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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
GI issues § no one finds what's wrong
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
GI issues § no one finds what's wrong
by BrianK, May 23, 2003 12:00AM
I am a 26 year old male and have been having major stomach problems for about 5 years. I have been to 3 different doctors and have had NO Luck. About once or twice a month my stomach starts hurting in my the lower right side (sometime the left) and starts hurting all over me stomach and even my upper chest sometimes. It starts out feeling a little sore when I move and then gets to the point where It hurts so bad when I move. My stomach feels "Bruised" and “Bloated” at this point. I get real pail and sometimes I run a fever and get chills or get the sweats.
When my stomach first stared doing all this, It was doing it every week! I’d start feeling weird on Thursday night , Friday would get worse, Friday night or Saturday morning I would be in So much pain and then it would slowly go way by the begining to the week. Monday morning I would still be sore but it takes about 2 days to get back to normal after an attack. Then sometimes I would go 6 months with out having an attack. But it always starts back up again. I don’t know why it does this. There is not one thing that I was doing or eating differently during the 6 months or no attacks than the times when I do have the attacks. The attacks are sometimes not that bad and sometimes they are REALLY Bad. When they areVery BAD I can’t hardly move because it hurts so bad.
I've had lots of test done thru the years. I've had 2 ultrasounds done looking for gallstones, A gallbladder test, a barium enema, A camera run down my throat looking in my stomach, Some CAT scans and X-rays. And the only thing that the doctors have said is that I've got a "Fatty Liver". But the doctor said this couldn't cause my stomach to mess up like it does.
When I was in first grade my appendix ruptured and I was ghang green. An at one time I thought it could be something from that messing up my stomach.
I doctors have ruled out IBS by & Diverticulitis.
I’ve Been Doing this for So Long and the 3 Gastroentrologist that I’ve been to hasn’t found the problem.
I've not had the colonoscopy yet because the doctor I'm seeing now didn't realy think it was needed because of all the of test I've had.
As far as medication I'm not sure what I've had thru the years. the first doctor tried to treat me for a nevous stomach & intestine/collen. but I don't know the nake of the medication. I've tryed Prilosec for acid reflux. The last doctor tried to treat me for IBS and put me on Zelnorm and told me to eat for fiber and also gave me a medication for Miralax powder. To help with bowel movements. But nothing has worked!!
My bowel movements are different everytime. I go at least 1 or twice a day. Each time it's not a lot. Maybe 3 inchs. The color of them I usualy kind of orange. Sometimes I had a lot of green in it. Usually during an attack I can't go to the bathroom but I can go when the attack first start coming on and at the end of the attack.
(btw, this msg isn't for me (BrianK) but for someone else...)
When my stomach first stared doing all this, It was doing it every week! I’d start feeling weird on Thursday night , Friday would get worse, Friday night or Saturday morning I would be in So much pain and then it would slowly go way by the begining to the week. Monday morning I would still be sore but it takes about 2 days to get back to normal after an attack. Then sometimes I would go 6 months with out having an attack. But it always starts back up again. I don’t know why it does this. There is not one thing that I was doing or eating differently during the 6 months or no attacks than the times when I do have the attacks. The attacks are sometimes not that bad and sometimes they are REALLY Bad. When they areVery BAD I can’t hardly move because it hurts so bad.
I've had lots of test done thru the years. I've had 2 ultrasounds done looking for gallstones, A gallbladder test, a barium enema, A camera run down my throat looking in my stomach, Some CAT scans and X-rays. And the only thing that the doctors have said is that I've got a "Fatty Liver". But the doctor said this couldn't cause my stomach to mess up like it does.
When I was in first grade my appendix ruptured and I was ghang green. An at one time I thought it could be something from that messing up my stomach.
I doctors have ruled out IBS by & Diverticulitis.
I’ve Been Doing this for So Long and the 3 Gastroentrologist that I’ve been to hasn’t found the problem.
I've not had the colonoscopy yet because the doctor I'm seeing now didn't realy think it was needed because of all the of test I've had.
As far as medication I'm not sure what I've had thru the years. the first doctor tried to treat me for a nevous stomach & intestine/collen. but I don't know the nake of the medication. I've tryed Prilosec for acid reflux. The last doctor tried to treat me for IBS and put me on Zelnorm and told me to eat for fiber and also gave me a medication for Miralax powder. To help with bowel movements. But nothing has worked!!
My bowel movements are different everytime. I go at least 1 or twice a day. Each time it's not a lot. Maybe 3 inchs. The color of them I usualy kind of orange. Sometimes I had a lot of green in it. Usually during an attack I can't go to the bathroom but I can go when the attack first start coming on and at the end of the attack.
(btw, this msg isn't for me (BrianK) but for someone else...)
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, May 27, 2003 12:00AM
, May 27, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - thanks for asking your question.
You note stomach symptoms with symptoms occasionally ranging from the lower right to lower left side. Ultrasounds (x2), "gallbladder test" (?), upper endoscopy, CT scans, plain Xrays non-revealing. There is a questionable diagnosis of fatty liver.
You have tried Prilosec and Zelnorm.
You have been to 3 gastroenterologists. Please take note that it is impossible for me to give diagnoses without examination. If 3 gastroenterologists (who have examined the patient) cannot find out what is wrong, it is unlikely I will be able to shed any more light over the internet.
I would be in favor of a colonoscopy. At times you note lower right and lower left abdominal pain. You also note different bowel movements with different colors of stool. Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer or colitis should be evalauted for - a colonoscoy would be the best test for this.
Another consideration would be a HIDA scan with CCK stimulation. This would evaluate for acalculous biliary pain. If the gall bladder function is low, then removal of the gall bladder may considered.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
You note stomach symptoms with symptoms occasionally ranging from the lower right to lower left side. Ultrasounds (x2), "gallbladder test" (?), upper endoscopy, CT scans, plain Xrays non-revealing. There is a questionable diagnosis of fatty liver.
You have tried Prilosec and Zelnorm.
You have been to 3 gastroenterologists. Please take note that it is impossible for me to give diagnoses without examination. If 3 gastroenterologists (who have examined the patient) cannot find out what is wrong, it is unlikely I will be able to shed any more light over the internet.
I would be in favor of a colonoscopy. At times you note lower right and lower left abdominal pain. You also note different bowel movements with different colors of stool. Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer or colitis should be evalauted for - a colonoscoy would be the best test for this.
Another consideration would be a HIDA scan with CCK stimulation. This would evaluate for acalculous biliary pain. If the gall bladder function is low, then removal of the gall bladder may considered.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
