Expert: Ask Suz - 9/22/2007

Question
I have had severe stomach aches over the past 6 years that come on unexpectedly and can sometimes last for 3 days.  I can go for up to 6 months without one.  Feels like a ball of pain in my stomach and my abdominal area feels swollen and sensitive to the touch, as if I could not put a pair of pants on because I would cry out in pain.
My doctor thinks I have non-ulcer dyspepsia and that there really is no cure.
I would like to know if there is anything natural I can try that will not cause other health problems- such as high blood pressure or liver damage.
I have tried 5-HTP, and found it to help me sleep well, but not control my stomach.
I am 30 years old, female, non smoker, never had children, light drinker of wine, healthy eating habits, mostly organic and very little processed food.
I often have heavy painful periods and skin blemishes and wonder if it is all related, as the body is one complex machine.
Thank you so much for any info you can give. :)

Answer
Hi, Sheila
This is a very challenging question because with stomach pain you have to cover all the bases: reproductive system,
gall bladder, stomach, intestinal system. I get the impression from what you told me your doctor pronounced he "thinks" it's dyspepsia and there's no cure. I don't believe in "no cure." I think there is a cure for everything. I do not know what kind of exam he did on you or if he found anything wrong whatsoever. He just guessed then sent you on your way, right? If not, send me back another statement.
Far as gall bladder is concerned, gallstones are EXTREMELY painful and pain is usually confined to the upper stomach area so I probably rule that out. It could be ovarian cysts; it could be muscle spasms; it could be constipation. I had stomach spasms and realized our 20 lb dog was pushing off on my stomach to get down from my lap but you're too young to be affected by that.
I am a firm believer in aloe vera gel and probiotics. If you have any kind of intestinal mass or blockage, that pain comes and goes and you feel the pain in various areas. Some people can do everything right and still be impacted. Do you have parents with colon issues?
I would like to see you purchase aloe vera GEL; not the kind for your skin. The thickest gel you can find that you can take internally. I would like you to put 2 tablespoons of aloe in a blender **every day** with milk or water, preferably in the early morning, filling up the blender almost halfway. Then using your blender of aloe and milk (about 2 cups of milk or water)take one capsule of Natrol probiotic-it has a purple label. I put frozen fruit in my smoothie. I don't put ice in it because it makes it too thin and cold. I would like you to put about 1/4 cup of yogurt in there too. You can use the flavored or the "plain fat free." Then take another Natrol
around 6pm. Do this for two weeks and see if you're better. Try not to skip any of the days.
Concerning ovarian cysts: you'll have to have a sonogram to see if you have those. Don't submit to anything painful. Just get a sonogram. But I have a feeling this is either stomach spasms or intestinal. The aloe vera will help you if it's ulcers of the stomach or JUST A PRE-ULCEROUS CONDITION can cause a lot of pain. Don't believe the hype that "ulcers are not caused by stress." They CAN be caused by bacteria but ALSO by stress. How are those stress levels? Big family issues going on? So many people have abdominal pain from constant worry. Lastly, everyone on the planet needs to eat fish. We only need ONE SERVING of beef per week! If you hate fish at least buy some KRILL OIL gelcaps and take one each and every day. Better yet, rotate the krill oil with a fish oil gelcap. It is miraculous what Nature's bounty can do for us. Amazing.
Write me back in a couple weeks and let me know how you're doing, ok? If the aloe/yogurt/probiotic makes your stomach hurt then I think we've found what's wrong! Suz