Hi everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this. It's now Saturday and I've had mid-high abdominal pain since Thursday - it gets worse throughout the day and numerous time I've woken up crying from the pain and not been able to sleep. I went to the Doctors with the same problem a couple of weeks ago and she prescribed me Omeprazole 20mg but it didn't work - the pain eventually went away on it's own after a couple of days so I ignored it.
Yesterday, I went to see a different doctor as the pain came back and he also thinks it's indigestion and has prescribed me Lansoprazole 30mg - it's still not doing anything and the pain is horrible now. He didn't say anything about bowel movements so I didn't think to say that I am slightly constipated, and my stools are yellow-orange and contain a mucus-y substance (they're slightly gloopy - too much info - sorry!!). I have important exams starting soon and I can't put up with this pain throughtout them - should I go back to see a different doctor on Monday or just leave it? Paracetamol aren't working for the pain and I'm at my wits end!
My bowel movements are also quite... thin? That sounds like a weird thing to say but I thought it might be worth mentioning.
hello there - I also have high left side pain under my ribcage that started just before xmas, i then got norovirus twice, but when the norovirus went away the pain was still there along with terrible bloating, churning guts, trapped wind pain, nausea and no appetite. I have constipation too. My symptoms are (according to my GP) side effects of my medication (im on naproxen for arthritis and co-codamol for back pain). So he too put me on lansoprazole and it has totally relieved my high stomach pain under my ribs. I just get a twinge if I carelessly take my naproxen on an empty stomach.
However the bloating etc he thinks are a sort of Post-Viral IBS following the norovirus. Basically, stomach viruses or bacterial infections like gastroenteritis or food poisoning clear out all the friendly bacteria in your gut and throw your digestion off balance completely.
I would go back to your doctor about the mucus-like substance you are noticing as I understand that can be a symptom of ulcerative colitis which would need specialist treatment. But the other symptoms you mention sound like IBS and especially the way you describe the pain and discomfort as keeping you from your sleep and day to day activities - that was exactly how mine had got, I was unable to leave the house cos i was bent double with the pain.
Persevere with the lansoprazole as it reduces the amount of acid your stomach produces which will help in the end.
Other products I found very helpful were: Milk of magnesia used as a safe, mild laxative and to releive the pain; Deflatine/Wind settlers (simeticone) to release trapped wind; probiotic yogurt (very soothing) and a high potency prebiotic+probiotic pill (you can get one off amazon that also has aloe vera in it called 'colon cleanse' which I am planning to try).
Another thing that made a HUGE difference was cutting out artificial sweeteners from my diet - that completely cured my nausea and 'churning' guts.
Hope some of this is helpful.
My daughter has ongoing stomach probs. She's had a blood test for allergies which came back normal, saw a different GP who told her to 'google' a diet on internet which mostly excludes wheat, She felt bit better, but hungry and as soon as she ate dairy felt sick etc. She has also sent a stool sample to local lab after badgering GP to do a test. Maybe you could try these? Keep badgering away. I've offered to pay for a private consultation if NHS brings her no joy. Hope you feel better soon.