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Nausea, Vomitting, Pain in middle abdomen

For the past 3 weeks, i've had moderate to severe center abdominal pain along with vomitting, nausea and loss of appetite.  I have had a cat scan, endoscopy, and blood work. It only said inflammation in the stomach, no bacteria, but the meds dont help so the doctor said to stop taking them. What else could this be?
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Avatar universal
I'm 75 yrs old and had pain in middle of my stomach since age 18yrs old, Last Nov and Dec I had 2 endoscopices one found ulcer and other follow up and it was gone, they put me on meds and nothing seems to work, for last 10 days been hurting constantly in middle stomach, use to be only after 4 hrs not eating, always hurt with empty stomach so going to specialist 13th of this month Oct 13 2015 and see what he says but I want a sonagram or something, it could be gallstones, My life has been miserable for over 50 yrs with this pain in middle of stomach, I have only wished I could be normal and not have that hungry feeling after only 4 hrs,
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Avatar universal
I do have a small hiatal hernia, but its very small.  i am scheduled for a hida scan. although the last few days have been pretty bad. im thinking of going to the er now but they do nothing.  i had to switch gi's because the 1 st was very lax and not taking care of my problem. the new one is thinking its gallbladder, but i am in  a lot of pain right now.....hope everyone is doing well...
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Avatar universal
Hi i too suffer from constant nausea for 2 years now also reflux which has improved with reflux meds but they have not stopped the nausea.
I was recently diagnosed with a hiatus hernia, cant believe it took them 2 years to find it, they say the treatment is management of the condition by diet modification, reflux meds, stop smoking and stop drinking.
Alas this has not stopped the nausea, i read in your post that you had found a procedure called fundoplication, i brought this up with my gp but i cant get a surgeon who will perform the operation because they say if the management approach hasnt worked then the operation wont either.
This seems strange though because in my research it sais fundoplication is used when management has not worked, and that is my case.
If you do manage to get this operation for your wife please post again and let us know how things worked out.

Best wishes to you both.
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Avatar universal
Have you had a test called a Barium Swallow? i had one recently because of chronic nausea and it showed that i have a Hiatal Hernia, this was missed when i had an endoscopy which the dr told me should have found it.

Good luck.
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Avatar universal
I live in Daytona Bch Fl.

Good luck with the MRI.........Yes it took a scan to find mine too. Ultrasound didn't pick  it up........I think it is because they are liek a stone literally liek a lil ball, and they roll around, hence why sick sometimes and sometimes not???

Let us know what the result it?
Peace
jenn
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Avatar universal
my gen. dr is thnking its gallbladder.... he is sending me for an mri of the gallbladder on monday   because in the ultrasound there was nothing abnormal about the gallbladder            where do u live?    THANKS
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Avatar universal
If You are having pain in the back, like a sharp radiating pain I m sorry to tell you but the above posts I put, sounds like one of those 2 Gallstones or pancreatitus or BOTH! The pain can radiate to the back and up the shoulder. Of course I am not a Dr so there may be many many more diseases Im not are of. I just had all of the same symptoms as you. I totally agree with Sam, GO TO THE ER!!!! and being that you have great ins 1 you are very lucky and 2 there is no need for you to be suffering like this, Your GI was obviously not very attentive and dug a diagnosis out of their A$$ ( sorry couldn't help myself )
Look into specialists. I see a nice long list above. You have the right to 2nd even 3rd opinions until you are correctly diagnosed and get the right treatment! You are very lucky, I am extremely ill and facing a lot of serious illnesses. I am on medicaid, and am now fighting with them for a 2nd opinion lol try that one!

I wish you the best of luck and please let me/us know if you find anything else out.......Even if you go to the ER they usually will refer a Dr in that speciality.


Good Luck, I know how horrible that sick feeling is..........
Much Peace
Jenn

Oh yes and PS Sam, thank you so much for the kind words.
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Avatar universal
thank u soooo much! where did u get this info from? i wonder if the dr. im curretly seeing is on there
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469934 tn?1333135282
Hi feelinill:

I know what it's like to be so sick you can't function so here's my research.  Here are two word-of-mouth recommendations for doctors in New Jersey that deal with this type of thing:

Aram Manoukian, MD
(732) 235-7784
One Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick,NEW JERSEY
Head of Pancreatic Department/ERCP

Dr. Krupnick
(973) 361-7660
369 West Blackwell Street
Dover, New Jersey
Gastroenterology

*******************************************************************************

Here is a list of ALL the gastro doctors that I could find in New Jersey but none have been personally recommended:

Sundaram Kanaga N MD Facp - Liver Pancreas Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
29 Columbia Turnpike, Florham Park, NJ 07932
(973) 377-4112

Sundaram Kanaga N MD Facp - Liver Pancreas Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
2333 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
(908) 688-1330

Hani A Khoury MD
502 Hamburg Turnpike # 107, Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 942-6611

North Jersey Digestive Healthcare - Kevin Kearney MD
931 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 628-7300

Dominic F Comperatore MD
502 Centennial Boulevard # 3, Voorhees, NJ 08043
(856) 751-2300

Gastroenterology Group of South Jersey PC
979 North Black Horse Pike, Williamstown, NJ 08094
(856) 629-7630

Marvin A Lipsky MD
25 Morris Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081
(973) 467-1313

Michael Hymanson DO
453 Amboy Avenue, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
(732) 634-1221

Cuckoo Choudhary MD
443 Laurel Oak Road # 230, Voorhees, NJ 08043
(856) 741-7100

David Mark Kastenberg MD
443 Laurel Oak Road # 230, Voorhees, NJ 08043
(856) 741-7100

Riverview Medical Associates PA
4 Hartford Drive, Tinton Falls, NJ 07701
(732) 741-3600
http://rmadoctors.net

Leo C Katz MD
443 Laurel Oak Road # 230, Voorhees, NJ 08043
(856) 741-7100

Gastroenterology Associates
South River, NJ 08882
(732) 238-4343

Neal Luppescu MD
10 N Gaston Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 595-0601

Kenneth Glazier MD
477 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 349-4422
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469934 tn?1333135282
If you can't keep anything down, please go into the ER.  It's been my experience that they tend to take you more seriously when you can't keep anything down.  If it is gallstones and they are causing a blockage, like Ryan's mom, Jenn mentioned, you can get very sick.  And it sound like you are VERY sick.  

I'm in Ontario, Canada not too far from New Jersey.  I belong to a Yahoo! group which deals with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, Pancreatitis and Undiagnosed symptoms.  I will post and ask anyone who knows of any doctors in New Jersey who might help.  If you want to join, please contact Michele Sphincterofoddi_pancreatitis***@****.  Michele is an incredible woman who owns the forum and a Registered Nurse.  Some of the other members are also medical professionals.  This forum is full of people who live with your kind of pain and suffering every day.

******************************************************************************

From ihealthvillage, "The sphincter of oddi is situated in the upper intestine, or duodenum, at the site where the pancreatic and bile ducts enter. Normally, this sphincter functions as a one-way valve to allow bile and pancreatic secretions to enter the bowel, while preventing the contents of the bowel from backing up into these ducts.

When the sphincter malfunctions, it becomes overly tight and does not allow adequate drainage of the pancreatic and bile ducts. The result is a pressure build-up in the ducts, leading to recurrent episodes of pancreatitis or biliary pain mimicking gallstone disease."

Symptoms from Department of Internal Medicine - University of Missouri, "The major presenting symptom in patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is abdominal pain. The pain is characteristically sharp, postprandial, and located in the right upper quadrant or epigastrium. The pain may be associated with nausea and/or vomiting, may last for several hours, and may radiate to the back or shoulder blades. Fever, chills, and jaundice are uncommon symptoms. Patients may also present with acute recurrent pancreatitis"

Good luck,

Sam


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Avatar universal
what is that spinchter disease you were talking about?
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Avatar universal
where do u guys live? what state? im in nj
wondering about ur dr.s
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Avatar universal
the problem is i lost my appetite so im hardly eating..... i only had plain white rice the other night and i threw that up. so i can drink liquids and broth but it actually hurts once its in my stomach not as it goes down.  but as i said the last few days ive had pain in my back like someone is punching me. i dont have a prblem with going to the hospital but they do nothing for me. i hate er docs. but i also have excellent ins. so im trying to find out what all this is..... THANKS for all your help, hopefully all your writing is somewhat theraputic for u...
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469934 tn?1333135282
You totally rock.  You are truly an inspiration to care so much and take the time out of your suffering to counsel and support others.  

Please take care of yourself and thank you so much for your posts.  I've learned SO much and I'm very grateful.

All the best,

Sam
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Avatar universal
PS want to add a gallstone can hide from an ultrasound. Mine did often. It goes in and out of the duct. Remember I said above all those organs have ducts. If What I did in the midst of a full blown attack and puking...........Go to the ER they can't turn anyone away. If you have ins they wont try. Have the US done in the middle of the attack of pain and nausea. If you have to puke they give ya a bucket lol DEMAND an ultrasound done while you are having that pain and vomiting. I know I had to fight with many ER Drs but They give in. Because if it shows later, the don't want a law suit. I have had to learn to be very aggressive. I have many illnesses and I need to be this way to get the care I need!

Ok Im done lo
Good Luck

Jenn
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Avatar universal
I had gallstones for 10 yrs before my GB was removed, that was due to ins. I had horrible horrible pain and vomiting. I remember one night crawling on my hands and knees because the pain hurt so bad, I was crawling to the toilet btw lol funny picture in my mind now, not so funny then! YES!! Your pain and nausea would come and go if it is your GB. Not to be rude but I was going to ask a question, which really has no significance yet it does. I was 105 lbs so the Drs were baffled. It is more common in overweight ppl. OR in the family. I had aunts and cousins all that had their GB removed very young. I was 30 yrs old. I was very thin. BUT they were very larger. So, because of of my size Drs did not even want to check it????? It was an ER Dr that did, and found it, and it was the size of a golfball!!! Now the ducts that lead to the liver and pancreas from the GB are very small. So they roll around, and if it gets into the duck that sets off an attack, or another question........Oh I never asked, are you overweight, by then I mean obese, not a few pounds. You can PM me if you want to email in pvt.  Also keep tract of the food that you are eating before this pain/nausea starts.


Sam  is correct. I have had more problems since I have had my GB out then before I ddid. I would go yrs without an attack sometimes. They took it out because it had ruptured, and that would have killed me!!!!


Im not a Dr, I just like to help with my experience because I went thru so much hell with one opinion verses the other. For me the pancreatitus and the gastroperisis are my main problems. I had the pancreatititus since I had my GB removed BUT remember I have liver disease. i am in the end stages of liver disease. Your liver. pancreas, and Gallbladder all work together. I dont have one and the other 2 dont do their jobs right! lol
I originally wrote this to you because I was baffled that a Dr is treating you for IBS. IBS causes pain on the sides ( like by your waist ) They are sharp shooting stabbing pains, like when you have gas real bad ( we all had it lol ) Upper abdomen pain can be so many things, but the Dr that diagnosed you with IBS..................If it were me, Id be looking for another Gi. I know all about that too. My ins only covers one in my whole town! I still agree with Sam, keep a journal for like say a week.............add in it what you've eaten that day, everyday! The you may be able to look back and see certain foods make it worse. With GB any fat, oil, grease, is a no no  It was always that pepperoni pizza that landed me back in the hospital. But Im a stubborn patient a Drs worse night mare lmao
If you need to PM feel free. I got on here due to my liver disease, to get knowledge and support. I also have so many other health issues, I decided to join other communities where I can actually be of help, and not feel so helpless as I do with the Liver treatments, or while awaiting them to start..........
GOOD LUCK feel free to contact me...........

Jenn
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469934 tn?1333135282
Hey again:

I know you directed your last post to Ryans Mom, Jenn, so forgive me for replying.  I know exactly how you feel.  Our symptoms are identical and I want to help.

Don't rush to judgment because you think it's your gallbladder.  It could very well be and having it removed might eliminate all of your problems.  But it might not.  If you have pancreatits, Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or any of a number of other disorders, removing the gallbladder won't do anything except to tell you it wasn't your gallbladder.

For me, I thought, if it might work, it's worth a shot.  Take the damn thing out!  Because my symptoms were so severe and imaging studies showed stones, they did take it out in spite of the HIDA Scan saying everything was normal.

I was throwing up many times daily to bile and had great relief with Domperidone (trade name Motilium or Motillium).  I might throw up once a WEEK now.  

My pain is still there so they've put me on a sustained action pain reliever and that's made a world of difference.

Almost 60% of us who do not have relief from gallbladder removal do not have  a diagnosis.

If I can help in any way, please feel free to send me an email or post.  Otherwise, good luck and I hope everything works out for you!

All the best,

Sam
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Avatar universal
ok i had the tests for the gallbladder but it didnt show anything but someone told me that it could still be my gallbladder just that when im having an "attack" is a good time to get  a test.....but it doesnt always show? let me know what u think...i cant take the pain anymore or the vomitting..
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Avatar universal
Oh yes I left that out. I had my GB removed. That was exactly my symptoms for gallstones. Couldn't keep anything down and when I ate or drank ( I mean non alcohol, just beverages ) I had so so so much pain and uncontrollable vomiting!! Yes may want to get that checked out. For me I had gallstones for 10 yrs, and no ins. They would give me nausea meds and pain meds at ER then send me home. Mine obstructed and that is life threatening so they had no choice but to keep me and remove it!
Good Luck, hope someone's advice helped. Write down what best suits your symptoms even if it is 3 or 4 things and bring the list with you!!! Protonix is just like prilosec but much stronger, much better! also much more money lol

Good Luck

Jenn
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Avatar universal
Ya know...everything you said about, pain in mid abdomen, 'feeling' like I could hurl...but didn't, not feeling like eating...just SO many symptoms like yours, led me to an endoscopy a week or so ago, and he only found 'minor inflammation'...MINOR, he must have a different definition of that than I do.  WHEN will life [ever] returns to 'normal?  Heck, I've been 'abnormal' for so long, I don't think I'd recognize it, if it bit me in my 'more-than-ample' backside...OK, let's get it on the table...my plain  'ol BIG BUTT!!!

During my recent 'health drama' [with the stomach], my primary doc gave me Rx's for Sucralfate [which (I think) 'coats' the stomach, and also [another doctor] Promethazine for nausea.  I think I could open my own pharmacy, with the 'collection' I'm gathering.  OH 'bother', it's all just so annoying!  My plan...to beat every darn thing I currently have 'on my plate'...it's quite full now...thankyou very much...and I refuse to add another 'course'.  God willing, we're ALL headed for healthy days!  Take care, stay focused, and 'keep the Faith'...I am
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Avatar universal
Don't give up on the SSD, it took me 2 1/2 years to get it.  That particular 'pursuit' of government funds was caused by a significant back injury in 1986, which eventually led to my not being able to work, and stopping said 'activity' [working]...after being in and out of hospital, on and off State Disaility (still lived in L.A. at the time), final surgery in 1988 [the week of Christmas - my poor little girl wasn't sure WHAT was going on with Mommy, my initial [one month] hospital stay happened when she was only 11]...at any rate, with all my documentation, 3 years of 'medical struggle', and a quarter million in hospital bills...they denied my [first] claim, and I transferred the claim to Arizona when I moved there, had to get a lawyer, then took it to the federal level, in front of federal judge, was finally awarded the SSD in April of 1993.  All my other diseases, and stresses,were tagged on to the initial back thing, after I moved back to Arkansas [where I was raised], and now...life is going in this Hep C adventure.  I see my  'treating' doctor [for the first time] on January 2nd...Happy New Year to me!!!  Anyway chica, hang in there...this too shall pass!  I've got the 'Faith'...indeed I do...He's worked miracles for me since [before - literally] I was born...a whole other story...and I REALLY want to get 'the [many] novels [that are] in me...out!!!  

My life???...fiction???...my life 'as fiction'...the next J.K. Rowling...time will tell.  Stay peaceful
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Avatar universal
could this be my gall bladder at all??? my friend had similar problems and they couldnt see anything on the cat scan or ultrasound but removed her gall bladder anyway and now is much much better   nnormal infact
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your input. when i try to eat solid foods my stomach gets worse, actually its when i drink but not as bad. i just had plain rice to try with the bentyl and carafate my dr. gave me to take when i eat  and i vomitted. i dont understand what this is. i was going to wait a few more days before calling my dr  i wanted to give the meds a little more time. but so far its not looking good. my pain has moved to the right and into my back ???? but still have the"squeeze" in the middle. what is protonix? my gen. dr. wanted me to be on that.....havent tried it yet. someone else told me about gastroparesis but it did not show in the endoscopy? would it? thanks again for ur help!
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Avatar universal
Did you ever hear of a diagnosis called gastroperisis? Well that would have showed in an endoscopy. I had all of the same symptoms. The pain was so bad I would just chose to not eat! I also have chronic pancreatitus. There is a med it is a stomach enzyme that helps to digest your food for you. It is just because in my case my stomach is NOT doing it on its own. Between the perisis and the pancreatitus I can not digest even liquids without these enzymes. They are rx meds but are just replacing the enzymes that I lack to digest naturally. Now I have a lot of GI problems, m ost are due to my liver disease and damage BUT they are still illnesses you dont need liver disease for. I have IBS, that does NOT cause high abdominal pain. That is in the colon so the pain is from the waist down. That is sharp shooting stabbing pain with a lot of gas lol embarrassingly so but true. lol
Just to eat everyday and I still have discomfort but not as much, I take protonix, the enzymes which are called pangestyme EC caps 2 3 times a day before meals. I also take good bacteria which I have gotten samples from my Dr but they can be bought over the counter. They are for gas, bloating, ibs pain, and heartburn. They take about 14 days to work, but they do work. We need good bacteria in our stomach to digest properly. I also had to start eating smaller meals. which I am far from perfect cuz I starve myself till I am starving then I try to inhale food, and pay for it later lol you'd think I learned by now  lol I joke about how many pills I have to take just for my GI tract alone. BUT it does help. My ins doesn't want to cover the protonix due to how expensive it is, and I was switched to prilosec 2 xs a day cuz once isn't enough. It is not as strong. I just try to load up with samples when I see my GI..........Well I hope I helped some, and banned1 is right too, journal when this pain is worse or better. Is it worse after you try to eat and so on
Take Care much Peace and Blessings

Jenn
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