Posted by Anonymous, Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 09:30 AM

Undiagnosed Stomach Problem

I am 16-year-old and have very frequent stomach problems. After I eat, I will experience severe upper abdominal discomfort and indigestion. Also, I get what feels like bubbles of air coming up into my esophagus, accompanied by a sort of growlng noise. The condition is worsened by excercise, and greatly lessened by laying down.

I've tried eating different foods and eliminating certain foods from my diet, but it doesn't seem to matter what I eat. Usually, I will experience symptoms after eating almost anything, be it a meal or just a little snack. However, my symptoms are usually worse after I eat big meals. Sometimes it won't bother me for 8 to 10 days, only to come back later and give me problems every time I eat.

Symptoms will last for several (at least one to four) hours after I eat and are greatly worsened by excercise. Even going to the gym two hours after a meal, I end up feeling really indigested. I have tried taking medicine for gas and acid such as Pepto Bismol and Tums (as well as a few suggested to me by my pharmacist). None of these work. I talked to my doctor, but he simply named several stomach disorders and vaguely said he'd run some tests (which all came back negative).

At first I thought it might be GERD, but then I realized that I have no pain, only discomfort, and that my discomfort is greatly reduced by laying down, not worsened as in GERD.

What can I do? My parents have basically blown me off. They think that it can't be bothering me that much because I don't really complain about it, but I just don't complain because I know there's nothing they can do. I've ended up barely eating because doing so just makes me sick.

Please help! What could this be?

P.S.- My dad has pretty severe dysphagia. Could this be genetic?

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Posted by Reb

July 23, 2008 at 09:33 AM

I have had similar problems. A strong enzyme from Source Naturals before I eat has helped me be able to eat again without so much discomfort.

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Posted by dottie

August 15, 2008 at 05:48 PM

with the problems you are having while you eat are similar to what my husband had.... not to scare you but he put it off as acid reflux flair up and then i finally conviced him to go and he had his esophagaus scoped and he found out that it was esophageal cancer is 50 but to be safe... please go get tested... we wish we wouldnt of waited so long... we have just start getting treatment. but before he could do that he had to have a g-tube (feeding tube) put in to build his strength up first.... this is in no way to scare you but please make a appt to get it checked to be safe... send my love

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