Please advise on tummy ache

[birdman]

I'm 58 and have a year long tummy ache. When i lay down it will go away after a while, but returns within seconds after i stand up. Eating anything makes it feel a little better.

Had my first colonoscopy 5 years ago after bouts of inflammation in the groin area. They took out polyps but said they found no damaged nor inflamed areas.

Off and on i feel that inflammation. Stools are flat again, will go in for another colonoscopy scheduled 2 months away - may have polyps.

What about that tummy ache? Might be ulcers? Anything over the counter i can take? Please advise! Thanks!

 

[DJW]

Hi and welcome.

That's an awful long time to have a stomach ache. I think you're best option is to talk to the doctor.
I hope you get some answers.

 

[EvieBaby]

Have you tried taking anything over the counter or from your doctor?

 

[birdman]

Haven't tried any meds from doc nor over the counter. All of the descriptions i read for drugs like Prevacid, Prilosec and Nexium, seem they are to relive frequent heartburn. I have heartburn, but i wouldn't call it frequent nor uncommon. Don't seem to be the right avenue. Last physical was 2 years or so ago. The guy that will do this scope comes recommended. I'll quiz him about tummy pain. Took over 2 months to get a consultation appointment. I can wait though - been putting up with it a good year and off and on longer.

Just thought i might gain a little insight here. I generally avoid doctors. 6 years ago i waited til appendix burst before going in - i don't recommend waiting

 

[UnXmas]

I'm a bit confused by your post. You say they found no inflamed areas during colonoscopy, but that you had bouts of inflammation and that you feel inflammation??

 

[birdman]

I was confused myself. I went for first colonscope almost 5 yrs ago after having inflammation in lower right abdomen / groin area. It was severe or i wouldn't have gone in, but by the time they did the scope it had let up and they said they found nothing except a polyp - said no signs of inflammation nor damage.

I still have that same inflammation frequently in the same place, about as often as not, but it's low level and tolerable. The tummy ache is centered just above and below navel - feels better after meals and when i lie down for a while.

Trying a different doc this time (not that the other one might have been in error) but this one is recommended.

 

[UnXmas]

But how do you know you had/have inflammation if they didn't see it with the scope?

 

[birdman]

might be an error on my part - lots of guesswork without an official diagnosis - sure felt like that to me

 

[UnXmas]

You mean you felt pain? Inflammation in your digestive system can only be diagnosed when it is found by medical tests. It doesn't produce a particular type of pain, or any other specific symptom. If your colonoscopy found no inflammation and no evidence of past inflammation (scarring,etc.), your pain was not caused by inflammation in your colon. Though a colonoscopy only looks at the colon; it's possible you could have inflammation higher up in the digestive system, but to find out if you do or not you would need further tests.

When you say you have pain in your tummy, you mean around the belly button area? And you also get heartburn, but this is separate from your tummy pain (higher up?)? Sometimes ulcers can cause pain that feels like heartburn, usually after eating. But you really can't diagnose based just on symptoms when the symptoms you have can be caused by many different things. When you have your next colonoscopy, they won't be looking in your stomach (tummy). If you want to find the cause of the stomach pain, you're really going to have to see a doctor specifically about this pain, and maybe have tests that focus on the upper digestive system.

Also, in your first post, what do you mean when you say your stools are "flat"? (Sorry for the very personal questions! It's just not a word I've heard used in this context before!)

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. You could try over-the-counter heartburn medications in case it is heartburn, or mebeverine, which is an anti-spasmodic if your pain is stomach cramps, but it sounds like your symptoms are a bit more complicated than that.

 

[birdman]

Thanks for your comments - i do think they are helpful. Tummy is probably a separate issue.

Stool shapes are characterized as normal. flat or ribbon - which ribbon is just extreme flat and are usually caused by obstructions such as polyps, or so i think that to be the cause. I had similar stools before last colonoscopy - after which they were normal shape after removing polyp. Depends on polyp location if it effects shape i think.