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Digestive system Questions

Stomach bug or not? Hi, I started having diarrhea in the early hours of monday morning. It continued every hour or so through monday and by 10pm i was ok. I was fine all through the night and had some cereal for breakfast and was fine after that. I had some soup for lunch and it triggered it again. Although it has made me feel a bit grotty, I have had no sickness, vomiting or stomach pain at all and was wondering if you think this sounds like a stomach bug or whether it might be something else like IBS? I have got very mild IBS but never anything like this and I havent eaten anything that I know of to trigger it.... Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

Good bacteria gut health I sometimes feel miserable and de-motivated and very often have an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. I think this could be due to not being able to produce enough good bacteria. I was told by a colonic hydrotherapist that i had candida overgrowth and cant help but think that this is all related to not having a healthy balance of bacteria in my digestive system. Another contribution to this may have been having my appendix removed when i was a child. I would like to know if this is conceivable and any steps i should take?

recurring indigestion For a few years now I have been suffering from indigestion, but over the past couple of years it has got worse. I can go for a week without much in the way of symptoms, then for a week or more I will have symptoms which include wind in centre of upper abdomen going into back, wanting to burp. Sometimes there is tenderness under my breastbone and tightness in chest. The symptoms are worse if I drink alcohol the night before, which I understand is the alcohol irritating my stomach. I had an ovarian cyst a year ago and thought the symptoms might be to do with this but the consultant said not. I subsequently had the cyst removed and it was benign. I have been taking prednisolone, formerly cortisone acetate since I was around age 17, I am 53 now, and I understand this can irritate the stomach. Due to the symptoms being almost permanent, I had an endoscopy recently but this was normal, there were no ulcers, hernias etc. I have also been tested for H Pylori virus which was negative. I do suffer from quite severe stress and am wondering if the indigestion is just down to this, although I can get the symptoms when I am not feeling particularly stressed out. I am going back to doctor but wanted a second opinion. Could you advise what the possible causes of my symptoms are, bearing in mind tests have all been normal. I have a little peace of mind now as I was worried about stomach cancer (I am a worrier) but I am still having the symptoms and it is affecting my quality of life. I also take bisoprolol for high blood pressure and thyroxine in addition to prednisolone.

perianal abscess hi i have recently been told i have a perianal abscess by my gp and he prescribed me flucxocillin 3days ago. They pain has eased but where it was like a solid lump it now feels soft and the surface has what looks like a boil with no head on it and also area is red. Should i be concerned or do you think the antibiotics are working. I have had 3 perianal abscess in the last 18 months due to my crohns thankyou

crohns i have a severe pain in my anus which i have had now for about 4 days, it gets worse when i cough and it hurts when i am sitting. i tried a warm bath last night but the pain is much worse today i have noticed a small amount of blood but i am used to this because of my crohns, i have noticed no lumps or anything around the area but it is too sore to touch. what could this be?

Stomach bug or not? Hi, Last tuesday I felt sick all day but wasn't actually sick. The next day I was fine and had been until this monday (6 days later) when I was actually sick just the once before I went to work. Again, afterwards I was absolutely fine. I had no other symptoms at all on either occasion. I was wondering whether you could tell me if this sounds like stomach bug, or whether its something that I should see a doctor about? As there was 6 days between the two incidents and the symptoms were relatively mild Im guessing its unlikely it was a stomch bug. Thanks.

Bowels I have been constipated since taking antidepressants and have been taking laxido which I was prescribed. I stopped taking the laxido over a week ago as I travelled to India on a short trip with work. On returning from the trip I developed a fever and diarrhoea which I put down to viral infection. The diarrhoea and fever ended about three days later but I have noticed my bowel movements are more frequent about two to three times a day and the stools are have been thinner and looser. I am 32 year old male and would like further advise please.

Thread Worms and health problems that seem to be related. Hi, This is a really embarrassing question but I have been convinced that I have persistent worms for months...my symptoms started out as itching especially at night and I was finding little white what seemed to be bits of cotton around the area in the shower. I have tried Ovex and Pripsen several times and it worked to begin with but they came back and then it got to the point where the medication was doing nothing. As well as the worm symptoms I began to get intense soreness of the vagina which I've had for a while and cystitis like symptoms...After a few months of this I began to get symptoms like tiredness and dizziness, and then not long after that I was getting breakouts of sore skin around my mouth and pins and needles almost like a burning sensation in my hands, I have no energy whatsoever and I'm also getting memory lapses (I'm only 28)....I had a blood tests which were all non conclusive...the main thing they were looking for was pernicious anaemia and my vitamin B12 level was 85...I also did the cellotape test for worms which again proved inconclusive...I'm really confused as to what is wrong with me...I'm not sure I have the worms anymore but I'm still itching (not as much as before) and my stomach feels "odd"...Would be greatful for any advice on this as I'm so confused...Could it be another kind of parasite? Do I have an auto immune disease and how do I find out?

Digestive problem 2007- Gall Bladder removed. Jan 2009- started with severe diarrhoea- up to 8 times day. Given Imodeum to control it. Mar 2009- started with pain in same place as gal bladder- u/r under rib & under r shoulderblade . Had ultra sound - nothing found. Told had 'dispepsia' & given Omniprazole then Ranitidine- taken until Dec 2010 - no improvement . June 2010 had 'flare up' in addition to normal pain (mentioned above) had 'burning' over whole of rhs under rib + under rhs sh'blade. Felt generally ill / tired + severe diarrhoea. Recovered after 8-10 days. Next 'flare up' was in Dec 2010. Worse than June. Same symptoms + cold sweats; feeling cold; too weak to get out of bed without help; itchy skin (particularly on face/head). 3 days in bed + 7days feeling poorly. Feb 2011-another 'Flare up' similar to June. Since Dec 2010 have had itchy skin-given Colestryamine powder- helps but not completely-does reduces diarrhoea! Daily pain schedule!! woken 4-5 am severe in front + ache in back; recedes to lower level on getting up;increases 5-10 min after breakfast -may recede again to lower level after an hour or so; increases after lunch as at b'fast; sometimes not so bad later in day but always have some pain. Intermittent problems:- 'burning' sensation (under whole of rh rib + under rh sholderblade) at any time lasting for few hours, quite often starts after bowel movement; diarrhoea- especially after meals. Have noticed 'position' effects strength of pain:- Sitting in upright chair V Bad - reclining 45 deg much better. Can improve during exercise although returns soon after. Diagnosis IBS. General- have under active thyroid & dry eyes. Second opinion please!

weekly heartburn and constant burping Hello for the past few weeks i have been experiencing heartburn between 1-2 times a week at different times of the day (not during the night though). It came on all of a sudden and i have been unable to locate any known triggers i.e. foods that bring it on. The periods of heartburn can last anywhere between half an hour - a couple of hours. When I dont have indigestion/heartburn i have constant burping which doesnt look very attractive. I do not suffer from IBS and have never experienced anything like this before. I have tried antacids, gaviscon and have been taking zantac every 3 days in the hope it'll go away. If i dont take 1 zantac every few days the symptoms reappear again. Any advice?

My son's health My 37-tear old son is an alcoholic and frequently suffers several days of vomiting followed by-often-a seizure during which he damages his head, needing stitches or staples.A month ago, he started to vomit almost non-stop, all day for nearly a month.He lives with us and does not work. He adamantly refused to see a doctor, his stomach started to swell to enormous proportions and his skin is very yellow.Eventually, he agreed to see his doctor ,who took blood tests.My son has told us that he has e-coli.He is an intelligent, well-qualified...honours degree...adult, but often tells lies.We feel he is not telling us the truth now.He has to go for more blood tests tomorrow, but is still vomiting, having diarrhoea and sleeping almost all the time in between.He takes plenty of fluids, but I saw him with beer this morning. My husband and I are extremely worried, as you can imagine.An uncle and a cousin of mine died young of liver failure and had swollen stomachs and yellow complexion. If our son lies about his condition, continues to suffer and to drink alcohol, have we any right to ask his doctor for the truth? Are his symptoms consistent with e-coli? Thank you for your time and attention.

Sickness and diarrhea Dear Doctor, I am a slim 47 year old female - I suffer from health anxiety. I have been feeling sick and have had foul smelling stools for over a week now - only one loose bowel movement a day, but due to my anxiety levels of course i am worried that I might have the symptoms of bowel cancer. I have done two home tests for blood which came out clear. I had a Ct scan about six months ago to confirm a hernia, and it didn't show any other problems. Do I need to worry ...or is it just a tummy bug... I would be very grateful for your advice. Thank you

Amitryptiline and anal fissure treatments Hi, hope you can help with my ongoing anal pain. I last made contact with you several months ago after having sphincterotomy as last ditch attempt to resolve problem. To summarise, After hard bowel movement I developed fissure in nov 2009.slow to heal but did so after approx 5 months, despite this visible healing the pain remained, pain was sometimes dull sometimes burning and felt around site of fissure and just inside rectum. Prev to sphincterotomy I tried diltiazam and 3 botox injections. MRI showed all clear. Have now seen 3 consultants including a referred pain consultant and all with differing views, one thinks pudendal nerve, one thinks hypersensitivity following fissure and other feels it to be chronic pelvic pain syndrome. I have been prescribed 10mg amitryptyine which has helped but not cured. I also notice spreading zinc and castor cream on area helps a little. Before I make another decision on more sgy/treatment would welcome your view as obv not easy diagnosis. Pain on ami has reduced from an unbearable 8 to a 5 and always worse when sitting. Questions I have are - 1. My gut feeling says hypersensitivity as feel it has to be related following fissure but know little about, can you tell me more what this os and more imp will lit go on it's own or is this a lifetime prob. 2. Have read a little about cpps , can this be fissure linked. 3. Is it safe to take amitryp long term. 4.sorry to ask, but what would you do as feeling at a loss.

Coeliac Disease and NHS reforms Can you please tell me of the 'Opportunities for care of patients with coeliac disease in the light of the new NHS’? I would like an indepth answer please. In order to complete the next stage I need to fill out the gender and age of the patient. However as age and gender is irrelevant for this question, I have just stated female, 30 yrs. Thanks

Oesophageal reflux On February 9th i had terrific stomach pain which is caused by excessive acid according to my doctor i am suffering with severe heartburn and throat pain making it hard to drink and swallow almost as if i have a lump in my throat. I started with 30mg Lansoprazole tablets but was getting pain in the after noon so after a week was change to 20mg Omeprazole one twice a day. Thay helped at day but was very bad at night with the acid coming into my neck. I had to stop the Omeprazole in just 10 days as i was having to go to have a Gastroscopy on the 8th March. In that time my throat hit me again and one night the muscles in my throat hit me and made my have hoarseness for some time. This is now making it like i have the lump in my throat. I was ment to stop the Omeprazole tablet for a week before i went into having the Gastroscopy but as i could not stop befor nine days before i went into having that seen to. The Gastroscopy came out as Oesophaguss, G.O.J, Stomach, D1, and D2 as normal (Would that have come out right as i had to take the Omeprazole up to nine days before the Gastroscopy). After that i am still very bad and went right back onto the Omeprazole plus Ranitidine 300 mg one at night. I think it is the Omeprazole that makes me have trouble with constipation. So the Doctor just told me to stop the Omeprazole and stay with the Ranitidine. The Ranitidine 300mg at night is working very good But today with out the Omeprazole has made me very bad again ie just like i have a lump in me throat. Please can you tell me what i should do. One hour on. My throat got so bad that i have gone and taken another Omeprazole. throat not so bad but pain in stomach i do not get this when i have the Ranitidine.

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