intake. The last
meal should be eaten at least two to three hours before bedtime.
Diaphragmatic hernia or hiatus hernia is cause by direct trauma e.g.
incised wounds and missile wounds may produce opening followed by
herniation of abdominal contents in thorax. Aerophagia (swallowing of
air, most commonly caused by eating too fast) can exacerbate the
symptoms. Danger: Repeated inflammation of the esophagus can lead
to strictures or hidden but continuous bleeding, resulting in iron
deficiency anemia (pallor, fatigue, weakness and palpitations
(abnormally rapid beating of the heart when excited by violent
exertion, strong emotion), other symptoms may occur. Bending should be
done at the knee, and not at the waist to avoid intra-abdominal
pressure. In mild cases, standing up and drinking liquids after
meals is benefical. Meals should be eaten six times a day, with the
last meal two to three hours before bedtime. Contraindicated,
carbonated drinks, constructive clothing, citrus fruit, tabacco,
coffe, tea, and overeating. Most importantly, head of bed should be
elevated six to eight inches to aleviate any suggestion of reflux.
The best produce for the common cold is rest. Drinking plenty of
fluids will help. No truly useful medication is availiable for the
common cold. Antihistamines do not cure but only mask symptoms.
Nasal sprays may help prevent sinus and ear complications, but use is
only good for a few days. Antibiotics are only good if there is a
bacterial complication; the common cold is of a viral disease.
Decongestants may relieve symptoms. but should be carefull prescribed.
over-the-counter medications are usually of insufficient strength to
be effective and maybe unsuited to the illness being treated. Best
wishes,