Frustrated!!!

I've been seeing a Gastroenterologist since August when I first experiences stomach/intestinal problems. After bloodwork, an upper GI & Small Bowel series and an Abdominal Ultrasound all show normal, he is still not sure what are causing my symptoms. A colonoscopy was done last year which showed diverticulosis & spastic bowel.

During the Upper GI series, they did find that I have a non-congenital Eventration of the Diaphragm (where part of the stomach is pushing into the diaphragm)...not a hiatal hernia. Both a surgeon and the Gastro. don't think my symptoms are coming from this condition.

I basically have bouts which may last from one to several days...of feeling bloated, stomach/intestinal rumblings...sometimes mild nausea, stomach cramps,  sometimes ending in diarreah (diarrhea)....one of the bouts involved mucousy stools. I have has as much as 2wks in between bouts.

I realize that many of these symptoms can be related to IBS...though, even at 52, I've never really experienced ..until recently....anything comparable to full blown IBS.

My Gastro. thought at first that it might be my gallbladder (and still hasn't ruled that out)...but everything so far has checked out ok.  The one remaining test (other than a CT scan) for Gallbladder has been unavailable, because the drug used can no longer be obtained due to the current restrictions on shipping nuclear medicines).
So here I am, almost 3 months later, still don't know what's going on...and still having problems...with the only halfway decent relief coming from the use of an anti-spasmatic.

Any thoughts?

[MARY ANN]

i  just had colon surgery for diverticulitis the diverticulosis is the same thing it is just once the diverticula become infecfted they call it diverticulitis .but mine was extensive and severe you might want to ask them if it could have become infected .unless it is severe the norm is they put you in the hospital afew day on heavy antibiotics and it will normaly do the trick . i had the same symptoms you have .that is the reason i mentioned this . i was also diagnosed with ibs a couple of years or so back that is the reason they kept missing every thing else .ask your doctor if he can order some ultram for the spasm.again i would ask them to look closer at your diverticulosis .and be sure to ask them what the exstent of damage was when the did your last colonoscopy.good luck and god bless

[NYCity]

I have been experiencing the identical symptoms lately. My Gastro. did some blood work which came back positve for H. Pylori bacteria. I also have he bloated feeling, sore stomach and diareah evry other day. I was precribed Prevpac ( 2x500mg Amoxicillin; 1x500mg Biaxin; 1x30mg Prevacid ) all of this twice daily for 14 days.

After 2 days, I am still havng the pains, especially after having a meal. I am schduled for endoscopy in 2 weeks.

Do you think this could be diverticulitis also? My stomach feels relly sore and bloated.

[MARY ANN]

i am not 100% sure but there is a good chance it could be. at least 40% of americans are diagnosed with diverticulosis after the age of 40 and some prior to the age of 40  most of the time it does not pose a problem but for some it does. it depend on how severe it is and if the diverticulas become infected  .the best test out there to diagnose diverticulitis is the colonoscopy test it will also find other hiden problems that other test have a tendsy to miss.most doctors perfer this test above others to find digestive disease, including  cancer and polyps.i would sugest that you both have the test done this way even if it is not diverticulitis it will find what is causing the problems with your digestive system .if not for this test i would still be hearing the words it's your ibs acting up or it's your fibroidmyalgia.i don't think i have ever in my life been so sick of hearing that. a lot of times when doctors can not find what is wrong with the patient this is the first thing that comes out of their mouths.i have had 2 gastro/digestive specialest that were considered 2 of the best in their fields say that they simply do not put that much stock in ibs or fibroidmyalgia because after futher test they normaly find another more serious problem .why don't you ask your doctor to perform both the indoscopy and the colonoscopy the same day they did mine and i have heard several that have both done .they will put you under you no doubt will recall little or nothing of the test( it is not a painful test).you will fill little or no disconfort after the test is complete other than mild soreness that normaly goes away quickly.i hope you both consider the test it will keep you from running back and forth for many other test .good luck and may god bless

[donnabrock]

CDC go to their website!

Over 25 million Americans will suffer from an ulcer at some point during their lifetime. The good news is that most ulcers are caused by an infection with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, and can be cured in about two weeks with antibiotics.