What could cause recurrent acid reflux and bloating?
Hi doctor,
I am a 28 year old male. I have had severe acid reflux and stomach bloating three times in the past 12 months. It started suddenly each time. There is no prior symptom. This is the third time and it has been going on for a month. During the first time, I treated myself with antacids (Calcium carbonate) and a two week cycle of Nexium with probiotics. When it came back for the second time, I had Pepsin and Betaine hydrochloride, probiotics for a month. It worked very well. Five months later, it came back for the third time now. I have had no acid reflux, but just bloating. I am taking Betaine HCl and Pepsin, but it is not going away. I will start to bloat right after my first bite of food. Even drinking water too fast will make it. The bloating is bad. I have severe bloating and pressure for hours after I eat. I think my stomach is not producing any acid. Could it be like that?
17 May 2024 - 1 min read
Can a swallowed button cell pass through waste?
Hi doctor,
My daughter aged 10 years had swallowed button cell accidentally. In the x-ray, it is in the intestine. Will it come out through waste?
15 May 2024 - 1 min read
What causes anal pain while taking out stools?
Hello doctor,
I used to have constipation issues last year, and recently, in the last two weeks, it gets fixed. But I think I have little wounds appearing, that is my assumption. I am taking soft stool from last week. While taking out stool, I feel a slight pain in that area. Is it serious? Please advice.
14 May 2024 - 1 min read
According to the reports, do I need an immediate liver CT scan?
Hi doctor,
I am a 46 year old male. I had gastric bypass surgery 7 years ago. Earlier, I was 540 lbs and now, my weight is 300 lbs. About 5 years ago, I started drinking hard alcohol (Vodka) weekly. As of three weeks ago, I started getting a tight, bloated, tingly sensation from my chest down to my pelvic area. There is no real pain. It just feels as if there is a wide band wrapped around me and numbness. It almost feels as I may be collecting fluid in my abdomen and thighs. I also have burning and tingling sensation that runs down my inner legs from my thighs to my ankles. Some days, it is better than others. I feel fatigue and it is a bit hard for me to get out of a chair due to being weak at times. I do have energy though to perform daily activities once I am up.
I stopped drinking two weeks ago. I eat daily. There is no nausea, vomiting, bleeding, spider veins or yellowing of skin and eyes, I have normal bowel movements and there is no blood in stool. The stool color is normal. I do not feel hallucinations or loss of memory. My urine is dark yellow or brown and cloudy at times. I am a bit pale, but I have always been that way. I sleep regularly and have not lost any weight on the scale. But, I feel my muscle may have been replaced with fat.
I went to a GI specialist and he just thinks it is malnutrition issues due to my gastric bypass. My GI specialist ordered blood work and it indicates that I have some liver issues based on my research. Is there a way to determine the stage my liver health based on the laboratory reports below and the symptoms? Is it an emergency that I go to the hospital right away? Do I need to get a CT scan of liver immediately? The flags on my laboratory reports are, RBC 3.64 (low - ref 4.14 - 5.80), MCV 108 (high - ref 79 - 97), MCH 38.2 (high - ref 26.6 - 33.0), RDW 16.3 (high - ref 12.3 - 15.4), serum creatinine 0.56 (low - ref 0.76 - 1.27), serum chloride 94 (low - ref 97 - 106) serum calcium 8.4 (low - ref 8.7 - 10.2), total bilirubin 9.5 (high - ref 0 - 1.2), serum alkaline phosphatase 241 (high - ref 39 - 117), AST 196 (high - ref 0 - 40), ALT 61 (high - ref 0 - 44) and vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 4.4 (low - ref 30.0 - 100.00). I also attached the full laboratory report. I started Vitamin B12 injections last week, Vitamin D3 drops, B1 and B complex supplements to hopefully help raise my low D3. Thank you.
26 Feb 2024 - 1 min read
I want to know whether my liver is in bad condition.
Hi doctor,
I am a 33 year old male. My body weight is 141 lbs and height is 5 foot 3 inches. My USG report shows that the liver is mildly enlarged in size (liver span is 123 mm), but has normal shape and outline. There is a mild diffuse homogenous increase of hepatic parenchymal echogenicity suggesting mild fatty liver. No focal area of altered echogenicity is seen. The intrahepatic tubular structures are normal. The porta hepatis is normal. Portal vein measures 7 mm. The biliary tree is not dilated. The common duct at porta hepatis measures 3 mm in diameter. The gallbladder is normally distended. The gallbladder wall is normal. No calculus or mass is seen in the gall bladder. All other organs are normal in shape and size. The overall impression is mild fatty liver. My SGOT is 43 u/L and SGPT is 35 u/L. I was a social drinker, but I gave up before five years. I want to know whether my liver is in bad condition.
23 Feb 2024 - 1 min read
Medical Gastroenterology