PLEASE HELP - PAIN IS DRAINING

[allicat2002]

I am really starting to reach my limit here.  I am 28 and have been suffering with stomach/digestive problems my entire life.  I have always been constipated, able to go literally weeks without passing a stool, severe gas pains and unable to pass gass at all (no matter how hard I try which causes hemroids).  I have been through several tests and ultrasounds (everytime I have an ultrasound the x-ray tech complains b/c they can't see the organs through all the gas!).  I had the "egg test" and doc said I have a very slow digestive system.  Been told I have a slushy gallbladder and fatty liver.  Very high cholestoral (but very low triglicerides, high good chol).  I'm 5'1", 102 so not overweight.  Watch fat intake religiously, eat high fiber, stay away from any carbonation and yet still the pain continues, I'm doubled over with it.  Lately pain is mostly lower abdomindal with severly bloated stomach and specific really sore spots around left side but in past the pain has been higher, under ribs, lower, starting in back, starting in side, basically all over the place (except never heartburn, don't really get that) Been hospitalized several times, only relief on those times is severe vomitting to relieve the pain.  Always have elevated white blood cells at hospital.  last time had pain but not hospitalized was last week, started while at client's office (i'm an attorney) and wanted to cry, has lasted all week and into this week.  I feel like i'm popping gas pills constantly.  This is ruining my life and I can't take it anymore.  I get so frustrated because everytime I go to the docs, they start tests, come back with the comments above but no solutions, no real diagnosis, no causes, and nothing seems to solve the problem.  It isn't funny hearing the x-ray people joke about my gas and yet not find the problem.  Can anyone help???

[Richard G.]

I don't visit this site very often, but couldn't help reading your cry for help.  There are several points I'd like to make, and you can take them for what they're worth, but know I have cured my GERD, of 20 years, and have been off Prevacid for one year now.

1.  First and foremost.  Hydration!!  Read the book "Your Body's Many Cries for Water".  Your digestion, and every cell within your body, needs water.  I cannot stress this enough.  This means elimination of all diuretics, including caffeine, because these cause excretion of water from the body.  

2.  Take magnesium (Mg).  Upwards of 80% of the population is lacking in this mineral.  It is necessary for 300 enzymatic pathways in the body, which include most of the neurotransmitters that control the sympathetic and parasympathetic system.  See www.mgwater.com  Do not use Mg. oxide, however, as it is the least absorbable.

3.  For fiber, eat raw vegetables and fruit.  Not only do greens and fruits supply the body with important vitamins, they are not like a brillo pad, that scrubs and binds your delicate intestinal tissues, like grains.  Rice is the exception.  Vegetables and fruits also supply the body with fluid, whereas grains do NOT.

4.  Avoid as many chemicals as possible, esp. Aspartame and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).  Your body has to use precious stores of nutrients to eliminate these chemicals, and then wash them out with fluids that could have been used elsewhere.  MSG destroys neurons, and everyone should read about it at www.msgtruth.com.

5.  Avoid stress, as this has deleterious affects on the whole body, and uses up nutrients stores, to deal with it.  

6.  Take control of your health.  Yes doctors have their place, but most know very little, by way of nutrition.  Besides that, they are being inundated by sick people, have families of their own, and they simply don't have enough hours in the day to understand everything.  It's up to you to study and make changes that work for your own body.  Common sense is your saviour, about what you put into your body.

7.  Avoid sugar as much as possible.  

I hope this helps you, and you find your way.

Richard

[tummytrouble2]

I am going through the same I am 31 and unable to go to the bathroom without the assistance of laxatives.  I have had the scopes done, since I have had GERD, I have had the small bowel series of xrays, have had reglan, zelnorm, prevacid, nothing works for me.  The next thing the doctor has recommended is the sitz marker test, which I am quite reluctant, oh and his newest solution is to take milk of magnesia 2x a day and he thinks something might be wrong with  my colon..if at some point he can help with something I will let you know..

[unlike me]

I always laugh when people give advice <including doctors> to eat a lot of fiber. I had all the same symptoms as you and in no way am I trying to make a diagnosis here.

Fiber creates a lot of gas. It causes some complications with bowel disease. While I had the same symptoms as you,  I met someone who had long term experience with crohns disease. I have it too. She advised me that I should try cutting the fiber <raw fruit, lettuce, so many things>from my diet and not to play with over the counter "cures" that could complicate or mask the problem. I might add that my crohns was missed for close to two years. You might not have the typical symptoms of your ailment. With my crohns, the main thing clue seems to be diarrhea and I myself suffered with constipation. Like you, it was not hard stool when I managed to go.

As it turned out with me, I have a narrowing in the area of the bowel where fats are absorbed. Ileosecal valve narrowing <lower left side> was the problem and about 6 inches of large and small bowel.

Please don't fool around. Make sure you look into this. Many complications can arise with delays. Cut the fiber for a week and see how you feel. Has anyone mentioned a low residue diet? The suggest this with many bowel ailments with you are the midst of troubles.

Feel better..

[Master Sergeant]

Your story was very familiar to me.  I was 37 years and had been suffering for years the same as you are.  I tried everything.  I was in an out the hospital for fecal impactions.  What was weird was when I did have a bowel movement it was soft ( a lot of time diarehea)not hard like a typical constipated person.  AFter so many x rays, rectal scopes, ultra sounds, cat scans, I finally got a doctor and radiologist that took a hard look at my symptoms (swollen stomach looking about 7-8 months pregnant, bowels movements about every 2 1/2 weeks, back pain, weakness, etc.    The doctor ordered a sitz marker study.  I swallowed a pill that had about 40 (I think) radiological beads.  They took an x-ray every day for 10 days.  All the beads were still in my system most of them in my small intestine.I was diagnosed with a severe motitlity disorder/I also was previously diagnosed with hypertensive sphincter muscles/hiatal hernia/and GERD.  STarted all kinds of different medicines to no avail.  In 1999 I underwent a total colectomy and had an end loop ileostomy.  One year later they removed the rest of my rectum due to severe proctitis.  So now I have a permanent ileostomy and the quality of my life has improved greatly.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

There are a variety of reasons for increased gas and bloating.  This can include dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, malabsorption, or gallbladder disease just to name a few.  

Here are some specific tests that your physician can consider to work up and GI diseases that can increase the amount of gas in the digestive system:

* Examination of stool to detect the presence of blood, abnormally increased levels of fat (steatorrhea), or the presence of Giardia lamblia.

* A lactose tolerance test, during which patients are provided with a test dose of lactose by mouth. After receiving the test dose, those with lactose intolerance may soon develop abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and excessive flatulence. Breath or blood samples are obtained during the test to confirm the presence of lactose intolerance.

* X-ray examination of the small intestine.

* Upper endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy (in which the inside of the stomach, upper intestines or colon are examined via a tube with a camera at the end).

* Antibody tests for celiac disease.

If all the tests are negative, irritable bowel disease should be considered and treatment optimized.  

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.

Bibliography:
Goldfinger.  Patient information: Gas and bloating.  UptoDate, 2004.

[ozark]

you dont need heartburn to have an acid stomach...ask for a 24hr ph probe.....i had en edoscopy that was normal but the probe test said i had a lot of reflux........good luck

[allicat2002]

thank you for your response.  I do not take acid reflux meds because don't really have heartburn.  If I take anything it is gas reducer meds with no acid reflux additives.  Also, a little revision to original comment:

1) I was not diagnosed with fatty liver but at one point (can't remember when now) the doc, after doing blood work, did mention something about my liver enzymes and something about not breaking down fat well.  It is all vague in my head now.

2)  the tests I can remember having are: ultrasounds, pelvic ultrasound, kidney x-ray, egg test, blood work.  (I have had millions of ultrasounds).  I think that's it but mind you this has been going on for years and years.

Thanks again!

[yoshi]

folks who suffer from acid reflux problem watch their diet and avoid fatty food,chocolate,peppermint,caffeine,softdrink,peppermint,spicy food,nuts and dairy food.
you said you dont have problem with acid reflux but your liver cant handle fatty food,so what happens to the fatty food once it enter your body??
has anyone suggested you go see a gastro doctor and get endoscopy and colonscopy .
what if part of your large colon is obstructed with polyps or restricted narrow passage and make it difficult for matter to pass thru?? a colonscopy will reveal if this is the problem.
good luck.
so how are you moving your bowel now,you said high fiber is not effective??

[allicat2002]

Thank you very much for your insights!  Yes, I watch what I eat very carefully for the reasons you listed.  In the past I never had heartburn but I used to have the intense stomach/gas pains throughout (starting in high abdomen and going lower).  That still happens but more often it is mainly in the mid and lower abdomen.  What happens is, I have almost contstant gas and pains, pretty much anything can set me off (not always just after eating either) so I eat a highly restricted diet (especially in times of stress when it seems to get worse).  As for how I have bowel movements?  Well I'm ashamed to say actually.  Eventually I started taking laxatives during really bad times but that only helped VERY limitedly (that's not a word I know).  Anyway, then after becoming too fed up, I started taking fat blocker drugs/herbs which I know I shouldn't be taking since I have no weight problem but they do help with the bowel movements better than anything else I have ever tried in my whole life.  With them I'm actually able to have bowel movements on a far more regular basis but of course they are not "normal" and are more like diarrhea.  I know that is terrible but that's how desperate I've become.  I still stick to the high fiber/low fat diet.  As for docs...my old primary care doctor (who I no longer see b/c I moved to another state) would start with the ultrasounds and say he would eventually refer me to a gastro doc but never got around to it.  My cousin, who has the same primary doc and very similar stomach/gastro problems (hers since baby as well) was finally referred to a gastro doc and is still going through tests there but I don't know the status.  I've never had the tests you are referring to.  Currently I have no primary doc but my insurance allows me to see a specialist without a referral.  Maybe that should be my next step.

[yoshi]

wait till what the doc has to say.

[yoshi]

you said the gas is coming from lower abominal area etc etc.
this is coming from the feces fermenting and creating gas,you need to find a way to move your bowel.
if you are taking acid reflux medication,the chemicals in the medicine could have interact with the content in your lower intestine and creat gas (the reason i suspect this is because no one moves their bowel every time they eat,it is not unusual not to have daily bowel movement,but it does not mean feces will ferment and create severe gas problem,so what changes??may be it is the acid reflux medicatiion??)
just my own observation/