What's Going on With My Heartburn?
January 21, 2015 1:59 PM Subscribe
Explain the progress of weird heartburn symptoms to me as if my body was a foreign and mysterious object that is staging a escalating and unpredictable revolution in my belly and affiliated areas.
A couple years ago, I started getting gross heartburn after doing things like, say, eating a slice of a pizza and biking home. My chest would get all tight, I'd be super uncomfortable, and then I'd puke and feel better by the next morning. It only happened once or twice, but it was obviously tied to heartburny food + biking exercise. As a 5' 8" 220lb person in my early thirties, I've had a long and generally agreeable relationship with pizza and burgers, and I accepted that some weight + that sort of food + getting older + biking body movements = heartburn, so I should probably make sure that some of those elements don't interact. This scenario happened maybe three times one fall, and then nothing happened for about a year.
This past fall, I attended an amazing lunch potluck with all sorts of delicious gourmet foods. That evening it came back, but way gnarlier; I was up all night, and the next morning I was puking, pooping, and feeling miserable the entire day. I blamed myself for eating too much rich and diverse food.
Over the holidays, we pretty much did nothing but hang out with the family for a week, drink boozy coffee and cocktails all day, and eat ridiculous family meals with heavy cheese and meat ingredients. NO HEARTBURN WHATSOEVER.
A couple weeks ago, I went to a hippy potluck thing with lots of quinoa and kale and polenta sorts of things. That night? Totally miserable pukey heartburn stuff that knocked me out the next day, too.
Last week, I went to the annual nice family style dinner for my work. I ate a bunch of different types of delicious food (BUT NOT TOO MUCH), and drank a glass or so of white wine. The next morning, I felt a little off, but it wasn't too bad. I grabbed some coffee and a pastry on my way to work, things got worse, and so I went home early and felt ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS WTF. No amount of Pepto was making a difference.
The doctor set me up with some Prilosec and Zantac, which calmed the savage beast and stabilized things. A couple days later, we did the blood test thing, which just came back NEGATIVE for h.pylori, which is pretty unexpected, right?
Why would things escalate like this? Why can I eat burgers for months, and then all of a sudden, some random potluck triggers absolute misery? Is there any kind of food allergy connection that can exacerbate heartburn symptoms, or am I just a delusional overweight person playing russian roulette with my gut?
A couple years ago, I started getting gross heartburn after doing things like, say, eating a slice of a pizza and biking home. My chest would get all tight, I'd be super uncomfortable, and then I'd puke and feel better by the next morning. It only happened once or twice, but it was obviously tied to heartburny food + biking exercise. As a 5' 8" 220lb person in my early thirties, I've had a long and generally agreeable relationship with pizza and burgers, and I accepted that some weight + that sort of food + getting older + biking body movements = heartburn, so I should probably make sure that some of those elements don't interact. This scenario happened maybe three times one fall, and then nothing happened for about a year.
This past fall, I attended an amazing lunch potluck with all sorts of delicious gourmet foods. That evening it came back, but way gnarlier; I was up all night, and the next morning I was puking, pooping, and feeling miserable the entire day. I blamed myself for eating too much rich and diverse food.
Over the holidays, we pretty much did nothing but hang out with the family for a week, drink boozy coffee and cocktails all day, and eat ridiculous family meals with heavy cheese and meat ingredients. NO HEARTBURN WHATSOEVER.
A couple weeks ago, I went to a hippy potluck thing with lots of quinoa and kale and polenta sorts of things. That night? Totally miserable pukey heartburn stuff that knocked me out the next day, too.
Last week, I went to the annual nice family style dinner for my work. I ate a bunch of different types of delicious food (BUT NOT TOO MUCH), and drank a glass or so of white wine. The next morning, I felt a little off, but it wasn't too bad. I grabbed some coffee and a pastry on my way to work, things got worse, and so I went home early and felt ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS WTF. No amount of Pepto was making a difference.
The doctor set me up with some Prilosec and Zantac, which calmed the savage beast and stabilized things. A couple days later, we did the blood test thing, which just came back NEGATIVE for h.pylori, which is pretty unexpected, right?
Why would things escalate like this? Why can I eat burgers for months, and then all of a sudden, some random potluck triggers absolute misery? Is there any kind of food allergy connection that can exacerbate heartburn symptoms, or am I just a delusional overweight person playing russian roulette with my gut?
Best answer: I find the same thing, it's the carbs. But, could this actually be gall bladder related? I'm half distracted reading, but it sounds like the pattern a few people I know had with gall bladder issues.
posted by kellyblah at 2:13 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by kellyblah at 2:13 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
This could honestly be a variety of things. You'll want to see your GP and/or a Gastroenterologist. It could be a food intolerance or ulcers, or other stuff. Start keeping a good food journal, you could use a calorie tracking app like My Fitness Pal - that's what I did. The GP might want to see you first to run some other preliminary blood tests, but the GI doctor will probably suggest either a barium swallow or upper endoscopy.
Non medical tips: Eat/drink less acids (fruit juice, coffee, caffeine, soda, spicy, onions, etc) Less greasy food, less processed food, less dairy.
Source: Crazy stomach problems my whole life, been scoped, prodded, poked, meds, etc and currently recovering from gallbladder surgery from the 12th. (And I was negative for H Pylori too even though I had an ulcer at age 4).
posted by Crystalinne at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2015
Non medical tips: Eat/drink less acids (fruit juice, coffee, caffeine, soda, spicy, onions, etc) Less greasy food, less processed food, less dairy.
Source: Crazy stomach problems my whole life, been scoped, prodded, poked, meds, etc and currently recovering from gallbladder surgery from the 12th. (And I was negative for H Pylori too even though I had an ulcer at age 4).
posted by Crystalinne at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2015
Best answer: I was also going to suggest gallbladder. This sounds similar to what my mom went through before needing to have hers taken out.
posted by meggan at 2:15 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by meggan at 2:15 PM on January 21, 2015
My acid reflux was very unpredictable, too. For me the only constant seemed to be too much food or wine. And sometimes it was caused by lots of different things like you. I don't think the lack of r h.pylori is that unexpected. My doctor said that might be it. It was not in my case. I got quite a bit better after taking Prilosec for several months.
posted by Lescha at 2:17 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by Lescha at 2:17 PM on January 21, 2015
It might have been something on the pizza/burger that triggered your symptoms. Something like... onions... which make me one big ball of pain. Or any kind of leafy greens for that matter (for me). Or, say, too many tomatoes or tomato products (ketchup). I can have one slice of pizza without doing too much damage to myself, but anything else with tomatoes or tomato products and I'm curled in a fetal position wanting to die.
I have IBS & GERD. I've learned what my triggers are over the years. Everyone's body is different, so only you can keep track of what you eat and figure out what will trigger you. Remember though, that food takes time to digest, but we as humans are cause and effect creatures, so we tend to blame the food we ate directly before we became a big ball of pain. So it may not have been that pizza or that hippy potluck that made you miserable, but something you ate before it.
I would talk to your doctor again, but I'd also keep a food diary and track what you eat and your general health for a while and see if there's a pattern. That's what helped me get mine if not under control, but much MUCH better.
posted by patheral at 2:17 PM on January 21, 2015
I have IBS & GERD. I've learned what my triggers are over the years. Everyone's body is different, so only you can keep track of what you eat and figure out what will trigger you. Remember though, that food takes time to digest, but we as humans are cause and effect creatures, so we tend to blame the food we ate directly before we became a big ball of pain. So it may not have been that pizza or that hippy potluck that made you miserable, but something you ate before it.
I would talk to your doctor again, but I'd also keep a food diary and track what you eat and your general health for a while and see if there's a pattern. That's what helped me get mine if not under control, but much MUCH better.
posted by patheral at 2:17 PM on January 21, 2015
My heartburn will sometimes flare like this, and the best thing I can do for myself is daily Prevacid (or equivalent) even when I feel better, and cutting back on coffee. Even though I can drink coffee every day and not feel immediate effects, it's like my body's tolerance of it gets worn down and then something like a too-large meal or too-tight waistband or too much booze one night can set me off for days or even weeks. Once I'm set off, freaking water can give me heartburn. The only thing that has ever worked to get me back on track is to cut back on coffee (or ideally cut it out completely - black tea is fine) for a few months to like reset everything.
For you it may not be coffee, it might be onions, or tomatoes, or alcohol. But unfortunately our bodies' reactions to what we ingest isn't always an easy x in->y out equation or doesn't always show up right away.
Good luck! I just relapsed into some acid reflux (with heartburn and all the other stuff - indigestion, feeling tired for no reason, poop issues, etc.) after the holidays, and cutting out coffee plus the Prevacid is already helping.
posted by misskaz at 2:37 PM on January 21, 2015
For you it may not be coffee, it might be onions, or tomatoes, or alcohol. But unfortunately our bodies' reactions to what we ingest isn't always an easy x in->y out equation or doesn't always show up right away.
Good luck! I just relapsed into some acid reflux (with heartburn and all the other stuff - indigestion, feeling tired for no reason, poop issues, etc.) after the holidays, and cutting out coffee plus the Prevacid is already helping.
posted by misskaz at 2:37 PM on January 21, 2015
My boyfriend's been having lots of ulcer/heartburn issues over the last few months (he also had the negative h.pylori test) and he's basically figured out that he can't eat much spicy shit or have caffeine on an empty stomach. Coffee + granola bar in the morning and/or Coke + lunch is okay; coffee on an empty stomach is a no-go; nachos with beans, cheese, tomatoes, and a bit of onions is okay; jalapenos + tons of onions on nachos is a bad idea.
posted by jabes at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by jabes at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2015
Best answer: It's because human bodies are weird and fucked up and do whatever the fuck they want despite best practices and best intentions. I like to think of my stomach as a particularly fractious cat whose behaviors can be neither predicted nor prevented. Why does kale make me poop blood but mustard greens and turnip greens are okay? Why do cucumbers give me 3 days of unbearable heartburn but thai food is fine? Why did I almost die from eating quinoa? No idea.
A food diary is the first step to combating the madness. Second is maybe an endoscopy, alas. Or at least some kind of gallbladder assessment, as others have mentioned.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2015 [4 favorites]
A food diary is the first step to combating the madness. Second is maybe an endoscopy, alas. Or at least some kind of gallbladder assessment, as others have mentioned.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2015 [4 favorites]
Since you can eat a lot and drink sometimes without having issues every time, I think you are looking at an intolerance to a specific food or family of foods.
posted by soelo at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by soelo at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2015
First, I too question whether this is only heartburn. It sounds to me like other things might be going on in addition to that.
Second, as far as the heartburn portion, I will agree with those who say that excessive carbs are a huge culprit, and unfortunately carbs don't often appear in those lists of triggers that a doctor might give you or that you might find online.
People are different in what trigger them. You might try a series of challenge tests to see what your individual triggers are.
I found that coffee was a huge trigger for me, so perhaps you're like that too. Your coffee+pastry treat would have been almost guaranteed heartburn for me.
I found that losing weight really helped, even though I am still quite overweight just losing some of it probably fixed 70-80% of mine. So, don't think you would have to get to a "normal" bmi for some relief.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 2:48 PM on January 21, 2015
Second, as far as the heartburn portion, I will agree with those who say that excessive carbs are a huge culprit, and unfortunately carbs don't often appear in those lists of triggers that a doctor might give you or that you might find online.
People are different in what trigger them. You might try a series of challenge tests to see what your individual triggers are.
I found that coffee was a huge trigger for me, so perhaps you're like that too. Your coffee+pastry treat would have been almost guaranteed heartburn for me.
I found that losing weight really helped, even though I am still quite overweight just losing some of it probably fixed 70-80% of mine. So, don't think you would have to get to a "normal" bmi for some relief.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 2:48 PM on January 21, 2015
I have ulcerative colitis and figuring out what my body can and can't tolerate is an ongoing project. A few months ago, I tried giving up nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and white potatoes) and that helped a lot. Conversely, although in general I'm avoiding dairy, it doesn't appear that animal products are problematic. So in theory I could have a cheeseburger and all would be fine unless I put tomato on it. How weird is that? Oh, and I can't eat kale no matter what. So it's like, everything that sounds healthy is out of the question and everything that sounds bad for you seems to be fine.
I do think a gastroenterologist could be helpful, but I've had gastroenterologists who were totally unhelpful so I recommend keeping your own food diary and being religious about writing down everything.
posted by janey47 at 3:08 PM on January 21, 2015
I do think a gastroenterologist could be helpful, but I've had gastroenterologists who were totally unhelpful so I recommend keeping your own food diary and being religious about writing down everything.
posted by janey47 at 3:08 PM on January 21, 2015
Response by poster: These answers are awesome, everybody! It's reassuring to know that this probably isn't some cut-and-dried thing that I'm missing.
I've got another appointment with my GP next week, but I'm not entirely confident in her attention span when it comes to problem solving and explaining things to me, so I like having a little bit more to research beforehand. I'll see if there are any good gastroenterologists around, as well.
This gallbladder stuff is really interesting; I'll look into that, too.
And I'll start keeping a food diary (which I probably should have been doing anyway; I already have the app downloaded on my phone and everything!).
posted by redsparkler at 3:20 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've got another appointment with my GP next week, but I'm not entirely confident in her attention span when it comes to problem solving and explaining things to me, so I like having a little bit more to research beforehand. I'll see if there are any good gastroenterologists around, as well.
This gallbladder stuff is really interesting; I'll look into that, too.
And I'll start keeping a food diary (which I probably should have been doing anyway; I already have the app downloaded on my phone and everything!).
posted by redsparkler at 3:20 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'll stand in the chorus line and sing 'gall bladder' with the rest. Because it really sounds like some of the stuff I've been through.
posted by SLC Mom at 5:50 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by SLC Mom at 5:50 PM on January 21, 2015
Gallstones are exacerbated by fatty foods, so burgers, definitely, but quinoa and kale would be surprising triggers.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 5:51 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by treehorn+bunny at 5:51 PM on January 21, 2015
Response by poster: To all of you who are bringing up gallbladder stuff, is it because of the irregularity of events and the escalation? What are the key things that are sounding the gallbladder alarm?
*confusedly googles "gallbladder"*
posted by redsparkler at 7:22 PM on January 21, 2015
*confusedly googles "gallbladder"*
posted by redsparkler at 7:22 PM on January 21, 2015
It may not even be the food, exactly. My heartburn was spiraling out of control a few months back and I went nuts trying to identify the culprit. Finally, my partner said, "Didn't you switch to drinking pale ales about two months ago?" I gave up the hoppy beers and my heartburn immediately went from oh-gawd-end-my-suffering to occasional and mild again. When I Googled it, I found many cases of people with the same issue.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:23 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:23 PM on January 21, 2015
Best answer: I'd vote for gallbladder because I had GI problems for years that I could never pin down to anything specific - reflux treated with different meds; endoscopy showing nothing; diarrhea and constipation and urgency with no explanation; I did every sort of diet adjustment, took enzymes, etc. No change, just misery. Sometimes when it hit I'd have a pain under my LEFT shoulderblade - nowhere near my gallbladder - that would keep up for hours and nothing seemed to relieve it. Then one day I got the pain and it kept going and a couple of days later I went to the ER, where they sent me for a scan and announced that I'd been "too easy" to diagnose - I had a gallbladder full of "rocks" - and pancreatitis, which was where the pain was coming from. Had to wait an extra couple of days before having the cholecystectomy in order to get the pancreas calmed down and then the surgery and home.
And after all that, I now have only rare trouble with reflux which OTC meds take care of, bowel disturbances occasionally that are easily explained by something like an enormous meal, and other than those things, a pretty peaceful digestive system.
So I'd recommend getting your gallbladder scanned for sure - but one other thing: Sometimes heartburn is exactly that - HEART burn. Heart problems can easily masquerade as digestive problems - this is very painfully true - so you absolutely MUST get your heart checked thoroughly - not just a little rhythm strip/quickie EKG and you're fine and out the door. Get your heart checked out with someone who takes your heartburn seriously. If your heart's fine, great - then you know your heart's fine, but if it isn't, you need to know that, too.
A friend many years ago was about 40, I suppose. He ran the parts counter at an auto parts store that I frequented (we were putting truck parts together to make a one-of-a-kind '52 Chevy PU sort-of). Anyway, Rich had had an ulcer years ago and thought it had returned - he was drinking Maalox and Mylanta by the bottle and popping Rolaids - and he just keeled over in the store and died. His wife said the doctor told her the autopsy said his heart "exploded" but I think that's just the way she understood it. He was gone, though, and thought it was heartburn and the return of a stomach ulcer.
Hope you're better soon.
posted by aryma at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
And after all that, I now have only rare trouble with reflux which OTC meds take care of, bowel disturbances occasionally that are easily explained by something like an enormous meal, and other than those things, a pretty peaceful digestive system.
So I'd recommend getting your gallbladder scanned for sure - but one other thing: Sometimes heartburn is exactly that - HEART burn. Heart problems can easily masquerade as digestive problems - this is very painfully true - so you absolutely MUST get your heart checked thoroughly - not just a little rhythm strip/quickie EKG and you're fine and out the door. Get your heart checked out with someone who takes your heartburn seriously. If your heart's fine, great - then you know your heart's fine, but if it isn't, you need to know that, too.
A friend many years ago was about 40, I suppose. He ran the parts counter at an auto parts store that I frequented (we were putting truck parts together to make a one-of-a-kind '52 Chevy PU sort-of). Anyway, Rich had had an ulcer years ago and thought it had returned - he was drinking Maalox and Mylanta by the bottle and popping Rolaids - and he just keeled over in the store and died. His wife said the doctor told her the autopsy said his heart "exploded" but I think that's just the way she understood it. He was gone, though, and thought it was heartburn and the return of a stomach ulcer.
Hope you're better soon.
posted by aryma at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Second comment since we're on a gallbladder track. Like I said, I just got mine out on the 12th. I've yet to see longterm how I'm going to do (long story, my tests were all normal, my gallbladder wasn't - memail me if you want to be bored.)
Firstly, I'd examine the route of foods setting it off. It's the most simple thing and I have developed tons of intolerances. Even with taking your gallbladder out if it's bad, you could still have trigger foods. Oh, and for those people saying fats set it off, yes, they do, but personally I felt sick after eating just about anything over the past couple months. Didn't matter how lean it was or how long it took me to eat a bowl of soup.
If you feel like gallbladder may explain your symptoms and if I'm reading your profile right (self described as overweight, girlish, and 30s) then you're prime gallbladder surgery demographic. Especially if you've had a child or are on hormonal birth control. (I am not a doctor, this was described to me by my surgeon as I'm not the typical patient he sees.)
Test for gallbladder include an initial ultrasound which is super easy and non-invasive. Then they may or may not want a HIDA scan (not invasive but annoying and long.) Those are both less invasive than a scope or barium swallow. So, again, if you feel that symptoms match gallbladder then I'd try that route first as the tests are less invasive.
Anyway, that's just my experience - that I'm still healing from - heh, fun!
posted by Crystalinne at 9:01 PM on January 21, 2015
Firstly, I'd examine the route of foods setting it off. It's the most simple thing and I have developed tons of intolerances. Even with taking your gallbladder out if it's bad, you could still have trigger foods. Oh, and for those people saying fats set it off, yes, they do, but personally I felt sick after eating just about anything over the past couple months. Didn't matter how lean it was or how long it took me to eat a bowl of soup.
If you feel like gallbladder may explain your symptoms and if I'm reading your profile right (self described as overweight, girlish, and 30s) then you're prime gallbladder surgery demographic. Especially if you've had a child or are on hormonal birth control. (I am not a doctor, this was described to me by my surgeon as I'm not the typical patient he sees.)
Test for gallbladder include an initial ultrasound which is super easy and non-invasive. Then they may or may not want a HIDA scan (not invasive but annoying and long.) Those are both less invasive than a scope or barium swallow. So, again, if you feel that symptoms match gallbladder then I'd try that route first as the tests are less invasive.
Anyway, that's just my experience - that I'm still healing from - heh, fun!
posted by Crystalinne at 9:01 PM on January 21, 2015
Longtime sufferer of acid reflux...
I think h. pilori is a very much over-hyped and rare thing. Everyone would love to blame a bug for their illness and hope against hope there is a pill for that.
I found out at 15 that the cause of my acid reflux was chocolate stopping the sphincter at the top of my stomach from working, sometimes for up to a week. I stopped eating chocolate at 19 and have since found mint, citrus, and eggplant also contribute. As a result, I severely limit what I do eat. It is very difficult to limit foods and I have had to deal with a degree of depression before accepting that some food allergies are non-negotiable.
I was on Prilosec and Zoloft for some months. However, they have limited usefulness and may actually cause other symptoms. I would be wary of these as a long term solution. Doing a scope will help a lot to understand exactly where you doing the most damage through your diet. Yes, it is diet and not anything else that causes acid reflux in the first place.
I have worked very hard to cut my weight down, having to deal with a host of other issues along the way, not always successfully. If you can exercise to bring food through the body out of the stomach after eating every time, you can really live with an unhealthy diet (that may sound counter-intuitive). I would recommend that you look at cutting your weight by at least 50 pounds or choose to live extremely simply, only eating foods that agree with you and having nothing outside of moderation.
posted by parmanparman at 2:21 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think h. pilori is a very much over-hyped and rare thing. Everyone would love to blame a bug for their illness and hope against hope there is a pill for that.
I found out at 15 that the cause of my acid reflux was chocolate stopping the sphincter at the top of my stomach from working, sometimes for up to a week. I stopped eating chocolate at 19 and have since found mint, citrus, and eggplant also contribute. As a result, I severely limit what I do eat. It is very difficult to limit foods and I have had to deal with a degree of depression before accepting that some food allergies are non-negotiable.
I was on Prilosec and Zoloft for some months. However, they have limited usefulness and may actually cause other symptoms. I would be wary of these as a long term solution. Doing a scope will help a lot to understand exactly where you doing the most damage through your diet. Yes, it is diet and not anything else that causes acid reflux in the first place.
I have worked very hard to cut my weight down, having to deal with a host of other issues along the way, not always successfully. If you can exercise to bring food through the body out of the stomach after eating every time, you can really live with an unhealthy diet (that may sound counter-intuitive). I would recommend that you look at cutting your weight by at least 50 pounds or choose to live extremely simply, only eating foods that agree with you and having nothing outside of moderation.
posted by parmanparman at 2:21 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Heartburn is common, and certain foods are notorious for causing it. Among them are spicy food, tomato sauce, coffee, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol, which can promote relaxation of the valve separating the esophagus from the stomach. Also "mechanical" circumstances, like late night eating and then lying down or exercising shortly after eating put pressure on the valve and can cause leakage upward. This valve is designed to keep acidic fluid inside the stomach, where there is protection for the stomach lining. Across the valve in the esophagus, this acid actually burns the esophageal lining, and has been linked with later developing esophageal cancer, so this is not just a benign irritant. Eating too much can tax the stomach's capacity, promoting reflux, and extra weight, particularly a big belly, can also press on the stomach, making reflux more likely. Individuals can also find personal triggers that bring on symptoms, as noted by many posters above. Simple first steps to reduce symptoms would be to avoid late night eating, avoid overeating, and prop up the head of your bed with a couple of bricks so your bed has a slight slant. Sounds silly, but it can help. And I think you might request a visit with a gastroenterologist, who sees reflux sufferers every single day and can assist with a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Gallbladders exist to store bile, which is released into the small intestine when food enters from the stomach. The bladder contracts, like a balloon collapses, especially when fats enter the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. So gallbladder problems generally occur when fatty food is eaten. The biggest symptom of a gallstone is abdominal pain, which can be very intense, and can be compared to a heart attack when it is severe. Heartburn is not the first symptom that comes to mind when thinking about gallbladder issues, but it is certainly possible that your gallbladder is acting up. A GI physician is your gallbladder expert, as well.
posted by citygirl at 8:15 AM on January 22, 2015
Gallbladders exist to store bile, which is released into the small intestine when food enters from the stomach. The bladder contracts, like a balloon collapses, especially when fats enter the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. So gallbladder problems generally occur when fatty food is eaten. The biggest symptom of a gallstone is abdominal pain, which can be very intense, and can be compared to a heart attack when it is severe. Heartburn is not the first symptom that comes to mind when thinking about gallbladder issues, but it is certainly possible that your gallbladder is acting up. A GI physician is your gallbladder expert, as well.
posted by citygirl at 8:15 AM on January 22, 2015
You could have gastritis. I went to the ER three times thinking it was gallbladder. All test and an endoscope said I was fine for h. pilori, ulcer, hernia...ultrasound came back negative for gallbladder. Not saying this will be your case so rule out all with tests.
However, gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. For me, spicy foods, meds, and alcohol flares it up. So I'm on prilosec and it helps but if I drink say wine or champagne maybe like 3xs during the week or a tad more---forget it. Then I have the symptoms you describe so I have to take a break from items that activate the problem.
posted by stormpooper at 10:43 AM on January 23, 2015
However, gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. For me, spicy foods, meds, and alcohol flares it up. So I'm on prilosec and it helps but if I drink say wine or champagne maybe like 3xs during the week or a tad more---forget it. Then I have the symptoms you describe so I have to take a break from items that activate the problem.
posted by stormpooper at 10:43 AM on January 23, 2015
Response by poster: You guys, it was totally my gallbladder!
I started tracking all my food, then did some calorie counting and lost 30 pounds and was biking to work practically every day, and then boom! I had a week of total misery that just escalated: halfway through I started getting stomach pains and called my GP, who totally blew me off because I hadn't been taking Prilosec every day so what did I expect?
Later that same day, I also got some symptoms that reminded me suspiciously of the jaundice I had a couple years ago, so I ended up going to Zoomcare, where they did some labs and then sent me in for an ultrasound. Once they saw the results of the ultrasound (there was a gallstone stuck in my bile duct! It was upsetting everything, and my liver was super pissed!), they hustled me to a surgeon's office, and that's how I found myself getting an ERCP (tube and video down my throat to blast out the gallstone) last weekend, and a gallbladder removal later that week.
Gallbladders, man! They're like an organ that you can just remove. Poof!
Thanks for all the advice, everyone! I hope future Ask Metafilter sufferers can learn something from this. I definitely didn't have any sharp pains until that last attack, but it sounds like it was the fiendish gallbladder all along. Apparently the bile duct gallstone had been there a while; it was the size of a small pea and had calcified. Crazy stuff.
posted by redsparkler at 7:52 PM on May 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
I started tracking all my food, then did some calorie counting and lost 30 pounds and was biking to work practically every day, and then boom! I had a week of total misery that just escalated: halfway through I started getting stomach pains and called my GP, who totally blew me off because I hadn't been taking Prilosec every day so what did I expect?
Later that same day, I also got some symptoms that reminded me suspiciously of the jaundice I had a couple years ago, so I ended up going to Zoomcare, where they did some labs and then sent me in for an ultrasound. Once they saw the results of the ultrasound (there was a gallstone stuck in my bile duct! It was upsetting everything, and my liver was super pissed!), they hustled me to a surgeon's office, and that's how I found myself getting an ERCP (tube and video down my throat to blast out the gallstone) last weekend, and a gallbladder removal later that week.
Gallbladders, man! They're like an organ that you can just remove. Poof!
Thanks for all the advice, everyone! I hope future Ask Metafilter sufferers can learn something from this. I definitely didn't have any sharp pains until that last attack, but it sounds like it was the fiendish gallbladder all along. Apparently the bile duct gallstone had been there a while; it was the size of a small pea and had calcified. Crazy stuff.
posted by redsparkler at 7:52 PM on May 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by brilliantine at 2:02 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]