2 months of upset stomach and diahrrhea

[Myristika]

Hi,

I've been through 5 doctors and waiting to pass a few more tests but they don't know what I have.

It all started the week of Halloween. I got an upset stomach with diarrhea and thought it was a stomach flu so no biggy, but it took a week to go away. It would come and go so every time the upset stomach came around I would start to yawn constantly. I was okay for the week after this and back to eating regularly when it hit me again.

During 2 weeks I had trouble eating breakfast and lunch, the only thing I found that I was able to eat was watermelon for breakfast and I would eat a tiny bit during the morning. For lunch I tried toast or small sandwiches but found that an hour later, when I'd be back at work (around 2pm) I'd start yawning and still feel my food sitting like a brick in the pit of my stomach. I'd also feel a knot in my throat from feeling sick to my stomach all the time I guess.

So after these 2 weeks I decided to consult with a doctor, he told me it was acid reflux after getting blood work done to make sure it wasn't my liver, so he prescribed me some Pantoloc. I tried them for 2 weeks and it hadn't changed a thing, just added some dizzyness to the mix. I then consulted another doctor who told me it was Bacterial Gastroenteritis, because he could feel my intestines and stomach were inflamed, and prescribed some Cipro for 5 days. This helped in the beginning and the diarrhea changed to a more consistent stool but on the fifth day the nausea came back.  

I went to the ER Sunday and had more blood work done up and they couldn't see anything, I hadn't been eating for 2 days now, and they sent me back home with papers for my family doctor to do more tests. Monday morning was the worst I had ever felt, I had diarrhea again and got the shakes so I went back to the ER.

This time they prescribed Gravol for the nausea, some other stuff for stomach cramps, Naproxen for the inflammation and Pantaloc for the heartburn that the Naproxen can cause.

I have a scan scheduled tomorrow to see if it isn't bad Colitis and an Endoscopy planned for after the holidays.

Nobody knows what the problem is, some are telling me that it might be anxiety (seeing that I started a new job 4 months ago and it is a lot of pressure) some are telling me that it might be Celiacs Disease, but from what I have read it starts gradually and not all of a sudden like my problem...

I need help and opinions please! I don't know where to turn to and I'm starting to freak out!

[JayGee1243]

go to a healthfood shop and ask for a box of SlipperyElm ..  (they may sell it fresh from a jar but that is very expensive)  It is a white powder you mix with hot milk and sweeten with honey, sugar or artificial stuff...    Like Horlicks...   drink it twice a day and very soon all will be settled...  I have recommended this to loads of people when all else has failed and it ALWAYS seems to work.  It is a homeopathic remedy I heard about on London radio (LBC) 20 years ago ..  I never travel without a small jar in my case..

[umaid]

I have tried antibiotics and that was of no use, right now my doctor told me to use CEFSPAN (cefixime) it's third generation oral CEPHALOSPORIN Antibiotic and it's for 5 days (5 capsules) and this course is about to end as it's my 4th day using this antibiotic but there are no good results sadly, I'm 22 years old and very worried about my situation.

[umaid]

Can you please tell me how you recovered in the end? I have got the same problem and it's been a month and the medicines that my doctor prescribe me was not of use. Please tell me how you recovered from it. Thankyou.

[Myristika]

So I've been reading up on IBS and Anxiety ect... I came across some interesting information about birth control and the onset of IBS.

Recently I have stopped my birth control (2-3 months ago) which I was on since I was 18 (I am now 32). I asked the first doctor if my malaise could of been caused by this and he dismissed it straight away so it was an option I hadn't explored until yesterday.

It looks like IBS could be cause by hormonal changes in women! So what do I do? I take a spare Nuva-Ring out and hey lets give it a go! I don't feel 100% well yet, but after 24hrs I can now drink orange juice without feeling like throwing up which was impossible since November!

I'll post an update later on this week but I am sooo crossing my fingers that this could be the cause!

[Myristika]

Thanks for your reply!

I went back to the ER last night because of a bad "episode". The doctor was able to see my scan results that were done in the morning and was happy to announce that everything was okay. He is the first doctor that I have seen who has talked to me about anxiety causing IBS, though he didn't want to conclude it was that without seeing stool samples and the endoscope.

I have an appointment with somebody in our Employee Help Program to help figure out if this could be it. I can't wait to go back to eating regularly without feeling this bad.

Thanks for your input!

[ggreg]

Anxiety over the job just might be doing this to you.  BUT I had diarrhea for six months and no docs knew what it was, until I figured it out, it was a medication I was taking that gave me daily diarrhea, and as soon as I got off it, the diarrhea stopped.  Now, SOME medicines, when you get low on dose, like if you take a drug every six hours when you should take it every four hours, sometimes people will start yawning when they need the drug.  So, all that stuff means could be some medication you began taking perhaps in the fall is doing this to you.  Lastly, there is the vagus nerve that when a person gets nauseated, it'll ennervate the vagus and cause a person to yawn.  So, that means the source of your nausea has to be understood, which could be some bacteria in your digestive tract that they haven't found yet... they should do a stool sample and bloodwork to see if they can decide what it might be and what antibiotics might stop it.  And just in case you have an ulcer or obstruction, they should do an ultrasound, endoscope, or a scan.  Those would be my thoughts on your issues.