how long can this go on?

[rudy blues]

I was wondering, I have had 4 attacks recently the first started in April and my last attack is still current, it started on the 2nd of this month and has continued with no end in sight. I have gone to the er twice this month for this, but still get no answers. The first visit I was told I had a uti and was given an iv and was sent home with cipro which did nothing for me as I still am having the severe pain, diarrhea, throwing up, fevers and chills, and I have gone almost 2 and a 1/2 weeks without being able to eat anything because it comes either right back up or out as soon as I eat and now I can barely eat anything and haven't been able to eat anything for the past two weeks and even the stuff I try to eat doesn't agree with my system. Since I cannot eat I have had continuing dizzy spells and bouts of fainting and I have been so tired all I want to do is sleep and haven't been able to work since this attack started. I have also lost approximately 20 pounds since this attack started. I went to the er just this past monday with these symptoms and had the urine and bloodwork done and an ultrasound but was told all my tests came back normal, no iv this time just shots for the pain and a prescrip. of ultram for the pain and zantac for the nausea. The ultram has done nothing for me except make me throw up worse and more often and make my life one big dizzy spell. I stopped taking it because I can't handle the side effects. I still have the pain and am now experiencing mild chest pains and it seems harder to breathe but I assume that is from the meds or from not eating! Help!

[c neuk]

Hi Rudy...I am sorry you are in so much pain...I experienced the same problem you are having, especially getting the right treatment...Definetly get in to see the GI, and you need to call your ER doctor, and have him/her call the GI doctor you have the appt. with in Feb. and tell him to schedule it NOW!!!  You cannot wait that long...And if you are unsuccesful with that, then go BACK to the ER and tell them you want to be seen by the GI doctor that is on-call...All ER's have them, and you can request to see him...If you are presenting the ER w/such severe symptoms, they will do the testing you need right then & there...So if you do go back, please be assertive...Tell them that you feel very unsafe about your health, and you simply can't function...The fainting is very dangerous...I was finally admitted after 2 ER visits, because I simply told the doctor's that I could not leave the hospital feeling as bad as I did, and they admitted me, and I actually ended up having to have laproscopic surgery done to see why I was so sick..It was endometriosis, and I now have to have a hysterectomy...So, please, please, please do not let the doctors send you home...Faint if you have to..I have heard too many horror stories from people who have been sent home so ill that they have almost died!  So hang in there, and keep me posted!  Hope you get some help soon...Christine   ***@****

[eloridas]

Have you gotten a GI Doc Yet??  Anyway, if you are also loose--I gave my son rice cereal since he was 6 weeks old.  The doctors told me that the rice would soak up the stomach acid and keep it down, this also should help with the loose stools.  The answer about an ER, they can't possibly diagnose this for you in the amount of time allowed to treat you--when you leave the ER, they should be letting you know that the diagnosis is not set in stone and you need to follow up with a private doc.

[eloridas]

Have you gotten a GI Doc Yet??  Anyway, if you are also loose--I gave my son rice cereal since he was 6 weeks old.  The doctors told me that the rice would soak up the stomach acid and keep it down, this also should help with the loose stools.  The answer about an ER, they can't possibly diagnose this for you in the amount of time allowed to treat you--when you leave the ER, they should be letting you know that the diagnosis is not set in stone and you need to follow up with a private doc.

[rudy blues]

Hi nanny and eloridas, thank you for your comments and hints. To answer your questions, I do not know what tests they checked for with my bloodwork but I did tell the er doc what I thought it was I had and he said he had a blood test for that but whether or not he did those tests I do not know. I told him I thought it was a form of pancreatitis. He did say that all my tests came back normal but just a couple weekends ago I had a bacterial infection that he either didn't see or it somehow went away or he just didn't check for that. I also told him I didn't have my gallbladder anymore I had it out in 93 but he said he wanted a ultrasound to see if there were any answers there but the tech said she didn't find any stones but she recommended an ercp with a gastro doctor. But the tech also said even though she didn't see any stones didn't mean there weren't any there. I do have an appt. in Feb. to see a gastro so I am hoping to find something out soon. My husband and family is going crazy because every time it gets so bad and we go to the er they come up with a different diagnosis just because the symptoms match and they can't find anything else that jumps out at them. So they medicate the pain to cover it up, and send you home hoping that will work and you wont have to come back. And the pain is so bad I haven't been able to go to work and I will probably lose my job because of this, it's really frustrating! And as far as the fiber goes, thanks for the idea but many things that have fiber or contain fiber give me terrible diarrhea or it doesn't stay in for any length of time but I will try oatmeal I haven't tried that yet, at this point anything that works would make me ecstatic! What I want to know is just how long does it take for them to figure out just what is going on with us? 5 trips to the er since April and 5 different diagnosis, none of them match. My husband is at his wits end because nobody has any answers yet. I told him to hang in there, there has to be somebody out there who can correctly diagnosis this. Soory this is so long, thank you for your comments and suggestions! God bless and good luck!

[Baseball_Mom]

Looks like its time to find a new GI Doctor.  I know that is easier said then done, but I'm a firm believer that a patient is the BEST advocate for their health coverage.  I don't like it when doctors make you feel like the problem is in your head.  Besides, who knows your body better than you do????  Take care and best of luck to you.

[eloridas]

Nanny is right about a GI Doc--Mine is great!!  She sat me down the other day and we went through things that I could and couldn't eat--what you listed seems right.  The more "natural the better" also.  Try eating more fiber!  Seriously, oatmeal is what I give my son (we both have it pretty severely).  Also, the GI Doc can check the amount of Zantac you are taking--I'm on the max.--I'll have a Upper Endiascope (forgive my spelling) next week to check to make sure damage has not been done--AND that is very important!  Just another suggestion, don't eat eggs!  And Metamucil also helps for me!  As far as how long can this go on?  This is a way of life for me, as long as I can remember (over 32 years) and all 6 years of my sons life.  You just have to find out what works for you and stick to it!

[Nanny]

Did they check your amylase and lipase levels when they did this bloodwork?  Are you seeing a gastroenterologist?  I think I remember you posting a while back and will check the older posts.  All your symptoms seem to fit the description of gallbladder problems or chronic pancreatitis.  Sometimes this cannot be seem with an ultrasound, but it should show on a ct-scan.  I'm sorry you are in so much pain, you need to contact your doctor concerning this.  Good luck.

[rudy blues]

I also forgot to mention that I have completely changed my diet since this attack first started. I only eat no fat, no sugar foods, no milk or dairy or cheese, only cooked veggies but only certain ones, no raw veggies, no fruit, especially apples, no citrus, no juices, and my fat intake is only about 7 grams or less a day, the last two weeks I haven't even been able to put anything in my system except maybe sips of water or a few crackers, if it is more than that I get SICK! And eating now totally makes my nausea worse and I feel like I have to or want to throw up right after I have eaten. Or if I do eat it doesn't stay in for any length of time. Any comments or suggestions would be more than greatly appreciated! Thanks! I just wish we, meaning all of us, didn't have to go through all of this to figure out what we have or what is wrong with us! You all have my blessings for wellness! God bless and good luck!