Wednesday, April 15, 2009 alaura asks

Q: Any clue what this means!?

Ok, I have had chronic abdominal pain for at least 14 months now. I also take a lot of meds for chronic migraine, so for a while my Dr.'s blamed the meds. Well that is not the case because my meds change all the time, but that doesn't change the pain. After a few months of pain, I would say it got severe. I had so much pain, I was losing weight, couldn't maintain a healthy diet. My pain can get really bad, but it can also get better. It is there every day no matter the severity level. It gets worse when I eat peroid, not worse with certain foods or triggers, just eating in peroid. Nothing really helps it either. I thought that I maybe just had an ulcer from long term use of NSAIDS, but the meds to treated that just made it worse. I went through phases of weight loss (35 lbs) and now for some reason I have gained about 10 lbs, this is without a diet change.

My Dr.s have gone from thinking ulcers, to a possible intussuseption, to med sideffects, to now just IBS. I think I was just tossed that diagnoses so they could say; yep there is a problem but we can't find/fix it. I have had an MRI, gastric emptying study, sitz marker test, and I drank some barium that they watched go through. The MRI showed something and they sent me to a surgeon, but that turn out to be nothing, i guess. The other tests are normal so they just recently decided on IBS. They used a scope to look into my stomach, this just showed that I have ulcers in my esophagus. I just don't think I fit in the IBS catagory.

I have stomach pain that can be all over, top to bottom, or just stay at the bottom. It is always there, but sometimes better or worse. The pain can just be a terrible ache and can be cramping, too. I get nausea but don't vomit. I do have constipation, but I know that can be from some of the meds that I am already on.

I am just hitting my head against a brick wall. The pain is always there and has been for over a year. Even though I got this IBS diagnosis, they aren't helping me treat that either. I can live with the pain and function most of the time, but it can be debilitating some times. I just don't know what to think or even do from here.

If anyone knows what this sounds like, let me know. I could take any form of advice at this point. What can I even do now?

Answers (2)

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Elizabeth Roberts

4/16/09 11:07am

Hi Alaura,

I'm sorry your situation is so frustrating. This is actually a web site for people who have IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease, not IBS. You can read my most recent Sharepost about the difference between IBD and IBS.

From what you have written here is sounds like you've had a colonoscopy which would tell you if you have IBD - Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease - and the doctors have said, "No."

NSAIDS, especially prolonged or long-term use of them can mess with you gut quite badly. If I were you I would stop taking them and for pain relief take only Tylenol for at least a few months and see what happens. Also, if you aren't satisfied with your diagnosis then you are going to have to seek out another doctor, take him or her all of your test results and medical records, and get their opinion.

IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, and once all other medical diagnoses have been ruled out for your symptoms, then the IBS diagnosis is given. Have you talked to your OB/GYN about things like Endometriosis? Fibroids? etc. Abdominal cramps and pain can be caused by more than gut issues.

Sorry I don't have an answer for you. You could try the IBS web site www.ibsgroup.org and see if anyone there has some thoughts for you.

Good luck,

Elizabeth

4/29/09 7:16pm

HI RAE RAE.I HAVE ALSO HAD A PAIN SOMETIMES IN MY GROIN ON THE RIGHT SOMETIMES ON MY GALL BLADDER ON THE RIGHT.AND SOMETIMES IT HURTS IN MY BACK WHERE I THINK MY RIGHT KIDNEY SHOULD BE.I HAVE HAD A COLONOSCOPY AND ENDO.CT/ABDO.THEN MY DOCTORS ARE STUMPED.SO NOW THEY WANT ME TO SWALLOW A CAMERA SO TINY IT FITS INTO A PILL YOU TAKE.IT TAKES PIX AS IT PASSES THROUGH YOUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.BUT HERE IS THE DRAW BACK.YOU STILL HAVE TO DO THAT PREP THAT MAKES YOU HAVE DIAHRREA AND CRAMPING ALL THE NEXT DAY.

I RECENTLY SAW AN ADVERTISEMENT OR COMMERCIAL ON T.V. WHICH SAID CONTACT THIS LAW FIRM IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PREPS FOR G.I. TESTING.SO I AM GOING TO EITHER RESCHEDULE THAT TEST.OR NOT ALL.

MY HUSBAND AGREES.THE DOCTOR WAS SIMPLY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT TO DO.IF HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN ALLL THOSE OTHER TEST MENTIONED ABOVE.WHAT MAKES ME THINK THAT THIS WILL TELL THE STORY.HE HAS ALREADY LOOKED THOUGH MY INTESTINES.IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT IS THERE.IT FEELS LIKE IT IS IN MY GROIN,APPENDIX OR GALL BLADDER.AND SAME WITH ME.SOMETIMES IT GETS BAD.SOMETIMES IT IS TOLERABEL BUT I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH IT SINCE DEC.'06' SO THAT IS 2 YEARS.

I ALSO HAVE STAPH AND YEAST IN MY MOUTH FROM ORAL IMPLANTS.SO I WAS SENT TO INF.DIS.THE PILLS HE GAVE ME ATE MY STOMACH UP.HE SAID TO ME.EITHER TAKE THEM OR DIE.TURNED AROUND AND WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM.SO I THINK WHAT EVER IS WRONG IS GOING TO BE FOUND ON A FLUKE.SOMETHING OFF THE WALL.BUT I CAN HONESTLY UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION.I GET SO TIRED OF HAVING TEST THAT ALWAYS GIVE NEGATIVE RESULTS.SO HOW CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT IT IS IF THE TEST REVEAL NO PROBLEMS.I AM AS STUMPED AS YOU ARE,FROM JO....GOOD LUCK...I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU.JO

Q: Any clue what this means!?

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