Severe stomach problems for years...no answers....

[kandcsmommy]

I am a 28 year old female and I have been experiencing severe stomach problems that have been worsening for the past 6 years.  I am a petite person about 5 ft., 110 lbs., so I am not overweight, though I'd say I have a relatively poor diet.
6 years ago I began having problems with diahrrea and stomach cramps.  Almost as soon as I would eat, I would begin crampin in the lower abdomen and have diahrrea.  About 3 years ago I started having pain in the upper-right quadrant of my abdomen.  I had an endoscopy done and also a hida-scan and they found that my gallbladder wasn't functioning properly so it was recommended that I have it removed, which I did in Jan. of 2008.
Since then the problem has gotten even worse.  I have really bad days where I will have diarrhea almost as soon as I eat and have it up to 5 or 6 times.  I went back to the Dr. in Aug. of 2009 and had a colonoscopy in Sept. of last year which turned up no answers.  
In Dec. of 2009 I began experiencing a strange pressure just to the left of my right rib cage and extreme tenderness in this area also.  I will have this tenderness/pressure constantly for a week or two, during which I have a hard time bending over, sitting up, a nd finding a comfortable sleeping position.  I also often feel as if someone punched me in this area and it takes my breath for a second or two.  After about a week or two of this, it will go away, only to return a month or two later for another week or two.  I have also noticed that when I am having my bouts of diarrhea it will start with a dull ache in the same area that I get the tenderness/pressure and then I will have to go the bathroom urgently and once I'm having diarrhea I will experience cramping across my lower abdomen.  However, the discomfort starts in the same spot everytime (near the right rib cage) and after the bathroom urges are gone I usually feel nauseous for the rest of the day/night.  Also, when I have diarrhea, there is usually a lot of mucous and a yellow residue-type substance that reminds me of chicken broth (disgustin,g I know...just wasn't sure how else to describe it).  I have been on meds before for IBS which did nothing to help my symptoms.  I am uncomfortable and I know there is something going on with me and it is frustrating that they can't find anything.  I alos recenlty went back to school, so no longer have the insurance necessary for further testing, especially if it is fruitless.  Any ideas you may have as to what this could be would be very much appreciated.  I am a mommy to 2 little boys and this is really interfering with my every day life.

[kandcsmommy]

I fianally went to the ER a couple of days ago and they ran some blood tests and did an ultrasound to chekc several organs.  The reason I went to the ER is because I suddenly started gaining weight and it seemed to be centered in my abdomen and I had some swelling of my hands and feet.  My blood pressure ALWAYS runs around 90/65 or around there and was 121/86.  They also found blood and white blood cells in my urine, but the ultrasound and blood tests came back just fine.  The only explanation they had for me was that I possibly have chronic gastritis and they prescribed prilosec, however they admitted that would not be the cause for the sudden water retention and swelling and increase in blood pressure.  They referred me to an internal meds physician at a place where I can get financial assistance.  The ER Dr. said the only things that could cause all those symptoms would be a problem with my kidneys or heart and they saw no signs of kidney problems on the ultrasound and had no reason to believe that I had any heart issues.   This is driving me crazy!  And everyday the water retention issue seems to be getting worse and I'm extremely tired and am having some bouts with nausea and weakness in the past few days.

[gimmmyabreak]

Have you been tested for H Pylori?  It is a bacteria that is the usual cause of ulcers and can also apparently cause other GI symptoms.  I have known several people that suffered for years with GI problems before the H Pylori was discovered as the culprit.  It can be tested for per biopsy during endoscopic exam and also per a blood test or a breath test.  The treatment is a period of taking Pepto Bismo, followed by taking an antibiotic along with the Pepto Bismo for 10 days.  Your Dr. may have a different treatment,  but this is what a gastroenterologist prescribed for my husband several years ago.  He also had suffered for several years and was cured when the cause was found.

[kandcsmommy]

Well..I was really hoping to get some answers when I posted this:(

[testdeprived]

wow  ifeel exactly the same and have had this the same amount of time, and have had the same test before....except i still have my gallbladders.