do i have a stomach ulcer or what? i'm scared!

[bubbles4920]

ive been getting heartburn for ages now and have had a pain in a certain area of my stomach for ages on and off. tonight, the pain was back so i felt my stomach and it feels like there is a lump there that is very painful. i'm really scared. i just looked up stomach ulcers on the net but it said that acid burns a hole in the lining so , surely i wouldnt feel a lump and instead my finger would just push into an indentation. has anyone else had my symptoms and if so what was it?

[petes_dragon]

hi, you should really get checked out by your doc - ask to be referred for an endoscopy/gastroscopy (camera down your throat)

however, I had a similar thing when I was about 17 and it was a hiatus hernia - very painful and you can sometimes feel a lump, this is caused by the stomach pushing through a small opening in the diaphragm, which can then cause food to get stuck and stomach acid can reflux - causing the pain/heartburn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiatus_hernia

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/27000867/

You can get loads of drug treatment (over the counter & prescription) to control the pain of the reflux (the hernia itself doesn't cause pain) and in more severe cases, there is an operation to repair the muscle in the diaphragm.

I have had this for almost 15 years and just use tablets to relieve pain.

It could also be reflux oesophogitis - which is just basically just overflowing acid coming back up your gullet - causing the pain (but doesn't explain the lump) - again this can also be controlled with tablets but is also helped by changes to your diet.

Hope this helps
A xXx

[bubbles4920]

sorry, should read ' the pain was BAD so i felt ...'.
thanks petes dragon, i was just looking up a hiatus hernia on the net. seems more likely to be that as there is a lump. will make an appointment to see doc in morning. if untreated, ie i dont get an appointment for 2 weeks, you know what its like, can it be serious or just heartburn forever?? also, will i have to live on a bland diet for the rest of my life?

[petes_dragon]

nah, nothing so dramatic!!

just heartburn - I've found Zantac to be good - or any thing else with either Omeprazole or Ranatidine in it - Tesco own brand is as good as Zantac and half the price.

You don't have to ditch all the good food - just to work out what your triggers are, it can vary.

For me its

* Fresh orange juice - or any citrussy stuff
* White Wine
* Chocolate (neever stopped me eating it though - just take a tablet!!)
* greasy food

Spicy food has never really been a problem though!! Some foods can help - potato, toast, milky stuff!

Also, watch your posture when you're eating - don't slouch on a sofa as it can slow your digestion down a bit.
I also find that mine gets worse when I'm really stressed.

This'll sound daft, but if you find that it wakes you up - try lying on your left side and it really helps - something to do with the direction your stomach empties!!

A xXx

[petes_dragon]

also make sure your jeans aren't too tight and your bra fits properly - anything tight and pressing on your stomach will make the pain worse!!!

A xXx

[bubbles4920]

so, dont you think i will need an operation to put the part of my stomach back inside the hole. it is definitely a lump so surely it needs something doing to it. what if the hole gets bigger, god, i am so worried. i hate operations and having to go under!

[petes_dragon]

No, It's more than likely that it will go back to its normal place once the muscle relaxes again - stictures are pretty rare! (where it gets stuck)

I first started getting hearburn whaen I was about 15/16 - and got various treatments off the doc, then went for endoscope to confirm diagnosis.(my request not docs as my gran also had a HH)........continued the tablets (cimetidine/Tagamet). After about a year, I was still having problems so they put a tube into my stomach that read the acid levels - I had to keep a food diary for 48hrs. Then went onto Omeprazole (slows down the production of acid).

After a while, I didn't need to take the tablets so regularly and didn't seem to be getting as much pain - I came off the tablets completely while I was pregnant (nearly 4 yrs ago!) and hand to lake the 'lovely' Maalox Suspension instead (sooo gross!). Since my son was born, I don't take any tablets at all - if I do get a flare up, it's easily controlled by over the counter tablets eg Rennie, Gaviscon etc

All in all, I have very few problems now and only take tablets as and when required - I probably use less than one pack of Rennie every 2-3 months now!

Saying that, I have had heartburn today - but I blame the Fish & Chips I had for lunch!!!

A xXx

[bubbles4920]

thanks everyone for your useful advice. i went to see a private consultant who thinks it is a hiatus hernia though i am stressed at the minute and my intestines keep going into a spasm. my doc gave me hearburn tablets, those starting with the letter 'O'. she said she didnt think it was related to other problems.they have worked wonders thankfully.having blood tests done for anaemia and got to have a scan. just wanted it sorted. glad its getting there at least.
XXXX