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  |  General Health  |  Diseases and conditions  |  Gut reactions
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Gut reactions

by Dr. Sarah Brewer

question
I have had stomach problems for a year now, had numerous tests, and have lost all trust in my local hospital. I mainly suffer from stomach pain and nausea, with weight loss. I also have a low folic acid level. Antacids don't help and I am going round in circles in the hospital unable to get a diagnosis. I feel tired and depressed by all the hassle. I have recently heard about functional dyspepsia and think this may be the condition I'm suffering from.

answer
Functional dyspepsia is the name for indigestion that is not due to a peptic ulcer. It is usually non-serious in that it is not life threatening, but the pain and discomfort can make your life a misery. If you are prone to discomfort after eating, avoid consuming excess fat, pastry, spicy dishes, chocolate, acidic fruit juices, coffee or alcohol as much as possible, as these are the most common culprits. Try to eat little and often throughout the day to avoid over-filling your stomach, and take care not to stoop, bend or lie down immediately after eating. It helps to wear lose clothing, especially around the waist, and to avoid late-night dining. Elevating the head of the bed about 15-20 cm - you can do this by putting books under the top two legs - is an excellent trick if recurrent heartburn is linked with hiatus hernia. This condition is when part of the stomach slips up through the diaphragm into the chest. Alternatively, liquorice is widely used to soothe indigestion. Other supplements that many people find helpful include probiotic bacteria (eg Lactobacilli), aloe vera juice, colloidal silicol gel and vitamin B complex. If you have Helicobacter pylori infection, then Mastic Gum or Manuka Honey are the main alternative treatments.
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