Aa
Tummy troubles
I've most likely mentioned that I've had troubles with my stomach, and in February I was advised to go to the ER by my PCP's advice nurse due to intense lower right abdominal pain.
During the three weeks of that event (not appendicitis, apparently), I experienced bloating, nausea, feeling like my food wasn't leaving my stomach as quickly as it should. I've had trouble with constipation, which became much worse after Feb. of '08. I now take Miralax every day, which helps but doesn't totally take care of it.
Lately, I'm back to eating small amounts of relatively bland foods; my morning granola makes my tummy hurt a little for a few hours. That may be exacerbated by my vestibular PT exercises; I do get queasy with them, but I didn't do them this am until an hour after I ate, and my stomach was uneasy the whole time.
The question part comes next.
I was looking through some old records, and found a report from my gastroenterologist regarding my "recurrent epigastric pain/dyspepsia". I had an upper endoscopy after pretty severe symptoms after a surgery and taking Naprosyn (I hadn't tried NSAIDS for years, but the pain was really bad).
The note says that my EGD was "essentially normal" (there's that lovely word again). I suspect that her dyspeptic symptoms have been a combination of functional component, NSAID irrritation, and perhaps some GE reflux disease"
The impression from my visit prior to the endoscopy said "Recurrent epigastric pain/dyspepsia. I suspect that this is a combination of functional dyspepsia and NSAID use"
I had been taking 60 mg. of Prevacid daily for some time before that appointment, and he has been my gastro for years. I've been taking 30 mg. of Prevacid daily for years.
Finally, the question:
What's up with this functional component stuff? I looked it up, and there are several causes of functional dyspepsia, including not getting proper signals from the brain.
Considering that my constipation issues increased at the same time as my neurological issues hit like a sledge hammer, would it be a good idea to pursue the issues with a new gastro? Are there gastros that have more experience with neurological issues? How do you find a good one?
My current one has been kind of casual about things; I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus several years ago by another doc, and this one stated that he "doesnt' believe" in short segment Barrett's. His last report, in ;06, said there was no Barrett's. My dad died of esophageal cancer from Barrett's. I have a picture taken many years ago of the "Barrett's mucosa" in my esophagus. His letter to my PCP stated "in any case, there is nothing of serious concern".
My roommate thinks I should have a colonoscopy, as the lower right abdominal pain comes back occasionally, and my issues with constipation despite the daily Miralax.
BTW, my insurance company removed the generic form from its formulary, after my only having gotten a cheap RX one month. I talked to pharmacy services, and at first was told that they had removed it because it was available otc. I told her that it had been for quite some time, and my rx was covered last month.
Then she said it was classified as a something-or-other (forgot acronym), which meant that although the FDA approved it as safe, it wasn't proven to be effective for the use prescribed. That has to be one of the silliest thing I've heard lately!
I know, I put WAY too much info in a post.
Could my abdominal pain's "functional component" be explored, could it be connected to lower abdominal pain and constipation, and should I see a gastroenterologist about the whole thing? I don't think my neuro would be interested...
Curious Kathy
During the three weeks of that event (not appendicitis, apparently), I experienced bloating, nausea, feeling like my food wasn't leaving my stomach as quickly as it should. I've had trouble with constipation, which became much worse after Feb. of '08. I now take Miralax every day, which helps but doesn't totally take care of it.
Lately, I'm back to eating small amounts of relatively bland foods; my morning granola makes my tummy hurt a little for a few hours. That may be exacerbated by my vestibular PT exercises; I do get queasy with them, but I didn't do them this am until an hour after I ate, and my stomach was uneasy the whole time.
The question part comes next.
I was looking through some old records, and found a report from my gastroenterologist regarding my "recurrent epigastric pain/dyspepsia". I had an upper endoscopy after pretty severe symptoms after a surgery and taking Naprosyn (I hadn't tried NSAIDS for years, but the pain was really bad).
The note says that my EGD was "essentially normal" (there's that lovely word again). I suspect that her dyspeptic symptoms have been a combination of functional component, NSAID irrritation, and perhaps some GE reflux disease"
The impression from my visit prior to the endoscopy said "Recurrent epigastric pain/dyspepsia. I suspect that this is a combination of functional dyspepsia and NSAID use"
I had been taking 60 mg. of Prevacid daily for some time before that appointment, and he has been my gastro for years. I've been taking 30 mg. of Prevacid daily for years.
Finally, the question:
What's up with this functional component stuff? I looked it up, and there are several causes of functional dyspepsia, including not getting proper signals from the brain.
Considering that my constipation issues increased at the same time as my neurological issues hit like a sledge hammer, would it be a good idea to pursue the issues with a new gastro? Are there gastros that have more experience with neurological issues? How do you find a good one?
My current one has been kind of casual about things; I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus several years ago by another doc, and this one stated that he "doesnt' believe" in short segment Barrett's. His last report, in ;06, said there was no Barrett's. My dad died of esophageal cancer from Barrett's. I have a picture taken many years ago of the "Barrett's mucosa" in my esophagus. His letter to my PCP stated "in any case, there is nothing of serious concern".
My roommate thinks I should have a colonoscopy, as the lower right abdominal pain comes back occasionally, and my issues with constipation despite the daily Miralax.
BTW, my insurance company removed the generic form from its formulary, after my only having gotten a cheap RX one month. I talked to pharmacy services, and at first was told that they had removed it because it was available otc. I told her that it had been for quite some time, and my rx was covered last month.
Then she said it was classified as a something-or-other (forgot acronym), which meant that although the FDA approved it as safe, it wasn't proven to be effective for the use prescribed. That has to be one of the silliest thing I've heard lately!
I know, I put WAY too much info in a post.
Could my abdominal pain's "functional component" be explored, could it be connected to lower abdominal pain and constipation, and should I see a gastroenterologist about the whole thing? I don't think my neuro would be interested...
Curious Kathy
I find this all so interesting and I have wondered from the very beginning of my GI issues if they were related somehow to the neurological issues that I experience. My GI issues began so suddenly, along with neurological symptoms.
When I went to the Mayo clinic in January, I asked the GI doctor if my GI problems (acid reflux, esophageal spasms and hypersensitivity) could be related to the neurological symptoms...the only thing he would say is "the acid reflux stands on it's own as an issue, but the spasms could be part of another disorder"....because I was still in the neuro testing phase, he wouldn't elaborate.
All of this just makes me more curious about the possible connection.
Chrisy
When I went to the Mayo clinic in January, I asked the GI doctor if my GI problems (acid reflux, esophageal spasms and hypersensitivity) could be related to the neurological symptoms...the only thing he would say is "the acid reflux stands on it's own as an issue, but the spasms could be part of another disorder"....because I was still in the neuro testing phase, he wouldn't elaborate.
All of this just makes me more curious about the possible connection.
Chrisy
I have function bowel disorder as well. This is what they call IBS. My problem is I don't absorb food it tends to travel through me. I'be been scoped several times. (endo and colon) and was unremarkable. This led to a previous B12 definciency. I have had bleeding a few times, and also get severe bloating and pain at times. (lower right quadrant for me, where the small and large bowel meet - coincidently the most common sport for Crohn's disease pain, so my Gastro checked me thoroughly for Crohns and said I don't have ti)
My problem is I thought IBS is supposed to come and go, but mine came and never went in 5 years. I think I'm used to it more now, I know my trouble foods and avoid them but I still have diarhea pretty much daily. It can be annoying when OMG I have to find a washroom NOW hits. I had gastritis and reflux in the past but I took prevacid for a while and it cleared up. Only occasionally get heart burn now.
My bladder has the oppositie problem (retention).
My problem is I thought IBS is supposed to come and go, but mine came and never went in 5 years. I think I'm used to it more now, I know my trouble foods and avoid them but I still have diarhea pretty much daily. It can be annoying when OMG I have to find a washroom NOW hits. I had gastritis and reflux in the past but I took prevacid for a while and it cleared up. Only occasionally get heart burn now.
My bladder has the oppositie problem (retention).
I don't have a specific answer to the "functional" question, but it seems like Chrisy gave a good answer to that. But I have gastro problems, too, and I'm trying to figure out how this all fits together.
I was dx with celiac disease (blood work and biopsy confirmed) about 18 months ago. I've been on GF diet since then. I had hoped my neuro problems would resolve, or at least stabilize, with the GF diet, but in February of this year (13 mos into the GF diet) I started a big exacerbation of neuro sx. No dx on that front due to beurtiful MRIs, but MS specialist says it "looks, sounds, smells, and tastes" like MS.
So one of the things I've been wondering is about something that happened to me last year. I started having very bad lower right quadrant pain. It progressed over the course of several hours and I went to the ER. The did a CT scan that came back fine, blood work was fine, kept me overnight for observation and doped me up on pain pills. I wanted to get home to my family so they discharged me the next morning.
A few days later the pain was even worse so I went to my PCP. He sent me straight to the ER (wanted to get me an ambulance but I said I could drive) because my exam seemed so much like appendicitis. A second CT (more iodine and radiation!) was normal. They sent me home on more pain pills.
I kept taking the pain pills and slowly felt a little better over several days. The next week at work I suddenly felt so much worse it was excrutiating. We have a nurse here and she called an ambulance (how embarrassing!). I had a low grade fever, but not much else. Different hospital this time and they insisted on doing a third CT scan (after the internist told me it was bad how much radiation I was getting, the surgeon said if I didn't get it he wouldn't treat me!) It was ALSO normal, as was my WBC. They admitted me and did an appendectomy anyway. Biopsy results described a normal appendix, but said, "early accute appendicitis." After a week or so on the pain pills I felt essentially better. To this day I suspect it wasn't appendicitis, but what then??
My gastro feels like the celiac damage is healing due to me gaining back the weight I lost and my iron counts looking great (I've never had so much iron in my blood!!) but I'm still having weird gastro issues that he said "functional" too also. I've also been wondering if there's some nerve connection thing, too.
Sorry for the long rambling post, but I thought this was an interesting question, and I've had some similar issues.
Stephanie
I was dx with celiac disease (blood work and biopsy confirmed) about 18 months ago. I've been on GF diet since then. I had hoped my neuro problems would resolve, or at least stabilize, with the GF diet, but in February of this year (13 mos into the GF diet) I started a big exacerbation of neuro sx. No dx on that front due to beurtiful MRIs, but MS specialist says it "looks, sounds, smells, and tastes" like MS.
So one of the things I've been wondering is about something that happened to me last year. I started having very bad lower right quadrant pain. It progressed over the course of several hours and I went to the ER. The did a CT scan that came back fine, blood work was fine, kept me overnight for observation and doped me up on pain pills. I wanted to get home to my family so they discharged me the next morning.
A few days later the pain was even worse so I went to my PCP. He sent me straight to the ER (wanted to get me an ambulance but I said I could drive) because my exam seemed so much like appendicitis. A second CT (more iodine and radiation!) was normal. They sent me home on more pain pills.
I kept taking the pain pills and slowly felt a little better over several days. The next week at work I suddenly felt so much worse it was excrutiating. We have a nurse here and she called an ambulance (how embarrassing!). I had a low grade fever, but not much else. Different hospital this time and they insisted on doing a third CT scan (after the internist told me it was bad how much radiation I was getting, the surgeon said if I didn't get it he wouldn't treat me!) It was ALSO normal, as was my WBC. They admitted me and did an appendectomy anyway. Biopsy results described a normal appendix, but said, "early accute appendicitis." After a week or so on the pain pills I felt essentially better. To this day I suspect it wasn't appendicitis, but what then??
My gastro feels like the celiac damage is healing due to me gaining back the weight I lost and my iron counts looking great (I've never had so much iron in my blood!!) but I'm still having weird gastro issues that he said "functional" too also. I've also been wondering if there's some nerve connection thing, too.
Sorry for the long rambling post, but I thought this was an interesting question, and I've had some similar issues.
Stephanie
I am happy to help with the GI stuff! I feel so inadequate here with the neurological stuff since I am not dx'd - just a limbolander like a lot of people here with a lot of questions and no real answers yet.
Chrisy
Chrisy
Interesting, my GI doc took away my diagnosis because of a visual appearance; no biopsy. I wonder if that's significant.
Anyway, you are just full of information and I thank you for it. I'll stay on top of it; this is my life and I want it to be the best possible.
Kathy
Anyway, you are just full of information and I thank you for it. I'll stay on top of it; this is my life and I want it to be the best possible.
Kathy
When I went to the Mayo Clinic in January, I saw one of the "top" Barrett's esophagus GI doctors (or so they say)..anyway, my GI doctor here diagnosed me with Barrett's too. But the GI doc at Mayo did another endoscopy and took away that diagnosis. I guess that the Mayo has a very specific (no surprise there) set of biopsies that they do - to diagnose Barrett's. They biopsy in more places than most GI docs do. Anyway, they took away my Barrett's diagnosis.
It is my understanding that most GI doctors do endoscopies every 3 years for people with acid reflux - at least that is what my GI doctor told me. BUT, the GI doctor at Mayo made it sound like they check every year...so different protocols depending on the doctor...The GI consult I had at the Mayo clinic was the only useful part of the trip...
I would say that if you have a family history, you should stay on top of it!
I feel fortunate that my GI doctor here at home is so great - the first GI doctor I saw was a complete moron.
Good luck in your search & keep us posted!
Chrisy
It is my understanding that most GI doctors do endoscopies every 3 years for people with acid reflux - at least that is what my GI doctor told me. BUT, the GI doctor at Mayo made it sound like they check every year...so different protocols depending on the doctor...The GI consult I had at the Mayo clinic was the only useful part of the trip...
I would say that if you have a family history, you should stay on top of it!
I feel fortunate that my GI doctor here at home is so great - the first GI doctor I saw was a complete moron.
Good luck in your search & keep us posted!
Chrisy
Thanks for the research and info; much clearer than the articles I found.
I'm sure we've talked before about our GI issues.
I just need to find a new neuro, and a new GI doc. My current (and soon to be ex) neuro doesn't like me to participate in my own health care, plus more that I won't go into here again.
My GI doc is very "I don't need to see you again for 5 years, since I don't see any evidence of Barrett's Esophagus any more". I may be oversensitive, since my dad died from the stuff, but I could have used a "unless, of course, you have any more problems".
I never did get the impression that he was interested in my health; my insurance had him doing an upper endoscopy on me every year because they didn't want to pay for my Prevacid, and he always seemed to just want to get it over with.
It was actually the endoscopy before this one when he said I no longer had Barrett's; I had different insurance, and he told me I didn't need a re-check for at least 3 years.
Anyway, if I can get my PCP to send me for some testing, or get a new neuro or GI doc soon, I'll follow this up and let you know what I learn.
Kathy
I'm sure we've talked before about our GI issues.
I just need to find a new neuro, and a new GI doc. My current (and soon to be ex) neuro doesn't like me to participate in my own health care, plus more that I won't go into here again.
My GI doc is very "I don't need to see you again for 5 years, since I don't see any evidence of Barrett's Esophagus any more". I may be oversensitive, since my dad died from the stuff, but I could have used a "unless, of course, you have any more problems".
I never did get the impression that he was interested in my health; my insurance had him doing an upper endoscopy on me every year because they didn't want to pay for my Prevacid, and he always seemed to just want to get it over with.
It was actually the endoscopy before this one when he said I no longer had Barrett's; I had different insurance, and he told me I didn't need a re-check for at least 3 years.
Anyway, if I can get my PCP to send me for some testing, or get a new neuro or GI doc soon, I'll follow this up and let you know what I learn.
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
I too have GI issues - I think we may have talked to each other about them before. I have along with acid reflux and esophageal spasms, what my GI doctor calls "hypersensitive" esophagus. Which she also labeled as "functional".....
Here is what I found on medicinenet.com as a description of "functional" as it applies to the GI tract:
"The concept of functional disease is particularly useful when discussing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The concept applies to the muscular organs of the gastrointestinal tract-esophagus, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, and colon. What is meant by the term, functional, is that either the muscles of the organs or the nerves that control the organs are not working normally, and, as a result, the organs do not function normally. The nerves that control the organs include not only the nerves that lie within the muscles of the organs but also the nerves of the spinal cord and brain."
So I think that it could very well have something to do with the brain or spinal cord...I would talk to both your GI doctor and your Neuro - it can't hurt!
Good luck and let us know what you find out - I am curious!
Chrisy
I too have GI issues - I think we may have talked to each other about them before. I have along with acid reflux and esophageal spasms, what my GI doctor calls "hypersensitive" esophagus. Which she also labeled as "functional".....
Here is what I found on medicinenet.com as a description of "functional" as it applies to the GI tract:
"The concept of functional disease is particularly useful when discussing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The concept applies to the muscular organs of the gastrointestinal tract-esophagus, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, and colon. What is meant by the term, functional, is that either the muscles of the organs or the nerves that control the organs are not working normally, and, as a result, the organs do not function normally. The nerves that control the organs include not only the nerves that lie within the muscles of the organs but also the nerves of the spinal cord and brain."
So I think that it could very well have something to do with the brain or spinal cord...I would talk to both your GI doctor and your Neuro - it can't hurt!
Good luck and let us know what you find out - I am curious!
Chrisy
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Australia
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
