H51 -- December 2007 -- Abdominal Pain Study

Intro: One out of ten. That's how many Americans suffer from stomach problems. Many people find relief with antacids or other medications. But for some people, nothing seems to help the bloating, gas and burning they feel after a meal. But researchers at Mayo Clinic say they may have found a new cause for chronic, unexplained stomach pain and they're studying ways to treat it.

TO TAMMY OVERTON, A STROLL ON THE BEACH IS A GREAT WAY TO RELAX.

"YOU FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S SO PEACEFUL."

HERE TAMMY CAN FORGET ABOUT THE STRESS OF EVERY DAY LIFE, AND THE STRESS OF HAVING CHRONIC STOMACH PAIN.

"I'VE HAD IT FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

BURNING, BLOATING, GAS, FEELING FULL, BEING UNABLE TO FINISH A MEAL. THE SYMPTOMS MAKE TAMMY FEEL TERRIBLE.

"TAMMY TRIED ANTACIDS, PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS, EVEN CHANGING HER DIET, BUT NOTHING WORKED."

THAT'S WHEN SHE WENT TO MAYO CLINIC WHERE DR. NICHOLAS TALLEY IS LEADING A STUDY TO FIND OUT WHY PEOPLE HAVE SYMPTOMS LIKE TAMMY'S, AND WHETHER OR NOT CERTAIN MEDICATIONS CAN HELP.

"THE CONDITION IS CALLED FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA."

AND DR. TALLEY AND HIS TEAM BELIEVE IT MAY BE CAUSED BY AN EXCESS OF INFLAMMATORY CELLS CALLED EOSINOPHILS IN THE DUODENUM, WHICH IS THE PART OF YOUR SMALL INTESTINE RIGHT BELOW THE STOMACH. YOUR BODY MAKES THESE CELLS WHEN YOU HAVE AN ALLERGIC REACTION.

"WE NOW SUSPECT THAT SOME OF OUR PATIENTS WHO HAVE THIS CONDITION MAY HAVE AN ALLERGY POSSIBLY TO SOME FOOD OR OTHER SUBSTANCE."

AS A STUDY PARTICIPANT, TAMMY TOOK MEDICATION TYPICALLY USED FOR OTHER CONDITIONS LIKE DEPRESSION, TO SEE IF IT RELIEVED HER STOMACH SYMPTOMS. FOR HER IT SEEMED TO WORK, AND IF THE STUDY PROVES THAT IT DOES …

"IT MAY MEAN, IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE, THAT WE MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF APPROACHING THE TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMS LIKE TAMMY'S."

SO SHE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH UNEXPLAINED STOMACH PAIN CAN FIND RELIEF.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Dr. Talley says that not all people with unexplained stomach pain have this condition, but he hopes his research will help the many who do. He also says more research needs to be done to determine what foods or substances cause this type of allergic reaction. If you'd like more about this ongoing study, email Mayo Clinic at dyspepsia@mayo.edu or visit our Website at …

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