Constant Stomach Pain

[les1212]

Been to multiple doctors and have taken almost every test under the sun . Have a recurring stomach pain that is usually the most intense in the morning , fades as the day goes on and hurts the least at night after dinner . Gas and a sour stomach can occur any given day but the underlying stomach pain has been there almost every day for the past 3 months . Multiple blood tests , scopes , CAT scans , MRI have shown nothing . I'm hoping such a consistent pattern suggests something to someone .

[researchaholic]

So good to hear some (possibly) exciting news!  Only time will tell and I will keep my fingers crossed for you!  Funny thing- during my 20 years as an investigator, I always urged everyone to turn over every rock when searching for answers because many many times it would be the smallest, inconsequential, most overlooked thing that provided the solution and I hope that proves true for you.  It's the Auchum's Razor(sp?) theory-the simplest answer is usually correct...Let me know how the week goes!  Namaste

[les1212]

I have an interesting twist ...I visted my primary doc three days agin to discuss plan b and he asked me if anything else had changed since my stomach pains started 6 months ago . I joked and said the only thing I could think of was I started using Rogaine . The doctor went on line and found that Roagine can cause chest pain and severe indigestion . It could be psychosomatic but I stopped Rogaine three days again and the level of pain has dropped dramatically . I'll let you know how I feel in a week !!!

[Oklahoma7]

I have had IBS since I was very young with only occasional problems, until I got into my late 30's early 40's.  Then I had more cramps and diarrhea.  This is an inherited problem -my father had it.  So - when I was in my early forties, I began to have constant stomach pain as soon as I ate, with no diarrhea.  Just stomach pain constantly.  Since my pattern was colon cramps, and after severe cramping for an hour or two I would have diarrhea and the pain would subside.  So my internist put me on IBS meds, didn't help, and he sent me to G.I. doctor.  He put me on more meds. didn't help.  Finally I went to a good MD who sent me to a psychiatrist who put me on Tofranil - 50 milligrams, and bingo - within a week or 10 days, I could eat with no pain again.  I had no IBS cramps for the year I took this med.  I did have bad constipation, but a prescription stool softener, and a big green bartlett pear before bedtime helped me have a BM the next morning.   There are several of the older anti-depressants that help with pain, especially colon problems.  My psychiatrist did not describe the drug for depression, but for relief from IBS symptoms, and the accompanying anxiety that had built up inside me from wondering why none of the IBS meds worked.   I took Tofranil, - I believe Pamalor is in the same drug class - a friend of mine used Pamalor for her IBS.  Check with your doctor.  Many MDs don't try these meds anymore because they really are the realm of psychiatrists who know how to use the side effects of antidepressants to treat pain.  In my case the Tofranil slows the bowel(causing constipation)  A person with IBS with constipation would need a drug to speed up bowel motility, making them less constipated.  I have read recently that prozac and some of the other newer anti-depressants help with IBS.  It was not the right drug for my type of IBS.  Good luck!

[researchaholic]

Good luck at the doc today.  Even though it's not a MRSA problem-  the MRSA USA and CANADA forum seems to be an easy place to possibly get a referral- a huge amount of those people have had numerous health issues and you might be able to get a referral there.There are also several "resident experts" on that site who may be able to rec. some herbal remedies- until you have a better idea as to your situation, I hesitate to reccommend. Some of them can be hard on your stomach and when my stomach problems "headed south" I stopped all supplements for six weeks and am now adding them back one at a time every three weeks to make sure I was exacerbating the situation... Interested to hear what you find out today- good luck and INSIST on answers or a plan of action!

[les1212]

Thanks again for providing insight .I've had IBS for years as well as occasional acid reflux over the past couple of years  but this steady pain in the stomach is something new and I haven't had acid reflux in over a year . I tried the gluten free diet and the only correaltion I found was constipation !!! I like the probiotics idea ... I remember as a nervous kid , I had issues and they tried probiotics ... I just don't remember the results . Going to my primary care doctor today to see if I can change doctors or find someone at Mass General in Boston . Is there a decent website that helps one find specialist ?. Any other herbal remedies you can suggest ?

[researchaholic]

You definately have a complicated situation!  Aciphex is basically another drug in the Panntoprazole family- which you have tried.  H. pylori can be checked with a simple blood test or breath test and is usually the culprit for stomach ulcers so make sure your doc has checked for that but it is amazing how many times that is overlooked before putting patients through more invasive procedures.  If your gallbladder was okay- you might look into a sphincter of oddi dysfuntion-google that and see if anything fits. A dysfunction with that would probably be causing more pain but it could be it is just beginning with you.  SOD can also cause a difficulty digesting fats ("KFC/McD").  A fat malabsorption problem could also cause that- which can be checked with a stool test.  There are many types of malabsorption problems and having food sit unabsorbed all night in your stomach could cause the morning pain as well.  The problem with grease, caffiene, choc.  sounds like you may end up with a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome- which really means they don't know what it is!   Diverticulosis could also be a factor.  One of the strange things about ulcers is that  a lot of people have worse pain with an empty stomach-like in the morning...but they surely would have found that if they did a scope..  They seem to be treating you for GERD- have they suggested raising the head of your bed by 6 "?..might be worth a try.  I would also read up on gluten/wheat sensitivity because research is finding that some patients that test negative for the celiac "gene" are sensitive/allergic to the above without fitting the paramaters for Celiac disease and improve after a trial of wheat/gluten removal from the diet.  If for any reason you have been exposed to a lot of antibiotics- they can kill off the bad AND good bacteria and flora in the body (stomach) and cause some very serious problems.  Check out pro and prebiotics (acidophillus, etc.).  Everyone should add those to their diet  anyway and in your situation it could help.  You might also ask about a problem of seratonin regulation regarding your stomach issues... it is an uncommon cause but still a possibility.  You hopefully will get answers from the "egg test" but I would go armed with questions first.  I don't know what amount of radiation you will receive but ct scans give you approx. the same amount you would receive from day to day exposure over a three year period and with your problems and ongoing tests, just be aware. When I started adding up my exposure after numerous probs over the last sev years- I had rec'd about 18 years of exposure in two years...Sorry I can't help more- these are just a few things you might read up on amd make sure the doc has ruled them out.  I started out with an initial weight gain but ended up losing 60 pounds before anyone took me seriously.  With me- it would only be after all those things-and many other possibilities are ruled out- that I would let them label me with IBS.  That was the original diagnosis with me until I insisted on real answers.  Hope this insn't too much info and that you will Google some of these things through a reliable site and see if you can help yourself a little while working with your doc.  Would be interested to see what you find after the egg test!  Good Luck

[les1212]

Thanks for taking the time to respond . We have done celiac and I believe pylori . Don't know the exact blood work but went in for two rounds . The pain is a steady "punch in the gut" and it runs right below my rib cage in the center . Don't know what Aciphex is . They did an ultrasound on my gall bladder , enjected me with iodone for a CAT scan and injected me with saline for a MRI . Going to eat radioactive scrambled eggs next week to test my stomach . I'm actually gaining weight because food in my stomach reduces the pain . Howver , there are days when my stomach is really bad and I feel weak . No night sweats . Frequently , I roll over on my stomach and the pain from that wakes me up in the morning . Have been keeping a detailed food/pain diary and the only correlations I'm finding are with my lower intestine ... .KFC/McD's give me instant diarrhea !!! Avoiding chocolate and caffine as well .... causes intestinal cramping/loose bowels . Not taking any supplements or herbals ... no one mentioned that to me . Took Pantoprazole on and off for weeks and actually I felt better after stopping it . Still have frequent bouts of acid stomach/gas but more than not have the stomach pain without the acid stomach . I was hoping the pattern of stronger pain in the morning and less as the day goes on when indicate something but I guess not .  .

[researchaholic]

I'm sure they have, but have they done tests for heicobacto pylori, celiac disease, gluten or wheat sensitivity? Which particular bllod tests have they run?  What  exact area of  your stomach hurts and what tyoe of pain- cramping, stabbing, burning, etc?  If it is the upper right quadrant it could be more related to the liver or bile ducts. Have they checked that ? I'm guessing that you have been through trials of Aciphex, etc.?  Do you still have your gallbladder?  What medicine seems to help at all?  The scary thing is that "stomach" pain can be referred pain from a different area and lots of people, esp. women are treated like they are simply depressed once an obvious answer is not found. Based on your tests, have they given you any guesses as to what it could be or are they simply saying it is all in your head?  Don't let them tell you that until they can tell you have ruled out everything through evidence- not what they "think".   Once they know you are staying on top of things they are under a lot more obligation...if you suggest a test for a specific reason, they can no longer ignore it because of their liability and if they do- you need another doc.  Have you had any weight loss?  Night sweats?  Request any old tests-before this began_ and look for ANY thing that has changed even if it doesn't seem related.  You should keep a pain/food diary if you haven't and you might even consider a short fast (with supervision- because I don't know what other health problems you have)  or a "fast" from solid foods using liquid supplementation- and start readding foods one at a time to see if you can pinpoint a culprit.  Your ongoing problems can cause you to become deficient with electrolites, vitamins, calcium, etc. and end up being another battle to fight... Sorry for so many questions but I may have some better ideas once I see your answers and can maybe give you some other ideas to ask your doctor about. It seems that every answer I finally got was by research and and insisting on additional tests- even when the doc didn't think I was on the right track.  Also would be helpful to know what other meds and supplements, including herbals you are now trying or have tried.  Hope this helps and if you want to enlighten me further I will try to send you some more useful info.