H. Pylori follow up - IBS?

Hi everyone,

I have been hesitant to posting anything on here in hopes that my perceived symptoms go away, but they haven't, and I would highly appreciate any help on what is going on. I live in Holland and since I do not have a solid insurance (only a student one), the doctor I go to does not seem too interested in what I have to say, as he also barely speaks English. Some background:

I am male and only 24. Stopped smoking cigarettes around 3 months ago, and I have nose allergies (extreme to dust mites). I sleep terribly at night and wake up around 3-4 times, and I blame this on stuffed nose. Also I get night sweats not infrequently (i.e., not consistently but I go through period where every night it happens - see below). My metabolism seems to be very high, as it is rare that I do not go to the toilet in the morning. Around 7 months ago I started getting severe cramping on my upper abdomen, and I went to my doctor who took blood tests testing for albumin, etc. Also, I was sent to do an ultrasound, for possible gallstones, and was perfectly fine. The diagnosis at the time was that my complaints were from my allergies.

Forward around 7 months later, and I am getting severe upper abdomen cramping. After every meal I eat (usually fatty), I would get so tired I just had to lie down for a bit. Also, after eating, I would get this burning like radiating pain (unlike classical pinching pain), just on my right shoulder and a little below there. When I would drink alcohol, I could drink very large amounts and not really feel drunk - more so drinking made my indigestion almost unbearable. All this led me to think something in my digestion is not right. Then one day I decided I would try an antacid (ranitidine), and I felt so much better, at the cost of extreme nose allergies (non stop sneezing, watery eyes, etc.). I went back to the doctor, with my complaints, and he said to check for H. Pylori -- the blood test came back positive. He put me on triple therapy (clarithomycin, amoxicillin, and omneprazole) for 1 week, and toldme to come back 5 weeks later. I have yet to go back and see him.

On the triple therapy I felt so much better - and now I no longer get tired after eating. Also my excessive sneezing and allergic reactions has stopped to an occasional stuffed nose. However the radiating burning-like pain on my right shoulder blade is still there, and now it seems to have a mind of its own - it comes and goes throughout the day, but definitely there after eating. Add to that, since I have finished the antibiotics, I have been getting frequent (not consistent) night sweats (not very drenched just around my stomach). Also I have been noticing my stools are different than before - they start out pebble-like and then one formed one (very very large) comes out. The first 2 weeks I would get some blood on the tissue, despite that straining was minor (so I dont qualify this as constipation). I drink a lot of water, and I eat a lot of fibre, so I don't know how this affects the situation. The last 3 days I have been seeing an orange piece stuck on the stool, and today some of the stools were grayish while the rest light brown. But really, what makes me wonder is the amount of stools I am passing everyday in the morning, as well as this ongoing burning-like pain.

I have also noticed recently, if I touch my stomach just right to my bellybutton, it feels painful at some points in the day (incidentally this is the same area that felt pain when the doctor 7 months ago decided to let me go do an ultrasound which means this problem was there from before h pylori).

As can be seen from the above, I have way too much knowledge about this then I am comfortable knowing, making me question whether this is all hypochondria. I have tried working on my posture while on the computer, to see if my right shoulder gets better, but nothing. I personally think its an ongoing inflammation of the colon but I dont know for sure (but it seems I am malabsorbing something). I will try telling the above to my doctor during my h pylori follow up, but I dont know whether it will make him make a misdiagnosis or no-diagnosis again, leaving me stranded with this. I would appreciate any informed opinions/advice as to what this might be, and I would be glad to give more information to get to the bottom of this.

Many thanks in advance.  

[Matthew007]

just some ideas off the top of my head...

well one idea is for sure to go back to the doctor..but I think by killing the bug you still might have some form of an ulcer still bugging you.  Also with smoking that just adds to an ulcer so maaaybe a short course of nexium for a month would be a good idea.  

Sometimes shoulder blade pain ect can also bring on gallbladder issues, they can bring on all sorts of weird symptoms... stones ect so you could check that out if you're still afraid about it.  Also with stress and illness it can bring on IBS issues so buying some supplement fiber at the grocery store and trying to relax a little will help that area out.  Since you were on antibiotics sometimes that really causes havoc with your system as well.. maybe eat a few bannanas to restore your potassium levels (which is need to control muscles, sounds stupid but it's true.)

Probably best to go back to the doctor and he'll probably put you on some anti-acid nexium deal for a bit and explain your symptoms to the expert.  Good luck :S

[quest24]

Thanks for the tips. I have already checked all gallbladder related issues so couldn't be this. You know, I keep thinking that the troubles over the last few months have sort of scarred my bodily perception, and I am overall okay. I certainly do have some sort of constant constipation despite bowel movements every day (pebble stools), but thats pretty much it. The shoulder pain could be from bad sitting-on-computer posture though I'm working on this. I think I just need to take it easy, and forget about all this - if you see me you wouldn't think I had any troubles (very healthy). I definitely have some kind of sleep maintenance insomnia and I'm sure its from all the previous stress. So maybe as you say its best to tell this to the doctor, but I really think the only cure is to let go of obsessing over every minor symptom that I think happens.

Much appreciated for the help, thanks.