i have burning in the upper left side of my belly. ive had it two days now, it started way back when my grandmother became terminally ill.. went away after she passed and now came back when i got upset the other day. i bend over to pick something up and i can feel burning coming up.. makes me a bit squeasy. i've tryed drinking milk, what else can i do?
2006-12-20 17:19:48 · 4 answers · asked by tansyangeni 4 in Health ➔ Other - Health
It sounds like acid reflux. Your stomach produces fairly strong acids, mostly hydrochloric acid, to help with digestion. The stomach has a special lining to resist the effects of these acids, but your esophagus (the tube from your mouth to your stomach) does not have protection from it. Normally, there is a valve that keeps the stomach acids in the stomach -- but sometimes it leaks, and when stomach acids get pushed up into the throat, it burns like crazy -- this is called acid reflux.
Similarly, sometimes the lining in the stomach gets thin in more or more places and the stomach acids may burn small spots in the stomach tissue -- these are called ulcers.
In both cases, the root cause can be stress. There are other causes as well, but it sounds like stress is a factor in your case.
The "fix" is to lower the amount of acid in the stomach. This can be done on a short-term basis by taking antacids like Tums, Rolaids, Mylanta, or the like. All of these temporarily neutralize the stomach acids.
On a longer term basis, an over-the-counter drug like Zantac or Prilosec will slow down acid production in the stomach, which sort of cuts the problem off before it starts. These should only be used for a short time though -- a couple of weeks at most.
If the problem doesn't resolve in a few weeks, by all means -- see a doctor. There are serious long-term effects from untreated acid reflux and ulcers.
2006-12-20 17:30:55 · answer #1 · answered by Mark H 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure you suspected it was an ulcer. If that is the case check out this info from webmd:
Milk can make your ulcer worse. Milk provides brief relief of ulcer pain because it coats the stomach lining. But milk can also stimulate your stomach to produce more acid and digestive juices, which can aggravate ulcers.
To try and prevent ulcers from developing:
Don't smoke.
Avoid alcohol.
Don't overuse NSAIDs. (Anti-inflammatory drugs)
If you have symptoms of an ulcer, contact your doctor.
2006-12-20 17:24:50 · answer #2 · answered by 88keys 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Milk is not good in your case. It sounds as if you have acid
reflux or gurds. Stress makes it worse.. I have had stomach
problems for years. I don't now, as I take prevacid daily. You can buy over the counter and try it, or talk to your Doctor. Gurds can
cause esophagus damage if you don't take care of the problem.
Good luck.
2006-12-20 17:26:09 · answer #3 · answered by Bethany 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's a real problem, go to a doctor. That's the only accurate way to find out. Drinking water might help.
2006-12-20 17:23:26 · answer #4 · answered by KristaElizabeth 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋