Q:

For the past few months, I get rather nauseous as soon as I start eating and remain nauseous for at least 30 minutes afterward. Sometimes this is accompanied by stomach pains. If I eat a lot in the evening, my stomach burns and churns enough to wake me out of sleep, but it's too low in my stomach to be heart burn.

here are some facts:

-I'm 21 years old, and I do consume alcohol but infrequently and in relatively low amounts
-I'm female but I'm not sexually active
-I was anorexic/bulimic for four and half years, but not since spring 2006

So can you tell me what might be going on? I don't have health insurance and I really can't afford an office visit, so my options for treatment are limited.

 

A:

There is no cost for an office visit to the Student Health Center as long as you are an enrolled student for 6 or more credits.

Your symptoms suggest acid reflux or gastritis from acid production. You can try over the counter ranitidine 150 mg. twice daily for at least a week, and/or over the counter prilosec 20 mg. daily. If those antacids are not eliminating the symptom of nausea and burning/churning you really should be seen for evaluation of ulcer or reflux.

~The Doc