When 35-year-old Stephen Lee (not his real name) walked into Dr Wayne Hu's office complaining of burning pains in his stomach, he was at his wit's end.
A year earlier, Lee had had his gall bladder removed; he began experiencing abdominal pain several months later. The pain was much worse after meals, so it was hard to tell whether it was a general stomach ache or something more serious.
With a history of gastric problems, Lee underwent a gastrointestinal endoscopy, which found a small erosion in his stomach. His doctor at the time diagnosed him with a superficial ulcer, prescribed him medicine and sent him on his way. But the pain returned soon after the course of medicine ended, so Lee made an appointment with Hu, a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Familiar with symptoms such as these, the doctor performed a repeat endoscopy, this time testing for bile reflux. His suspicions proved correct, as the procedure found bile had risen from the small intestine to the stomach.
Causes
Bile reflux is more common than one might think, and many sufferers are unaware they even have it.
