Unknow digestive/stomach problem

[acoolname]

Ah where to begin! From the beginning I guess. All my life I have had emetophobia (fear of vomit). Last September I had a severely infected tooth pulled out, I was taking alot of NSAIDs for the pain for 2years before that, and the day after I had my tooth pulled, I vomited (just bile) for the first time in 10 years.

Ever since that day last September (it all came on very abruptly), I've had continuous:
-nausea (can't drink alcohol, soda or eat much anymore without this coming on),
-sharp pain above my belly button,
-indigestion/reflux and feeling over full after everytime I eat,
-pain under my ribs going around to my back (mostly on my right side)
-irregular bowel movements (constipation) - my feces is very thin, soft, sticky and looks very grainy, I sometimes only pass several little balls of feces a couple of times a day, and I've had a few cases of diorreah

The doctor had me get blood tests and an ultrasound, all came back okay except that I was a bit anemic and iron deficient. For as long as I can remember I've always felt very lethargic, I find small tasks exhausting. I have been referred to a gatro doc but unfortunantly I'm far too broke to make an appointment and I don't have health cover. I've always been able to talk myself out of vomiting, but last year I vomited bile twice. Ever since that first time I vomited I have been living in fear and living SO catiously trying hard not to vomit again. Can anyone relate/give me some assurance?

[geminigirl1963]

A lot of your symptoms sound like gall bladder trouble.  Although an ultrasound CAN detect problems with the gall bladder, a HIDA scan is a much better diagnosis tool for this.  You can have problems with your gall bladder even if you don't have stones - you could have sludge or a non-functioning gall bladder.

I would suggest contacting the doc that you've been seeing and ask if they will do a HIDA scan - tell them you don't have the money right now to see a specialist, so you'd like to see if they would do the test for you.  Some docs will and others won't.

Another thing you can do is to experiment with your diet to see if there are certain foods/drinks that cause more sypmtoms than others.  You can start by eliminating several things that are known causes of tummy troubles such as dairy, wheat, alcohol, tomatoes, spicy foods, gassy foods such as beans.  Then slowly start adding things back one item at a time - when you add back an item, give it a couple of days before adding the next item - that way you're able to better see what foods, if any, cause more symptoms.

As far as your bowels go, did the doc put you on iron supplements for the anemia?  If so, it could be the iron is constipating you and that's why you're having difficulty "cleaning out" so to speak.

I'm no medical professional, so please don't make any changes to any medications/treatments without first talking to and getting advice from your physician.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

[acoolname]

I also wanted to add, I have been passing alot of clear mucus with my feces too, sometimes the mucus is all I pass.