PLEASE HELP WEIRD SYMPTOMS/ Miserable

[iceberg5]

HI DOC- Thanks in advance for your opinion..I have been following this forum and am impressed with your advice to people...this is a little bizarre and embaressing but i need help..
I am a 34 y/o female with h/o controlled hypothyroidism( on synthroid over 10 yrs), h. pylori tx with antibiotics and thats it...I have always exercised, ate well ( lots of fruits and veggies, drank fluids)...about 6 months ago i had a belly piercing which got horribly infected..finally let it close and about 6 weeks ago had the scar tissue surgically removed...I have always had a great appetite and been regular with bms ( normally formed 1-2 times daily bms) until after this removal of scar tissue just above my belly...since this procedure ( and maybe the timing is just coincidental)...I began having constipation....6 days strait with no bm...and horrible stomach pain and nausea...I went to the ER and they did an xray and CT of abdomen and said everything was WNL...including my bloodwork and just gave me some MG citrate ( which didnt work)..Since then...I have lost my appetite, I get full very early in eating,,,my abdomen hurts constantly ( around the umbilical area and just above slightly to the left...I notice my stomach does not growl anymore ( unless my bowels have been emptied using a laxative...I would say...I dont feel " constipated" but i feel like I am full of stool because the bolus is not "making it to the rectum"..it feels like something is "blocking" the passing and it kind of throbs or "cramps" in the middle of my abdomen.I am very bloated and find it very hard to "pass gas". When I am able to have a bm...it is not formed ( not like diarrhea) but kind of gritty or comes out in small pieces ( like the size of bran flakes)..It is pale in color and very foul smelling..also i notice undigested food it in...what in the world could this possibley be...I am so scared and uncomfortable and it is affecting my quality of life......I have tried bulk forming laxatives but they just make the problems worse...I know laxatives are bad but am able to have results with MOM or dulcolax..but i try to only use them like every 3 days just so my belly is comfortable.....COuld this be related to the removal of my scar tissue just above my umbilicus....( are there any important nerves or blood vessels here? Or could this be something else...If it were a blockage or stricture would this have shown up on the CT scan or xray?..I have an appt with a GI doc this week.....What should i tell him to help get to the bottom of this?
Thanks -
DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS

[Kevin Pho, MD]

It would be unlikely that the GI symptoms are related to the scar tissue removal (assume the surgery was relative superficial and would not have affected the colon).  

It sounds like a colonoscopy would be the next test to consider.  Things like colitis or anatomical abnormalities (i.e. cancer or polyp) can lead to your symptoms.  The CT scan being negative makes things like diverticulitis as well as any other masses unlikely.  

Another consideration would be malabsorption - which can lead to a change in bowel habits.  This can be tested via a fecal fat test and blood tests looking for celiac disease.

You may want to discuss these options with your personal physician.

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

[iceberg5]

JUST AN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE >>IMPORTANT BUT I FORGOT TO MENTION I HAVE LOST ABOUT 8 pounds in 6 weeks with my symptoms ( Normal weight about 135 and I am now about 127#)

[ozark]

have you been checked for hepatitis? just a thought with your pale stools