Constant pain in abdominal area

Hello,
My fiance has had stomach pain for a long time. In mid may she was constipated for about two weeks, then later in july she was hit with extreme pain. The pain has been constant to this day, but it hurts way more when she eats. She had all kinds of hospital visits for this. They did every single test they could think of, first thinking it was her appendix. The tests for everything came back fine until they got a test saying that her gall bladder was working at about 21%. So she went through surgery for that (there was no blockage) and ended up being in pain 10 times more excruciating for about 3 weeks. She was allergic to fruit prior to the removal, but can eat any kind of fruit now for some reason....but the pain is still there, and wasn't relieved at all. Shes been to a gastro and had a endo / colonoscopy. Both resulted with nothing wrong, so the doctor there diagnosed her with IBS then gave her some pills to put under her tongue for pain.

Nothing has relieved her pain to this day. She still gets constipated so bad it doesn't pass for weeks (usually 12-20 days). Would anyone have a clue as to what it could possibly be? Doctors administered every test they could think of and everything comes back fine. What i noticed myself was the results of her colonoscopy didn't seem to enter the small intestine, could the problem be there? Were desperate to figure this out!

[nikki0207]

Has she been tested for Celiac's?? It can be tested 2 ways..blood test and an scope of small ints. Good luck and find a dr that will take time with her. my mom has Celiac's and it can be in the family so see if there are others in her family that have similar prbs.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Most times a colonoscopy and endoscopy will check for celiac disease (and the problem usually isn't in the small intestine).  Has she had a sitsmarker test (it tests for motility)?  Also what medications is she currently on for constipation?  The main thing that they could be missing if they never went into the small intestine (the part they go into is actually called the terminal ileum) is chron's disease that is only in the ileum.

[ziggadie]

Thanks for the replies!

I asked her and she says she was tested for both Celiac's and Chron's. She isn't taking prescribed medication for her constipation we just went to the store, bought fiber tablets and Miralax. I don't know if she has had a sitsmarker test. Ill bring that up to her doc.

Her mother was having pains in her stomach area as well (just a few weeks ago actually). She had to get her gall-bladder removed. The only difference is that her mom is just fine now, no problems or pains. Other than that, she doesn't think her family has had other problems in the stomach area.

[patient915]

I personally recommend fiber cereals and other things like that over fiber tables but it's up to her.  Make sure she is drinking enough water.  A sitsmarker test is a test that measures how fast things move through your system.

[ziggadie]

Ok so she went and got the sitsmarker test and just today the results came in. apparently she has a hernia. She explained to me it was between her esophagus and stomach, so its got to be a hiatal hernia. Since that is in her chest area, it shouldnt be what is causing her pain. She had to do bloodwork and another test today and she said the doctor that did those tests told her everything was fine. But she hinted that the way he said it made it seem everything is NOT fine. He instructed her to do a follow up with her doctor...which is probably going to be tomorrow.

I appreciate the advice from nikki0207 and patient915, as well as any other people that help.

[nikki0207]

Good luck. my mom has that too. :) Keep at it if u dont feel ur not getting answers find a new Doc.

[ziggadie]

She has acid reflux disease, a hiatal hernia, valley fever, had her gall bladder removed. Tons of tests done. CTs, ultrasounds, you name it, its been done.

Sitsmarker, celiacs, chrons.....shes been tested for everything and it all comes back fine!

Still in constant pain, its even worse now because shes begun vomitting...I hate not being able to figure this out!