Stomach burning

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:29 pm

Bathroom habits getting better, burning stomach remains mostly at night. I know a year ago the doc saw small ulcers on colonoscopy. Just wondered what this could be. I've had it for awhile now.......thanks. (Have not touched an NSAID in 3years)

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:41 pm

I also had my d3 checked a month ago through vitamin d council. It was 69. Then at the docs just recently it was 92. I did not get my calcium checked. I wonder why my d shot up so quickly even though I felt I was in a flare. I wonder if the lump in my breast could be a calcification? I'm probably way off base. The measurements for the vit D were the same. My CRP was 1.6 so there is inflammation happening.hmmm interesting. I should definitely back down from the 10,000 Ius I take.

Post by **tex** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:42 pm

Vanessa,

Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) can be associated with MC. However, if lesions are visible through a scope, that suggests a possible Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

Tex

Chemgirl · Post by **Chemgirl** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:34 am

What Tex said.

I had gastritis on and off for years before I was diagnosed. It became progressively worse and this is what ultimately made me push for answers. As bad as the D was, the constant burning, stabbing pain, nausea, and bloody vomit really did a number on me.

Turns out it was H Pylori (and probably partially the MC). 2 weeks of multiple antibiotics and the pain was gone! I still had the bloating and indigestion until I was healed, but still a vast improvement.

There is a blood test for H Pylori, but the best way to diagnose is through endoscopy. You may also want to be checked for anemia. The verdict is out on the cause. but H Pylori is often associated with iron deficiency. No amount of supplementation will help until the infection has been addressed.

A side note, if you do have H Pylori, make sure you follow up with a stool test or a urea breath test after your course of antibiotics. The standard antibiotic cocktail is only effective around 70% of the time. H Pylori can lead to stomach cancer so it's important to make sure the infection is gone.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 3:56 pm

No parasites detected on my doctors data stool analysis 6 months back. I suppose things can change since then. Thanks for the info.

Post by **tex** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 5:59 pm

H. pylori are not parasites. They are bacteria that are very difficult to detect, even with biopsies taken during endoscopy. They do not show up in stool tests.

Many (possibly most) people have a relatively low population of H. pylori bacteria in their stomach, but as long as the numbers remain low, they're not a problem. But under some conditions they are able to thrive, and then they can cause serious problems.

Tex

Chemgirl · Post by **Chemgirl** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 8:13 am

A minor correction. There is a stool antigen test for h pylori, however it wouldn't be ordered as part of a normal panel http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorder ... lori-tests

That said, the bacteria is very difficult to detect. In my case tests were negative, however endoscopy revealed gastritis and gastric polyps. This was enough for my GI who prescribed treatment.

Given your symptoms and endoscopy results I think it would be worth speaking with your doctor about treating for h pylori.

Post by **tex** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:16 pm

Thanks for bringing up that test. Yes, there is a test for almost everything these days, but the reason why I discount the stool test for H. pylori is because it is based on detecting antibodies in the stool. I'm not sure that everyone produces antibodies to H. pylori, especially if they are already producing antibodies to gluten and other powerful antigens, because the immune system (IMO) follows a hierarchy when reacting to various antibodies of differently perceived threat levels, and it will tend to focus primarily on the dominant perceived threat.

Those tests are probably relatively reliable for people who do not have IBD/food sensitivities, but they may not be entirely reliable for us.

Tex

Greengoddess · Post by **Greengoddess** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 3:30 pm

The "stomach burning" is the both the worst and the most episodic syptom for me. It went and then reappeared after getting a bad cough. Clearly the valve is in a fragile state. We also told that gastritis has no connection to MC! And yet for many they clearly are.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 4:25 pm

Well, my ferritin went from 9 up to 35 with supplementation so hopefully that is promising. Meat seems to sit in my stomach like a lump so I'm guessing it is a low stomach acid issue. I don't want to mess with betain hcl knowing I might have small ulcers in there. One immodium every other day has sure calmed things down though! Thanks for all the info. I've never had an endoscopy. As soon as I was diagnosed I ran like hell from the gastro doc when she told me I could eat whatever. She did mention to come back for an endo. I just didn't see the point at that time.

Greengoddess · Post by **Greengoddess** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:54 am

Vanessa wrote:Well, my ferritin went from 9 up to 35 with supplementation so hopefully that is promising. Meat seems to sit in my stomach like a lump so I'm guessing it is a low stomach acid issue. I don't want to mess with betain hcl knowing I might have small ulcers in there. One immodium every other day has sure calmed things down though! Thanks for all the info. I've never had an endoscopy. As soon as I was diagnosed I ran like hell from the gastro doc when she told me I could eat whatever. She did mention to come back for an endo. I just didn't see the point at that time.

Would really recommend you have the gastroscopy. They last about 2mins and they give you put you to sleep if you want, with a tranquilliser. You get photos immediately afterwards and results of biopsies. I can't remember much but I had someone with me. Someone has to stay with you for 24 hrs because there is some memory loss. Same as with a colonoscopy.