Gastrointestinal troubles and FMS

Any of you experience Gastrointestinal problems.  For the last month I have been unable to eat, without the food causing a little aggravation, at first my doc and I suspected a virus of some sort, but not I am highly doubtful of such a theory.  No virus should last this long, for a while nausea and diarrhea plagued my everyday life to the point I was dehydrated and threatened with a hospital stay with pushed fluids.  Now, the diarrhea has been back for a week, along with concurrent nausea, no vomiting as of yet.  My doctor has prescribed Sublingual Levsin, and rectal usage of my Anti-depressant and other such meds.  Have any of you experienced problems like this, and if so what has helped with you?

[VaBreeze]

IBS is an overlapping condition and can cause horrible gastric problems.  While I have bouts of either one or the other bowel issues, i've not had periods lasting for month or weeks (as you have described).  Has your physician checked you for Chron's disease?  

Continue the medications he has prescribed to see if this will help clear the symptoms.  If they become worsened you should return to your physician or the e.r. for further treatment.  

I pray you feel better soon.

[thester6474]

No, I have not been tested for Crohn's Disease as of today. I have only been tested for Multiple Sclerosis, Scleroderma, Lupus, and Lyme Disease.  I have wondered about Crohn's Disease, but a few of my doctor's are sensitive to being asked about any condition they have not stated as a possibility.  So it has been placed on the back burner, what Medical speciality would Crohn's Disease be listed?  The symptoms have yet to improve dispite the use of the Levsin.  I have taken multiple, no more than prescribed, but I am hoping that it may just take a little while before I start seeing improvements.  Another thing that scares me, is the fact, that I am unable to keep my meds down.  I do not want to start experiencing withdrawals.  Also my blood pressure and pulse have been elevated, at times being as high as 159/100 and pulse 134 (this has been for the last month).

[RobinHood70]

Don't dismiss the virus theory so quickly.  There are lots of viruses that can last for months or longer...not to mention the more serious ones like HIV that're permanent.

The fact that you're having so much difficulty, though, makes it sound like it's more than a virus, and I'd definitely make sure you're checked for things like Crohn's Disease, Celiac Disease, stomach cancer, and so forth.  You'd want to see a gastroenterologist or gastrointestinologist for most of those.  (As I understand it, the former deals mostly with the stomach; the latter deals mostly with the intestines, but either can make you violoently nauseous so there's a lot of overlap in what they do.)

You can also try completely abolishing milk, wheat, rye, barley, and oats from your diet (and I do mean completely...even trace amounts can be problematic).  If you notice an improvement within a couple of weeks, you probably have an allergy or intolerance to one of the above, or you have Celiac Disease (which I do).

I do get a few stomach/bowel issues with the CFS, which is not uncommon, though I'm not sure whether it's the same for FMS.  But it's nowhere near the level you're describing...the nausea is readily taken care of with Gravol and the bowel issues come and go fairly cyclically, usually resolving in a couple of days to a couple of weeks at most.

When I had undiagnosed Celiac, it was much more like what you're describing, so I definitely can sympathize with what you're going through.  I hope that whatever the problem is, you figure it out soon!  Best of luck, and definitely let us know if you figure it out.

[thester6474]

I do not drink milk of any sort, and haven't in years due to being Lactose Intolerant.  Because of this, my calcium is really low, and I now have Osteopenia.  I also don't eat bread very often, actually I do not eat much of anything.  I have been told by my doctor that I am malnourished.  My Pain Management Physician has stated that she wants me to cut out all processed foods.  I can thank God, that AIDS is not an option either, cannot catch that if you are not sexually active or a drug user.  Since I got sick with all of these other issues, I deal with Chronic Nausea, and have a prescription for Phenergan and Compazine.  I also have to sometimes go and get the Phenergan shot, since the pill sometimes will not stay down.  
  
My current Dx(es) are  Hypermobility Syndrome, Kyphosis, Scoliosis, Early Mild Disc Degenerative Disease, Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy, Mild Central Canal Stensosi secondary to Mild Annular Bulging, Myoclonus, Lyme Disease, Anemia, B-12 Deficiency, Iron Deficiency, Calcium Deficiency, Commone Migraine with Intractable Migraine, Tension Headaches, Displacement of Lumbar Invertable Disc, Arthritis, Scoliosis, Lumbago, Sciatica, Chronic Rhinitis, and Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis and Epilepsy.  My Rheumy is about to start testing for Lupus again, due to abnormal lab results.

My prescriptions include Lorcet, Zyrtec, Compazine, Tranxene, Zanaflex, Phenergan, Naprosyn, Corgard, Provigil, Skelaxin, Nortriptyline, Maxalt, Methylprednisone Dospak (prescribed for use with Clustered Migraine Headaches), Levsin, IM B-12, and a TENS Unit.

As of today I am already seeing 9 doctors, only one of which is a Primary Care and located in my city.  The rest stretch within a 30 to 110 mile radius of my home.  In my small city we have no Specialists at all.  I will however try and schedule an appointment with a Gastrointerologist.

[VaBreeze]

You are on a lot of medications...many of which have moderate risks when mixed together.  This may be the cause of some of your symptoms (due to adverse side-effects).  It could be the reason for your nausea and stomach upset.  Some medications require that they be taken with food.  If you are not eating this could be a problem.  When did you become malnourished (i'm wondering why they have not hospitalized you in order to regain some of your strength and health)?

[FurballsMom]

While I still experience digestive issues myself, I was able to get off of the prescriptions for acid reflux.  I'm not experiencing nearly the amount of nausea or burning in the stomach, and my IBS isn't nearly as aggravating since I made dramatic changes in my diet.  I went through an elimination food challenge diet and was able to discover many of my food sensitivity issues.  I still have problems, or I wouldn't have joined the IBS forum and the GI forum, but I'm able to get by without the proton pump inhibitors that I was on before.  This is important to me, because the less medication I have to take the better.  Those medications for acid reflux are dangerous.  I know my friend who has FMS had been on the same one that I was on at the high dose that I was on for two years.  It totally destroyed the lining in her stomach and her small intestine.  She will have to get vitamin B 12 shots on a regular schedule for the rest of her life.

I myself developed an allergy to Phenergan and Dulcolax.  Not good when I was already dealing with a lot of nausea.

I realize that Naprosyn is an anti-inflammatory and you're likely using it for the pain you experience and even the migraines.  Something to consider with NSAIDs, which Naprosyn is, is that too much of these NSAIDs can lead to kidney function issues.  I'm sure taking too many medications can, too, along with damage to the liver.  Among other things.  I'm sure my own kidney issue would have been much worse and discovered a lot sooner if I had been taking too many NSAIDs myself.  I had stopped using them, since I just didn't feel good taking them, and I hadn't been taking all that many of them.  I was using an herb called boswellia, which folks here might want to know about.  The trouble for me right now is the nephrologist doesn't know enough about boswellia, so I had to stop using it.  Well, with kidney issues, I'm out of pain medication options, until a doctor figures out one I can use that I'm not allergic to that will work for the pain I'm always in.  The only thing I've been able to do besides using a heating pad for the pain is chiropractic treatments.

I agree with VaBreeze, that sounds like an awful load of medications for one body.  I know I don't even do well with certain medications in low doses, so I know I couldn't take so many medications myself.  It sounds like toxic overload to me.  I agree with VaBreeze that it's puzzling why the doctors didn't hospitalize you for a while to get you back on your feet, maybe even helping you taper down some of the medications.

[thester6474]

As for the NSAID, because of my major dislike of medications, I don't take it nearly as much as I should.  I would rather deal with the pain, I only take the medication when I am in major pain. I also have a script for three different types of pain medication.  One of which expired about six months ago, with 90% wasted.  The other one expired this month, and I had only taken six of them.  I take B-12 shots Intramuscullarly monthly, well I am supposed to at least, i take them whenever I have the energy to go out of my way and get it.  For my Neuropathic pain, I have been prescribed Yoga, complete Physical Therapy with pool therapy and a TENS unit.  The TENS unit activates the opiod receptors that don't work properly in our brain.  It uses the gate method in response to pain, it isolates the pain signal, and keeps it from getting to your brain.  The down side is the machine and its upkeep is really high, $200 monthly, and $1000 for the machine.  It is non-invasive and safe though.  It cannot be used in many places though, only the wrist, knee, back, hip and shoulder.  It cannot be used in the bony parts of the body, and these seem to cause majority of my pain.  Another drawback, is during the rainy season, it doens't do much justice especially if you are on the go much.  Unless that is, you wanna get shocked.  Well my PCP was going to hospitalize me and push fluids, but after I literally begged him not to, he didn't.  He also had me on a clear liquid diet hoping that it would help me.  I noticed though sometimes I wasn't even able to keep the jello down.  And for the fluids, they were just as hard if not harder to keep down.  The good thing, however, is that I have his cell phone and house phone number so he is only a call away.  He is the type of doctor that has his patient's best interest at heart, and he really truly listens.  He does more research online, and each time I see him we discuss new treatments and their pros and cons.  We truly have a lot in common, we talk whenever possible.  And a plus with him, he buys me gifts, lol.  So it is like I am getting my co-pays back.....I go see my Rheumatologist Monday, and I will ask for about a good Gastrointerologist.  I appreciate all of your suggestions and help, they come at all time when I am very open for new information.  If anyone hears or thinks of anything else feel free to respond.  

[ajawit]

You should definitely be tested for Celiac Disease...it can even be the cause or trigger for FMS, and goes undiagnosed 95% of the time. That's what happened to my whole family...we all thought we had FMS...turns out it's all caused by the fact that we all have Celiac and never knew it. Get it ruled out if you haven't, because it can develop into Lymphoma, Diabetes, and other horrible things like that if you don't get your diet under control. Good louck, I hope it's just a virus that goes away!

[ajawit]

By the way, most Celiacs are also Lactose intolerant...so that might explain that. It would also explain all of your vitamin and other deficiencies. The basic idea is that your intestines no longer absorb nutrients....so you can become malnourished

[VaBreeze]

What type of Tens unit do you have?  You can get a prescription from your doctor and purchase one online for less than $60.00.  You can also buy all supplies online and it doesn't cost nearly the amt. you are paying now.  My monthly supplies were only costing $39.00 and the rental of the Tens itself was just over $90.00 per mo.  

If you are taking the Nasid's for fibro, it doesn't have a good success rate.  Most find that Nasid's don't control the pain.  I strongly feel that if you are malnoursihed, nauseaous, vomiting and are unable to keep anything down you should be hospitalized because something is horribly wrong and will only get worse the longer it is put off.  

I hope that they can find the reason for your illnesses and bring some relief to you soon.  Also, (I'm going to comment on this since you mentioned it) the purchase of gifts from a physician, which are intended for a patient, isn't ethical.  While this may appear to be a 'perk' it isn't the norm.  I pray he is more interested in your health and getting you well, than wooing you.

Take care and best of luck.

[thester6474]

My TENS UNIT, is made by Empi.  I got a prescription for it, from my Pain Management Specialist along with my Physical Therapy script.  I paid nothing for it, because I have a State job and State insurance.  My insurance, thankfully, covers it all.  But I have people I work with that wasn't quite that lucky, they had an out of pocket fee.