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IBS or what?

Hello. My story is a long one, but I think you need the full story to help, so please bear with me:

On June 9 of this year I had some food that tasted bad (pork tenderloin - it was the stuffing - which tasted like vomit!). That evening after dinner I had a terrible stomach ache, unlike one I've ever had before. It just felt like there was something really sour, like bad milk, in my stomach. The next day I had a bit less stomach pain but I had right sided abdominal pain and strange gurgling, as if some sort of reaction was going on. So I went to the hospital thinking appendicitis, and they sent me home as my white blood cells were slightly up, but not skyrocketing.

For the next week, I felt nothing more specific than a nasty recurring stomach ache and slight constipation, especially after I ate significant amounts. So I stopped eating, and within a few days I felt pretty awful, like there was hot/poisonous liquid swirling around in my gut. The next week, six days after the first stomach ache, I came down with a fever.

The fever subsided quickly (one to two days of bed rest) and within a few days my stomach relaxed enough to let me eat again. The constipation continued and got worse, to the point where I would not have any stools unless I ate "all bran" in the morning. When I did have stools, they weren't liquid, but they were so loose that they would often fall apart when landing in the toilet. I was also having abdominal pain, which I was starting to recognize as intestinal (sometimes my bowels were so bloated or inflated that I couldn't lie on my side).

Several weeks later, I started to have persistent heartburn. Having never had this, I made my first of many trips to the emergency room, where the doctor "diagnosed" me with gastritis and prescribed me on Pariet. After the full course of this drug, the heartburn cleared up, although I still experienced burning pain under my ribs. At this point my abdominal pain got worse, one night it felt like my stomach was convulsing. Again I went to the hospital, I was "diagnosed" with IBS and given Dicetel, which I took for several months.

The Dicetel seemed to help things calm down from that extreme, as my gut was so "irritable" I was having trouble getting food down. Even on this drug, however, I still experienced burning pain, throbbing pain, stinging pain and continually abnormal/strange movements, including some very loose ones and some dark, hard pellets. I have also noticed that my gas NEVER smells when I flatulate (since I ate that food, which is not normal for me), and my stools hardly smell at all, although if I smell close to the bowl I've sometimes noticed what I would call a "fishy" smell. It also seems like my stools are a little pale/clayish sometimes.

During these three months, I have had a blood test, urinalysis, stool O & P and culture (twice), upper GI swallow and ultrasound, all of which were normal. Could this be a parasite like amebiasis that often doesn't show up?
5 Responses
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766080 tn?1240252458
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Avatar universal
I would say that this doctor has a generalized methodology to further diagnose the problem, which is fine. Think about it, even with the most detailed description, a Gastro might still order tests to get confirmation about whats going on. Once the chips settle, he can make an accurate diagnosis.

The problem seems to be that diseases can mimick each other, and sometimes its a one-off deal. In the world around us, we seem to think pretty black and white about disease. Its either "this" or "this", etc. But when you consider that the human body is simply a collection of various interconnected systems you can see that problems might be unique, one-offs or entirely personal. The diseases known to us just happen to be the most common. Everyone in their life knows someone or perhaps themselves experienced a doctor saying "I've never seen this before" etc..

Regardless, there are some statements here by bad_stomach that stand out. First of all this all seems to emanate from one particular experience. While anyone can argue that IBS can simply start one day, its usually about the abnormal peristaltic motion - or lack there of. IBS is more of a declaration of irrational behavior by the intestines. This guy had a fever for crying out loud.

I would not rule out parasite, why? because this is such a sudden-onset. Your upper GI symptoms that came later are not suprising. Again....

There is a deep connection between your brain and your intestines. The trauma you experience resonates negatively. This produces stress. Stress increases certain enzymes in your stomach and modifies your overall sense of equilibrium. As a result, you become acidy, gastricitc, and this overflow of acid begins to creep into your espohagus, causing what appears to be heartburn.

I give a lot of credence to psychosomatic symptoms. These seem to be behavioral in nature. A chain of events starting with a trauma will snowball without the right knowledge. Remember, always second guess a doctor, always get a second opinion, and always research what you can on the net.

Who wrote the rule that you can't take care of yourself?
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Avatar universal
all these suggestions are expensive,i wonder if doc will ever recommend anything cheaper .
It seems everything requires endoscopy,colonscopy,24 hour ph study ,those procedures run into thousand of dollars,keeping the hospital in business.
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233190 tn?1278549801
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
A parasite would show up on the O&P culture.  

I would consider an upper endoscopy as a reasonable next step to evaluate the upper GI problems.  This is a more comprehensive test than the upper GI series, and can look for inflammation of the upper digestive tract as well as early ulcers.  If it hasn't been done already, I would also test for a bacteria called H Pylori, which is associated with ulcers and inflammation.

If there continues to be loose stools, a lower endoscopy may not be a bad idea (i.e. colonoscopy), as well as tests for malabsorption and celiac disease.  

If everything is negative, then certainly irritable bowel disease may be considered - and treatment (i.e. antispasmodic agents and increasing fiber in the diet) be optimized.

You may want to consider a GI referral for further evaluation.

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.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
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Avatar universal
you should take a breath test in doc's office for hector pylori bacteria.
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