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Avatar universal

Need help,what's wrong with me!

I have been having been suffering for over two months with constant abdominal pain and other symptoms.I'm a 43yo male,5'10",
190lbs. with a good health history until now.The first sign of
trouble showed up one night in late Febuary when I awoke during the night with a piercing pain in my central abdomain,which persisted somewhat for the next couple of days but went away and
I didn'nt think much of it at the time.The next two weeks I felt
fine like my old self.Then around the second week of March the pain came back and I've had it since.I saw my personal physican
on March 24th who gave me a physical and blood test for H pylory
(negative),and was refered to a gatstro doctor for consultation
on March 27th.During this time these are the symptoms that I have developed:
1.Mid-abdominal pain and bloating in the area slightly above my
naval.Pain varies between low to severe(worse after eating).
2.Fatigue(severe at times)
3.Constipation
4.Unusual stool color(dark yellow/light brown,but no blood)
5.Occasional nausea
6.Decreased appitite,slowly losing weight due to pain.
7.Occasional pain radiating to back or groin area.
So for my Gasro doctor has done a compete GI series and still have not found the probem.The tests include Colonostimy,small bowel series,upper endoscopy,abdominal ultrasound,also had abdominal CT scan with contrast,abdominal film,full blood work
all negative.My symptoms are getting worse the last two weeks and this is getting financialy draining as well physically as I
have been too sick to work.It seems to me that something is on the rampage in my abdominal cavity more so than in my digestive tract.What should be my next test or procedure?What could be causing this condition?
19 Responses
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Avatar universal
Like the first poster, I also had a HIDA scan which came up normal, as well as a sonogram came back normal.  Also had an endoscopy and h pylori test and both came back fine.  Since the symptoms decribed that of a malfunctional gall bladder, the doctor decided to go ahead and take mine out.  Once it was out, they found it to be extremely inflamed and scarred.  So it was malfuntional after all.  Since I've had my gall bladder out 4 weeks ago, all of my symptoms have disappeared.  No stomach aches or attacks or pain.  I did find out through the endoscopy that I also have some Barrett's Espophagus, but the docs said that was not what was causing the pain.  I'm now on Aciphex to help keep the Barrett's under control.

I highly recommend checking about the gall bladder.  All my tests came back normal until they actually saw the gall bladder itself.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello everyone, what a relief to find out that I am not crazy! I would appreciate if anyone that has a similar story to mine could let me know what their diagnosis was since I am getting worried.  Most of my life, I have had a fairly sensitive stomach.  Throughout my college years, I had several cases of heartburn and indigestion.  Usually, Pepcid AC or any other over the counter relief helped me at the time.  Also, about once every month or two, but more often every two months or so, I would get a weird stomach ache that was like a gnawing ache right below my ribcage in the center.  I always knew when it was coming on because it would start out the same and progressively get worse thoughout the day.  However, I never really worried about it because it only lasted a day through the night but the next morning when I woke up I was fine. So, I just assumed it was indigestion.  Well, over the past year or so these stomach aches have become more frequent and when they come, they can last a few days instead of one day like they used to.  I saw my PCP about it but he keeps dismissing it as over acid prduction and puts me on PPI drugs.  A few months ago, I had another bout and my doc put me on Prilosec OTC for a two month period.  During this period, I did pretty well and had no aches that I can remember.  However, as soon as the two months were over, my stomach started bothering me again.  I went back to my PCP and he finally referred me to a gastro doc that he knows and said he still thinks its an acidic stomach but an endoscopy might be a good idea to be sure it is nothing else.  Well, I have an appointment set up with the gastro doc next Tuesday.  Then, I guess he will set me up for an upper GI or endoscopy.  My concern is that this past week my stomach has been bothering me pretty bad even though I am back on the Prilosec.  It even woke me up in the middle of the night today in pretty severe pain.  I know these are classic signs of an ulcer and so I am worried about all this waiting for tests!
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Avatar universal
there are walkup medical centers where you can visit ,usually they charge 50 dollars per visit.
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Avatar universal
if you want doc to respond,you need to start a new thread
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I need help! I was diagnosed with IBS but now that I don't have insurance I think its acting up again. Or so I hope its IBS. My symptoms are as follows: sharp pain in my lower left abdomen, hunger in my stomach since i havent eaten bc of it, gassiness, anxious/pass out/light headed feeling about an hour before i have to move my bowels, pain in my abdomen after eating, an almost bloated feeling in my left lower abdomen, and the last thing that really questions me because i dont know if this is normal or not is that i can feel my intestines in my lower left corner almost pertruding kinda. i mean, is that normal? can everyone feel theirs? could it be a hernia? it scared me cause im only 19 years old and i know they say this is when IBS is very prominent but it scares me. i hate not having insurance. i dont know what to do. does anyone relate? for the past 2 days i cannot eat cause i hate this feeling...please help!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i have been having a neon green stool for a month now.i have stomach aches too.i stopped all vitamins and foods that i thought might turn my stool this color.what could it be i have no insurance but if you think this sounds serious i will find a way to go to a dr. i have never seen stool this color scared
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey flbeachluvr have you heard anything else about the results of your test.   Im 22 and am haveing the exact same problem as you guys except it is on my left side of my sternum and under my left armpit in my rib area.  I also have the abdominal pain usally upper quadrants of abdomen.  I have also had the cahnge in bowel movements and the discolored looking bowels exactly the same.

I went to the doc first time may 14 and she thought it might be GI related maybe acid reflux she put me on medicine and it did not help.  Went back 6/1 and still same problems this time she thought it might be constoitis or wahtever that name is I seen it in this thread.  She has put me on indomethacine I think is the name it is a anti inflammatory and it has helped with the pain in my rib area but Im still haveing the abdoinal pain at times not as bad though.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey flbeachluvr have you heard anything else about the results of your test.   Im 22 and am haveing the exact same problem as you guys except it is on my left side of my sternum and under my left armpit in my rib area.  I also have the abdominal pain usally upper quadrants of abdomen.  I have also had the cahnge in bowel movements and the discolored looking bowels exactly the same.

I went to the doc first time may 14 and she thought it might be GI related maybe acid reflux she put me on medicine and it did not help.  Went back 6/1 and still same problems this time she thought it might be constoitis or wahtever that name is I seen it in this thread.  She has put me on indomethacine I think is the name it is a anti inflammatory and it has helped with the pain in my rib area but Im still haveing the abdoinal pain at times not as bad though.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello again .. it's me (see above post for background on symptoms). Well, I had the test for h. pylori and it turned out negative. Whatever my problem is, it is not an ulcer.

My pain has decreased quite a bit in recent days and some days it disappears altogether. I attribute this to one of two things (possibly both in combination):

1. I decided to do a 36-hour fast (liquid fast with fruit juice and broth only). After that I severely cut out white breads and cheeses and other dairy products (like yogurt) -- especially in the morning and during the day.

2. I am now taking an herb called valerian. It's a natural sleep aid that helps to reduce anxiety and stress. From what I have read it is relatively safe and non habit forming. It works very well. I sleep much better and stress levels have come down.

I recommend anyone to try these and report on their findings. It has worked pretty well for me.

Mark
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Avatar universal
I have seen a Urologist today 5/5,and after exam and consultation
it seems that this doctor's opinion is that my symptoms are not
related to kidney stones,but to rule it out,I am going to have an
IVP study done on 5/10.The Urologist did make an interesting comment that my sympoms could be caused by appendicitis.If the IVP is negitive,I will be seeing a surgeon for consultation as
exploratory surgery may be my only medical option left for me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks everyone for the follow up comments. I'm starting to think that my symptoms were mis-diagnosed by my doctors.I now believe that my problem is Kidney stones.This would explain the
suddeness of the onset of severe pain,and I recently noticed a
large drop-off in my urine output as well as more pain in the small of my back.I did a Yahoo health search on kidney stones/
kidney failure and found that my symptoms matched ALL those that were listed! It's very possible that a stone could have been missed when my CT scan and abdominal film was done as I was very
constipated on that day and this could have obscured the stone.
The ultrasound that was done only consantrated on upper abdomin
(Gall bladder&Pancreas).I have a appointment with a Uroligist on
Wednsday 5/5 and will follow up with any new findings
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I  FINALLY found a site where there are people I can identify with! I have been having the same pain you talked of, including around my navel. I kept telling the doctors for about a year that I had severe pain around my navel, and they just kept asking me if it hurt on my lower right side.Some of my pain was just to the left side of my navel, as well as throughout my abdomen, with a LOT of movement going on there! I suspect it is trapped gas and it HURTS..You can actually watch my belly move...It looks like a snake crawling around in there..My stomach hurt and burned a lot also, and swelled real bad after trying to eat solid food.I tried quitting food and just drinking Boost or Ensure for a couple weeks and I quit vomiting.....This process gradually worsened over almost a year(eating and vomiting, and weigh loss) when I was diagnosed in January with gastroparesis.... Good luck to you....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My wife is having problems with (and for two years) bile reflux gastritis,.The Dr. and surgeon have said we might have to consider a antrectomy and gastrojejunostomy.Has anyone had these procedures and if so how did it go. What are the pros and cons.
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Avatar universal
First to apologize for possibly imperfect English.

I am reading the posts on this forum for couple of months now and interestingly I found more and more people with similar problem.

My age, nonspecific abdominal problems. In my case it is a mild pain, usually on the left side, lower or mid abdomen but it can also be on the right side, sometimes just under the ribs on either side. Never found how to relate it to diet. Sometimes pain goes down my groins even into the upper tights. Upper GI negative, no blood in the stool, negative abdominal ultrasound, good appetite, I am not loosing weight, I do not have any bulge indicating hernia or something like it, I can still run for miles without problems, occasional anxiety, sometimes very gassy. I feel there is something wrong going on and thinking about it often preoccupies me. Next Friday I will undergo barium contrast X-Ray of my large bowel. Every time I enter doctor
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I posted a question on the Gastro Board right after you did, and just finished reading the answers and comments from other people regarding your condition.  I know this may sound totally insane to you, as we're ASSUMING this is a G.I. problem, but here goes:

If you have tenderness up and down the central abdomen and sometimes the breastbone area is tender to the touch, it may be a condition called Costochronditis.  Please research this topic and see if any of your symptoms apply..I had it once and it was  cleared up in no time with Ibuprofin 800 mg three times a day....if Costochondritis doesn't respond quickly to these dosages, a Medrol Dosepak(steroids)can be taken for 7 days(that approach helped a friend of mine.)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I posted a question on the Gastro Board right after you did, and just finished reading the answers and comments from other people regarding your condition. I know this may sound totally insane to you, as we're ASSUMING this is a G.I. problem, but here goes:

If you have tenderness up and down the central abdomen and sometimes the breastbone area is tender to the touch, it may be a condition called Costochronditis. Please research this topic and see if any of your symptoms apply..I had it once and it was cleared up in no time with Ibuprofin 800 mg three times a day....if Costochondritis doesn't respond quickly to these dosages, a Medrol Dosepak(steroids)can be taken for 7 days(that approach helped a friend of mine.)
This condition causes SEVERE mid-abdominal pain that mimics heart, G.I., and Chest Wall Pain.  I thought that since MY symptoms at that time were totally G.I., I balked at the idea of taking anti-inflammatory meds which are known to aggravate stomach symptoms.....when I felt I had nothing to lose since all the stomach tests were showing nothing, I went the Ibuprofen route and was surprised as all get-out at the relief I got!  Just a suggestion!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello, I couldn't believe it when I read your post. I am the same age, the same height, less heavy (170), but have had very very similar symptoms and diagnoses to date. Like yours, my pain woke me from sleep (last November). It was excruciating pain like I had never felt. It seemed to be coming from the right center of my abdomen (two inches to the right of my navel). The pain was radiating down at the time and I thought it was appendicitis (the pain was that intense). It subsided after a few hours, but has never really gone away. I discounted it at first as merely some kind of digestive disruption (constipation, gas, something like that). When it didn't go away, I began the same series of tests that you have had. Upper and lower GI, blood work, ultrasound, various other things. Everything has come back normal and healthy. My doctor now thinks I am slightly crazy.

My symptoms are similar to yours -- at first I was constipated, but that has since abated. I am very tired. I feel bloated. The pain sometimes radiates to the lower back and sometimes to the upper right side below my rib cage. Sometimes my rib cage is even tender to the touch. Mostly it's just a dull (sometimes sharp) pain in the mid-slightly right side of the abdomen. This past weekend I had a general stomach ache (both sides of the abdomen) that may or may not be related to this.

Like you, I know longer feel it is something in my digestive track but something growing out of control in my abdomen. It's frightening and depressing at times .. and also expensive and time consuming to deal with. I hadn't considered an ulcer, but last week went in for the H. pylori blood test (results come back tomorrow) and I find myself in the strange situation of actually rooting for an ulcer. At least then I would have an idea what might be happening. I expect that test to be negative as well.

Please keep me posted on your progress and I would appreciate any   thoughts you might have.

Mark
***@****
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Avatar universal
Hi, I had a similar situation recently.  I had severe pain in my abdomen for months and they could not find what the problem was. The pain started in the middle of my abdomen and eventually located in my upper right area.  I had every test you mentioned and then some, all negative.  I would recommend that you ask for a hida scan.  That shows how well your gallbladder is working.  I did not expect it to be mine because all the other tests on it were normal.  This one also was normal, but it reproduced the same pain.  They removed it, and I have been pain free!!  If it is a sharp pain or a constant ache that gets worse after you eat, and does not change when you change positions it may be your gallbladder. It took 7 months for them to take mine out because all the tests just came up normal.  Good luck! I hope you start feeling better!
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233190 tn?1278549801
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There has already been a pretty comprehensive evaluation.  If the upper endoscopy was normal - it makes a mass, ulcer or inflammation less likely.  A normal ultrasound would rule out most gallbladder diseases.  

I would next consider a 24-hr pH study to evaluate for GERD as well as a gastric emptying scan to evaluate for gastroparesis.  If all is negative, you can consider treatement for irritable bowel syndrome (i.e. increasing fiber intake as well as considering antispasmodic agents).  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
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