Lower left abdominal pain, vomiting and diarreha

[Nathan__0]

  My wife has been in the hospital for almost two weeks now having Lower left abdominal pain and diarreha.  She is on a clear liquid diet, IV, and anti nausea medicine (compazine and a small IV bag that hospital staff says is the same stuff given to chemotherapy patients for nausea) She usually vomits up her meals despite the medicine.  They are also giving her demoral for pain.  Our gastrointestinologist has not determined what the problem is yet.  He says she has "gastroenteritis"  Probably a virus.  They have x-rayed and sonagramed her stomach and they looked fine. They gave her a colonoscopy because a stool sample showed puss cells  and it looked fine.   I asked her doctor about the possibility of some type of parasite ane he says it is most likely not the case since this is not a developing country.  My wife was experiencing lower right abdominal pain back in May (it's now september) and a surgeon went in (thinking it must be her appendix) and discovered nothing unusual with the exception of two swollen lymph nodes which he removed.  He also removed her appendix since she doesn't need it any way.  Despite all this, the source of her severe pain was never discovered and it was just attributed to her irritable bowel syndrome (I forgot to mention that she has IBS)  So, her she sits in the hospital.  Nothing is being done.  I don't know what to do.  I am beginning to think that perhaps our gastrointestinologist has done all that he can do and I should get someone more experienced.  Can you help?!!  I'm so concerned about my wife and can't stand to see her in such misery.
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Dear Nathan,
It is frustrating to see a loved one so ill and no being able to help.  You did not provide your wife's age, pathological findings from the lymph nodes, or information regarding other possible medical conditions.  I think that you should ask your physician whether he thinks that a second opinion might be helpful.  Additionally, ask the doc if he thinks that a gastrointestinal dysmotility might be contributing to your wife's symptoms.  Crohn's disease of the small intestine could produce these symptoms, but should have been diagnosed at the time of surgery.  Also ask the doctor if a small intestine barium study may help.
Best of luck.
This information is provided for educational purposes only.  Always consult your personal physician for specific medical questions.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea
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