Aa
Extreme stomach pain and chronic diarrhea
Hello all. Since I was about 5 months pregnant with my son, who is now 10 months old, I have been experiencing chronic diarrhea and stomach pain that has been getting progressively worse. My OB said it was probably gallbladder disease, as it it common in pregnant women, and I could have it removed after I recovered from childbirth. Two months ago I finally had my gallbladder removed, my ejection fraction rate was 13%, and thought I would finally have my life back. Needless to say, I am in almost constant pain in my upper abdomen and run to the restroom about 10-15 times a day. Since I had my son I have lost 40 lbs and cannot keep weight on. The pain is getting more frequent and more extreme, (I can handle pain, I had my son without any drugs), and it is making me nauseous it is so painful. My upper back is almost always hurting and it is generally concentrated on my left side. My Dr. prescribed me Welchol, as a side effect is constipation. I was taking it twice a day and it didn't even put a dent in my symptoms. I am completely miserable and it has gotten to the point where I would rather not eat because I know I will be running to the bathroom all day and night. Thank you all for help and responses!
Thank you so much, jemma116! I will keep you posted! Going to try and make a dr appt ASAP!
Does not sound good, and I suggest you ask for further investigation to be carried out, as I mentioned in my first post.
You clearly have a problem that has not been found yet. Once the route cause is found of your chronic and persistent diarrhea, then you will be able to get the appropriate treatment.
Like mentioned before having persistent diarrhea can lead to lack of minerals and vitamins.
Hope that the medical profession can find the cause soon so that you get the correct treatment.
Best wishes.
You clearly have a problem that has not been found yet. Once the route cause is found of your chronic and persistent diarrhea, then you will be able to get the appropriate treatment.
Like mentioned before having persistent diarrhea can lead to lack of minerals and vitamins.
Hope that the medical profession can find the cause soon so that you get the correct treatment.
Best wishes.
Hey, jemma116! Thank you so much for your response! I had blood work done at my initial dr visit (before the HIDA scan), and my levels were normal. I also had an ultrasound and it showed debris in my gallbladder. That was the first dr I went to. The second dr, who I wanted to see in the first place but his office was extremely booked, requested the HIDA scan and then referred me to a surgeon after the results came in. My surgeon told my mom that my liver "looked" good after surgery. I am in the United States by the way. I have been on a pretty bland diet since surgery just to see if that helped. It doesn't seem to help. I drink plenty of fluids, lots of water. I usually drink an Emergen-C, a vitamin C supplement, daily because I dot want my immune system to crash. I am so weak and frail and that is not the usual me at all. I look sickly and I hate having to explain to people why I am still losing weight. I am a stay at home mom and my son was an extremely tough newborn and is a very busy infant, so I am always moving and doing something. Being a stay at home mom has always been my dream and I feel like I'm slacking because I'm running to the bathroom constantly. I have had to take the bottle out of my sons mouth to run to the bathroom or else I would've had a major accident lol. It's honestly not funny, laughing it off is the only way I can get through it really. I just can't live like this forever. Thank you for your help and time! It is GREATLY appreciated!
Sorry to hear that you have been so ill.
Make an appointment to see a different doctor and ask to be referred to a Gastroenterologist. You require further investigation by way of a barium meal xray, colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood tests for any blood disorders, lack of vitamin D and Vitamin B group, bacteria, fungal and parasitic problems. With you having the chronic and persistent diarrhea it is highly likely that you now have anaemia and low on Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is absorbed through the gut.
I do not know which country you live in so don't know the medical system where you are. In the UK the doctor can order xrays and other imaging like ultrasound scans, barium meal xrays, and would refer you to a specialist for a colonoscopy and any other tests to check for problems in the digestive system.
The doctor should also consider doing blood tests to check your kidney and liver function.
A stool test can also be done to look for any bacteria (especially Helicobacter Pylori), parasites and any more serious problems.
Because some digestive problems may be caused by what you eat and drink, keep a diary of everything that you consume. Keep off high fibre foods for a short time to see if that will settle the diarrhea. Eat small amounts of food often and avoid foods like oranges, sweet corn, cabbage, oranges, prunes and high fibre foods. If you are eating cheese and drinking milk, stop eating these foods for the time being. If you do have a bacterial problem, eating diary and drinking milk will encourage the bacteria. You may find though that natural yogurt may help. The type of fruit that may help is apples, so you can try that.
The reason in keeping a food and drink diary is to see if there is a anything that you eat and drink that makes the condition worse. It will help you to find out if it is food and drink related so that you can avoid that food or drink.
Keep off fried foods, junk foods, processed and sugary foods, like white bread, cakes, biscuits, sweets, fizzy drinks. Try plain boiled rice, potato, sweet potato, carrots, boiled or poached eggs and poached white fish. Keep off any spicy and strong flavoured foods too.
The main thing is to ensure that you do not get dehydrated. Having diarrhea will dehydrate you because of the loss of fluids. Ensure that you drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Also drink energy drinks, diluted fruit squashes (not freshly squeezed juices) and clear soups. Drink small amounts often.
You can also purchase from the pharmacy, a solution that you can mix with water and drink that will replenish lost electrolytes that are lost by having lots of diarrhea. Ask the pharmacist about this.
Do not be fobbed off with pain relief medications and the Welchol. You require urgent medical investigation to find out the cause of your symptoms so that you can receive the appropriate treatment.
Best of luck.
Let me know how you get on.
Make an appointment to see a different doctor and ask to be referred to a Gastroenterologist. You require further investigation by way of a barium meal xray, colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood tests for any blood disorders, lack of vitamin D and Vitamin B group, bacteria, fungal and parasitic problems. With you having the chronic and persistent diarrhea it is highly likely that you now have anaemia and low on Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is absorbed through the gut.
I do not know which country you live in so don't know the medical system where you are. In the UK the doctor can order xrays and other imaging like ultrasound scans, barium meal xrays, and would refer you to a specialist for a colonoscopy and any other tests to check for problems in the digestive system.
The doctor should also consider doing blood tests to check your kidney and liver function.
A stool test can also be done to look for any bacteria (especially Helicobacter Pylori), parasites and any more serious problems.
Because some digestive problems may be caused by what you eat and drink, keep a diary of everything that you consume. Keep off high fibre foods for a short time to see if that will settle the diarrhea. Eat small amounts of food often and avoid foods like oranges, sweet corn, cabbage, oranges, prunes and high fibre foods. If you are eating cheese and drinking milk, stop eating these foods for the time being. If you do have a bacterial problem, eating diary and drinking milk will encourage the bacteria. You may find though that natural yogurt may help. The type of fruit that may help is apples, so you can try that.
The reason in keeping a food and drink diary is to see if there is a anything that you eat and drink that makes the condition worse. It will help you to find out if it is food and drink related so that you can avoid that food or drink.
Keep off fried foods, junk foods, processed and sugary foods, like white bread, cakes, biscuits, sweets, fizzy drinks. Try plain boiled rice, potato, sweet potato, carrots, boiled or poached eggs and poached white fish. Keep off any spicy and strong flavoured foods too.
The main thing is to ensure that you do not get dehydrated. Having diarrhea will dehydrate you because of the loss of fluids. Ensure that you drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Also drink energy drinks, diluted fruit squashes (not freshly squeezed juices) and clear soups. Drink small amounts often.
You can also purchase from the pharmacy, a solution that you can mix with water and drink that will replenish lost electrolytes that are lost by having lots of diarrhea. Ask the pharmacist about this.
Do not be fobbed off with pain relief medications and the Welchol. You require urgent medical investigation to find out the cause of your symptoms so that you can receive the appropriate treatment.
Best of luck.
Let me know how you get on.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
