I think you might have duodenitis. Your symptoms sound the same as mine and I was diagnosed with this after an endoscope in november.
I'm afraid I can't offer a solution or cure at the moment as I am still trying to find one myself. I am seeing my consultant in two weeks time so may know more then. It just seems to be one of those things - I think that many people using this board may have this condition as so many symptoms mentioned here are the same. My life has changed dramatically since becoming ill in may last year. I gave up smoking, drinking, my diet has changed completely. I have done everything possible to cure myself but nothing is happening yet. I believe that anxiety increases my suffering. Many people will dispute this - but they are wrong! Stress / anxiety may not cause duodenitis / ulcers but they certianly aggravate! It is not a coincidence.
I think the answer for most people using this board and having these problems is to overcome the stress in their heads. I am lookign for a way to take my anxiety and neutralise it. I have never been a stressed out person. I run two businesses but have always coped well. Since I became ill I suffer anxiety from tiny issues that I would have laughed at before. Modern medicine isn't helping me - I believe I must help myself by dealing with my anxiety and then my physical problem with go.
Incidentally, I am on 120mg nexium a day and 4g sulcralphate (caraphate) per day and have been for 5 months. I have just spent 3 months in thailand where I could relax as I was working only very limited hours. I started to feel better for the first time in 8 months and thought that it was over. I am back in uk now and back to work full time and pretty much back to square one!
The best advice I can offer is try to stay calm. Don't laugh...... I ahve just started having reflexology. My reflexologist is confident that she cna cure me. I have to say, I think she might be right. I'll let you know what happens.
Regards to everybody with a gnawing pain in their upper left abdomen that won't go away!
Kate
