abdominal pain bloating can`t beath

[robert t]

Dear Drs.,
          I`m robert 37 year old male.I sufferd from abdonimal pain for 20 years that slowly progressed till it happend so frequent and so harse I could not breath or move.<2003>Now I desribe it as a feeling as if someone  had taken a balloon and pumped it up in the center of my chest till it became so full I could not expand my lungs  and slowed my heart.I also have badly infected maxillary sinus on my left side shown by a recent cat scan with tint.I have been going to the dr for years and compplained of not being able to breath ,left arm,neck pain.I was sent for stress test ,nuclear,cat scans ,blood tests ect.I had a endoscopy 6 months ago he said I had a healthy esophagus but I had a tumor which he biopsyd  and was not cancerous.He suggested it be removed?I recently had seen a cardiologist  who peformed a cathorization on me because they thought I had a blockage because of my trouble breathing and my chest pain .The cath  showed  ok ? No relief ,I was then put on prevacid for a week much relief .Last year I was in the hospital because I could not breath, abdomin (abdomen) was so pressured it hurt  and I couldn`t even expand my lungs I felt like I would pass out.They said I had a pulmanary embolism small ones form a cat scan.<put on warafin>But I had the same feeling now and prevacid releives it pretty well but not a total cure .My history is as a teen till I was 25 yrs old I was a very heavy drinker and smoker quit at age 24 in 1989.I also had a very poor dental history including many root canals and infections ,lots of caps and fillings from 1978 till present .I felt that I lost my sense of smell in the mid 80`s and had a hard time breathing through my nose.I noticed this about a year after having the upper front 2 teeth had been fractured in a boating accident and root canaled and bonded together aprox. 1982 .I started feeling this abdonminal pressure also pain in the upper left chest and then later in the left arm in 1987.I tried to tell my drs.The onlyrelief I saw is when I was put on antibiotics that only lasted  a few days.Then had alot of relief in the abdominal area
and was able to breath better with the prevacid.I recently saw a infectious disease dr. he said the cat showed the chronic sinitus in the maxillary ls area.I had my sinuses scrapped8/2001 but I guess the infection is still there.The hemotologist said my blood was hypercoagulable but does not know why?Can my sinuse infection do this ?My poor dental history with infections?I also experienced a lite headed of dizzyness since 1985 clearing up only sometimes on and off.I have only one functioning kidney since birth other never developed.I had passed a kidney stone in 2001.I have noticed through the years emptying my bowels made me feel less pressure and help me to breath better but soon after th epressure would build up again .I am active guy playing sports and running I have not consumed alcohol or smoked since 1990 at all.This has been going on for 20 years.thanks Robert

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You have clearly been through a pretty conprehensive workup including CT scans and endoscopy.  

A feeling of fullness could be explained by increased gas in the system.  The negative CT scans and endoscopy would rule out most of the more serious causes.

Other things to consider would include gastroparesis - which is delayed emptying of the stomach associated with several disorders (i.e. diabetes or neurologic disease).  This can be evaluated with a gastric emptying scan.

Another thing to consider would be malabsorption - which can lead to increased gas.  Tests such as serum antibody tests for celiac disease and fecal fat tests for fat malabsorption should all be considered.  

If this has been going on for 20 years, you may want to obtain a second GI opinion for your symptoms.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[yoshi]

have you tested for h pylori bacteria??
also have you taken gas x to remove /neutralise gas in the body??

[cherese_8]

Have you ever been tested for gastroparesis?  I didn't have all of the same symptoms as you, but I did have the feeling that I was extremely bloated all the time, esp later in the day or after I ate, and that I couldn't breath (like I couldn't get a deep breath).  I was finally diagnosed with gastroparesis - a disease where your stomach doesn't empty.  I don't know if that's what you have, but it might be worth looking into.

[robert t]

I would like to thank all the people who responded dr included!I have been thru alot you could only imagine but  only in the last three  years have I become persistant with my doctors.They just disregaurd my symtoms or get frustrated and say its muscular skeletal and rush me out of the office or ask me what do I think I have.This is some pretty tiring stuff .I have not been tested or do I think I have been tested for these areas you  have mentioned.I live in  bayonne nj  are there any good dr.s gi`s that would be willing to listen to my lengthy story and actually try to address it rather than sending me to there associates that require payment up front and donot take insurance.They send me for a blood test or two and say we dont know what is wrong with you but  make the check out to my practice  thanks.Excuse me for sounding bitter ,but some of you may have been there also.I did get some relief from  prevacid 1 daily has kept me in check but for how long ????.what is prevacid anyway  anybody?Once again thanks for trying to help and doc. any suggestions on a gi  guy?thanks again
robert

[yoshi]

you can find information on prevacid on internet by searching .
prevacid,nexxium,prilosec,protonic etc are all medications which reduce stomach acid by shutting down some of the cells which produce acid ,good for 24 hours.
it sounds like you have this problem for sometime and it is getting worse.
do you keep an eye on your diet and see if certain food or drink aggravate the problem??

[krisg]

I don't know exactly how far you are from Philadelphia, but there is a good team of gastro. drs. there. The "University of Penn.".  I traveled 1000 miles to get the help I needed.  Well worth the trip!  They have a web site with info. and a phone number to make an appointment.  I too have been told muscular-skeletal, etc. , etc....   I had an ERCP there in Feb 2003, and in July 2003, (for pain again).  They took good care of me.  You might want to give them a try.  Good luck.

[robert t]

Kristi,
        Plain and simple you said they took great acre of you .But di they have a diagnoisis and a fix  ?How are you now and what did they occomplish??? Please be specific I `ll do the miles but is it worth the trip?
robert

[krisg]

The first ERCP in (feb 2003) they found that my bile duct was scarred and barely opened and the sphincter of oddi muscle was so tight they had to precut just to access the bile duct.  Then proceeded to clean it out.  The recovery was painful for me.  Some people walk away pain free.  My diagnoses:  sphincter of oddi dysfunction and high grade of stenosis of bile duct.  My problems returned just last month and I made another trip to philly.  The same doctor did another ERCP and found that everything was wide open on the bile duct side.  They did not have to do another cut.  Again I was in major pain for 4 days, then recovered, probably pancreatitis.  So I feel I am sort of back to square one.  I fought for 5 years with doctors in TN to get someone to listen to me and find out a cause of my pain.  I finally went to where friends and family are (in philly).  NO, there is no permanent cure for what I have.  I just have to accept that these attacks will happen periodically in life and then I address them as needed.  SOD is something that usually does not simply go away.  There is no perfect cure.  I personally would reccommend Dr. Ginsberg at the Univ. of PA.  I feel that he is one of the tops in his field.  A few of the other drs. there did not impress me (so to speak). I hope this helps.  Write if you have any more questions. I am glad to share anything I know.
Kris

[robert t]

kristin,
          Sounds like these people didn`t get it right the first time?Now your still in pain  for a second time ?I hope things get better  for you .I gonna get somebody local to take a crak at it .
bob

[krisg]

Good luck ......... hope you find an answer to your
troubles.
Kris

[tbt714]

A related discussion, Trouble breathing and lots of pain! was started.