Several Symptoms! Very Confused!! Please help!

[kennedygracen]

I have been experiencing a number of symptoms: I'll try my best to explain everything. I have mucous in my stools every time I have a bowel movement. Sometimes, I am very constipated and may not have a bowel movement for 4 days. Then, sometimes, I have very severe cramping (like I'm going to have diarrhea) but I don't have any diarrhea with this. A lot of times, I have sharp pains right below my rib cage in the middle. I have spit up bright red blood before, but not in awhile. (The doctors said this was probably acid reflux) This did subside with Prevacid. And the pain in the middle under my rib cage subsided with Prevacid also. I am constantly bloated. Other things that I don't know if they are connected with this or not is I had a slightly elevated liver function level, but I don't remember what the numbers were, and my white blood cell count was high. I have severe cluster headaches, migraines, and tension headaches, mostly resulting from a high prolactin level which we are treating with Dostinex twice weekly. No tumor on the pituitary or anyurisms were found. I have a lot of back trouble, but I think it's spinal related. My legs hurt a lot. (not just a little, but they will keep me awake at night) Also, I am keeping a rash on my chin and under my nose that I can't clear up. The rash is watery, then scales over. I have been tested for lupus and it was negative. Pretty much every disease that you can think of is on one side of my family or the other side, so that won't help much. Also, four years ago, right after I gave birth, I developed an e-coli infection in my bladder from the catheder, that got into my bloodstream, before we caught it. It took two rounds of antibiotics to get rid of it. After that, I was having some of the same trouble with mucous, and they found that I had c.diff, which took two rounds of whatever they gave me. I never had any trouble being sick before I got pregnant with my daughter, and now it seems as if I can't get well. I am 26 years old, and should not be feeling this way. I recently had to quit my job because I'm extremely fatigued and find it hard to do daily activities. The medications that I'm taking are: Dostinex, twice weekly; tramadol(for migraines);stadol(occasionally for cluster headaches);occasional Lortab(when neither of the above work);excedrin(occasionally)Amerge(occasionally);Frova(occasionally). All of these are for my cluster headaches and migraines. Do you think that my elevated liver function could be a result of these medications? (I don't drink.)Also, what do you think is causing all of these symptoms and do you think that they are stemming from the e-coli infection 4 years ago? I am in a lot of pain from my migraines, so could that be causing some of this? What kind of doctor should I see, and what should I expect? Thanks for your help!!! I have a 3 year old daughter to raise and I'm really scared!!

[SameasBefore]

C Diff..........
Heres a story about C diff. I had surgery on a perforated ulcer on my 18th birthday which put me in the hospital for two weeks. I lost nearly 70 some pounds and have a 12 inch scar going down on my stomach. I was released from the hospital after the two week stay only to return after 4 days after my stomach bloated out to about what looks like a nine month pregnant woman. In alot of pain and much discomfort they drained 2 liters of "junk" out of my system I stayed another 2 weeks in the hospital. anyways ever since then my intestines always hurt and I bloated up alot had lots of gas and just extremely miserable. The doctors always said "oh thats good if you have gas that means everything is working properley". Im turning 29 tommorow. That was 11 years ago and the symptoms of c diffa for me were just this...
Extreme cramps. Seemed like I had to poop alot. Whenever I pooped it was always runny. Never constant. soda seemed to work the best to poop If I couldn't. Asprin never worked for the pain. Id double over like I wanted to die. cold sweats, dry sweats, extreme pain. Couldnt eat for days even if I wanted to I didnt just so I wouldn't hurt from the 'cramps" Time went on and on same symptoms just worsened as time went by. Doctors didnt find nothing went I went in for a visit, so, I quit going. why spend money on doctors when they dont do nothing right? I smoked alot of marijuana for the pain and it worked for me. Made me relax enough to grip my ankles and poop. thats how bad it was. When it came out it was just so violent. Embarrased and in pain. I woke up one day I work the night shift and my intestines were flared up the "cramps" were back and im hurting worse then usual. I went to the bathroom and pooped and what I saw was just disgusting. I saw hamburger with the onions and part of the bread from the other night and there was some blood. I got up off the pot and I fell over. I thought I was done at that point. Eventually I had to go to work that night and on the way to work I had 3 attacks of my "cramp episodes". I walked into my job punched in and I had to go down on the ground and I said I have to go home. so I drove home having the cramps again worse...So I went to the emergency room and after dealing with all that I was admitted into the hospital. Finally, I thought this is it somebody's going to find out what it is thats killing me. No food, no water..IV's for the potassium level and morphine. Hey...nothing better then getting high off of bannana's and morphine. 9 long days in the hospital and if you look up in Minot ND we had that chemical spill from the train derailment I was in there at that time. I had what everybody thought was Chrons disease. My intestines were just shot they didnt look very good. I had the colonoscopy(sp)test and about another 50 or so tests and they finally concluded it was in fact the C diff nightmare. I dont remember what I took for it but, It was for 2 weeks. It hurts and its visibly invisible to the doctors. I have alot of medical bills because of this thing. Is it gone? I dont know...Im not in pain but I still dont have the same ball movements as healthy people do.  Comes and goes. Runny or hard I dont care as long as It feels better. Its the worse pain Ive ever experienced in my time. I had it for 10 years or so. so next time nobody can figure out whats wrong ask them to see if its C diff disease. And thats what it is a disease and nothing more. forget infection of the upper intestine. Its a disease. Any doctor that wants to go a round on this please feel free to email me at ***@**** or anybody else for that matter thats concerened on how there feeling. I know I had it and Im sure its a recurring thing. Good luck to all you people suffering out there I know your pain. ask for the C diff tests next time you go in. Thats all I can say.
The cramps I was describing were much like a very tight knot and exreme twisting. come and go come and go. then done maybe for 20 minutes depending on how long the attack lasted then you might be alright for days even a week or so then bang! its starting all over again worse then the last. Any doctors out there that want to pay me for my expertise Im willing to locate. I'll work for my doctor bills to be erased $22,000
Peace

[Benson]

I read with sympathy your remarks and I thought I would share
my experience with you.

I am now in my early 60s but in my late 30s I went thru' much
of what you described....just fatigue, depression and general
unwellness....along with tingling in fingers and some other
very odd symptoms.  Someone told me about the "yeast syndrome"
and as I read a book on this....all of the seemingly bizarre,
unrelated symptoms made sense.  I went to a Doctor who believed
this theory...went on Nystatin to kill the yeast and a yeast
free diet.  no...alcohol, cheese, mushrooms......sugar (a biggy_
and cut back on carbs....anything that would encourage yeast
growth.  It took me a couple of years...but I cured myself and
have had energy and enthusiasm....all of the things, that I
missed in my youth........again.

I hope this helps you and you find an innocent reason for your
symptoms....best of luck....Judy

[PAJ]

See my post on the 6 jan ,& other posts on the subject below

[Kevin Pho, MD]

There are several issues.  Regarding the mucous in the stools.  This can be from malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease, or pancreatitis.  I would have your stools sent out for analysis - including fecal fat test.  Blood tests and an abdomen film for pancreatitis can be considered.

Pain in the middle associated with elevated liver enzymes can point to a gall bladder or liver abnormality.  With the elevated liver enzymes, medications can be causing this as well.  I would first start with an abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the gall bladder and go over medications with your personal physician to ensure they are not elevating the liver enzymes.

I would suggest a gastroenterologist to evaluate the symptoms discussed above.  

For the migraine headaches, a neurology referral would be the most appropriate specialist to obtain.  You may want to consider if Topamax may be beneficial in your case.  

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.

[Katenyc]

Hi,

I'm not the doctor, but I read your post and wondered if you've been recently on an antibiotic for anything.  I also had c diff -- which I got after taking an anbibiotic for a tooth infection.  They gave me Flagyl [another antibiotic] for two weeks and it cleared it up.  However, c diff can leave you with irritable bowel syndrome [not always, but it can happen].  I don't know if the mucous in your stool is associated with that or not -- or if it could be a recurrence of c diff.  [Although it probably is not c diff unless you feel the same way you did with c diff previously.]  However, it might be wise to get a stool test taken.

I know the feeling of being un-well for a period of time when previously you were always healthy.  It's hard to deal with, especially when you have a child.  I have a 17 month old at home and I have the same worries as you.  By the way, I also have lower back problems -- however, this time I fear I have a herniated disc and I am having a hard time getting around.

Let's hope that this year will bring some answers to our issues and we can get on with our lives like before.  

Good luck!

Kate

[kennedygracen]

Thanks for your comments. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in feeling this way. Whenever I did have c.diff, I had taken an antibiotic for the e.coli infection, so I imagine I got the c.diff from that. Good luck with everything. Keep in touch and let me know how everything works out.

[kevinmd]

I'll be away until January 4th.  I will answer your question when I return.

Happy New Year,
Kevin, M.D.