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Hello, I've Been Having Some Stomach Issues For A While
Question: Hello, I've been having some stomach issues for a while now. I have pain on the left side of my stomach near where I believe the colan is. I have very bad acid reflux and I take omeprazole for it. I haven't taken it in a month or so and when I started taking the 20 mg over the counter stuff I started feeling very sick. I had extreme diarrhea that was very watery and black which I think was blood. I stopped taking omeprazole and I still feel some pain and thought maybe it wasnt the omeprazole. I have been having a hard time eating and get full very fast. After about a week I took another omeprazole before bed. The next day I threw up and it was very black and unlike any puke I've ever had. I'm not sure what could be the problem and I have been reading about difficile colitis but I have not taken antibiotics in years.
Brief Answer:
Some tests should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns.
Left side of middle and lower abdomen contains large intestine and pain in that part is suggestive of inflammation and spasms there.
As far as black color of stool is concerned usually blood is contained if stools are TARRY BLACK like charcoal in nature. However a test called stool for occult blood is done to find out if it's really blood or not.
Secondly a CT scan abdomen should be done to rule out diverticulitis.
Antibiotics could be a reason among many reasons causing diverticulitis. For e.g food habits,Alcohol,Smoking,Viral infection etc could cause depletion of good gut Flora causing bad bacterial colonies to flourish.
A CT abdomen should therefore be done.
I would suggest you to go for few test like
-Stool routine culture and microscopy
-Stool for occult blood.
-CT Abdomen/Ultrasound abdomen.
Stop taking Omeprazole. Its not necessary that every salt suits every person.
Instead of omeprazole take Ranatidine 150 mg once daily.
Eat very light home cooked vegetarian food.
Follow up with the test reports.
Trail and error(Guess work) policy is not a good idea.
Hope I was helpful,
Thanks!
Some tests should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns.
Left side of middle and lower abdomen contains large intestine and pain in that part is suggestive of inflammation and spasms there.
As far as black color of stool is concerned usually blood is contained if stools are TARRY BLACK like charcoal in nature. However a test called stool for occult blood is done to find out if it's really blood or not.
Secondly a CT scan abdomen should be done to rule out diverticulitis.
Antibiotics could be a reason among many reasons causing diverticulitis. For e.g food habits,Alcohol,Smoking,Viral infection etc could cause depletion of good gut Flora causing bad bacterial colonies to flourish.
A CT abdomen should therefore be done.
I would suggest you to go for few test like
-Stool routine culture and microscopy
-Stool for occult blood.
-CT Abdomen/Ultrasound abdomen.
Stop taking Omeprazole. Its not necessary that every salt suits every person.
Instead of omeprazole take Ranatidine 150 mg once daily.
Eat very light home cooked vegetarian food.
Follow up with the test reports.
Trail and error(Guess work) policy is not a good idea.
Hope I was helpful,
Thanks!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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