Recurrent tummy bug (four times in two and a half months)

I have been suffering from what I presume to be some sort of tummy bug since the last week of August (2010).

SYMPTOMS:
diarrhea sometimes followed by constipation, nausea, very severe cramping (around bellybutton mainly), some vomiting, lack of appetite, fever, inability to sleep due to pain/waking up because of pain, weight loss, bloating, headache, unable to pass wind, sometimes begins as a slight cold OR with one day of constantly evacuating the bowels and then 3/4 days later the cramping, diarrhea etc begins.

The first incident took approx. 2.5wks to get over and came on very suddenly. The next dose occurred after I had been looking after a child who had a bad tummy bug - the child ended up in hospital due to suspected appendicitis but abdominal scan revealed that the lymph glands of his stomach had been inflamed and there was an unusually large amount of trapped air. This tummy bug was much more painful and after ten days of trying Imodium (immodium), antispasmodics, motilium and applying heat my G.P. prescribed Ciprofloxacin 250mg twice daily for two days - which helped, until two weeks later when the same bug reappeared and I had to get another prescription of Ciprofloxacin (same dose). Now, two weeks after the second dose I have a tummy bug again. Although this one is slightly different to the previous ones in that I also have pain in my lower right abdomen and a bubble like feeling stretching across my bellybutton area. I have been on and off antibiotics for acne since I was 12, I'm now 22 yr old (female) - I stopped taking Trimethroprim shortly before all this began and started taking Yasmin after being off it for 2 years. I do have a small hiatus hernia which I take 40mg Nexium per day. I have been tested for STDs and got the all clear. Blood tests also came back fine according to my GP. I had an endoscopy last year which diagnosed me with a small hiatus hernia, at the beginning of this year I also had an oesophageal manometry, ph study, h.pylori test: urea breath test, blood test and biopsy, tested for Coeliac disease, and an abdominal ultrasound last year all of which came back clear -keeping in mind that this was before the recurring tummy bug began. I have not travelled in the last year, however I am planning on going to New York in three weeks time which is another reason why I need to fix this asap. I have seen three GP's and none of them have any idea what could be wrong, and getting an appointment with a specialist could take anything from six months to a year. I have also had an issue with recurrent thrush this year, for which I began taking acidophilus but my GP advised to stop taking it in case it could be aggravating things. I am unable to have a life because of this, I am spending 3 out of every 4 weeks in bed sick and I am at the end of my tether. I gave a stool sample but am waiting on results which could take another week to ten days. In a desperate attempt to help my GP prescribed 500mg twice daily for five days as it is the only thing they've prescribed that gives some relief but I do not expect it to be a permanent solution given that the 250mg twice daily only kept it at bay for 2 weeks at a time. I really need help!
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This discussion is related to Sick for over two months - please help.

[idkwia]

You already know that you need to see a specialist. Is there any way your GP could get you see one quicker? Is there any way you could see one privately?

I am not a doctor but your symptoms could be a problem with the gallbladder. They could also indicate C. Difiicile.

It could be that the antibiotics will work as it is a higher dose plus it is for longer this time.

I hope you find some help, good luck.

[tinkleivories]

I ended up getting admitted to hospital. (I had previously had an endoscopy which ruled out gallbladder etc.) They did an X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, colonoscopy and of course blood & urine samples. Colonoscopy, x-ray and abdominal ultrasound all came back clear - apparently I have a very healthy colon! Although events really don't support that theory ;-) The specialist on hand at the time thought it was a gynae problem, and found scar tissue on my cervix along with the left side of the womb being swollen. However they never found any reason or cause for this, and sent me home with a load of broad spectrum antibiotics in the hope that they might kill whatever could potentially be causing it - given that they had no clue! They definitely took the edge off. I do have repeated episodes but none to the same extent so far thankfully. I am seeing three different specialists in January which will hopefully find an answer for me! I will update with more info when I have some in case someone out there ends up in a similar situation as me.