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severe naseua, vomiting, back pain

My wife has a history of deodeneal cancer and has had several abdominal operations. For the past couple of years she has been having severe naseua, vomiting, and back pain. The episodes have been much more frequent lately. She was hospitalized on and off for six weeks. Her doctors are unable to help her. During these episodes IV therapy is the only thing that can help. She is down to skin and bones because most days she cannot eat or hold food down.Any help that can be given would be greatly appreciated
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Avatar universal
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Avatar universal
My I join in? I have had terrible nocturnal back pain for
4 months now. I have stomach pains after I eat. I had
abdominal ultrasounds, also of the ovaires and kidneys.
Nothing was abnormal except a cyst on one kidney. Could that
be causing my back pain at night?  My doctor says I have
'irritable bowel syndrome'. Should I just accept that diagnosis?
I'm taking Bentyl and Prilosec - which have helped alot.
If it was a tumor or something really bad - those drugs wouldn't help - would they?
Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
May I join this club? For more than a year now - I've had
stomach pains after I eat, sometimes I get chest pain that
I can only describe as a massive heart attack but if I belch
it goes away.  If I don't get one of the above 2 symptoms then
I get severe lower abdominal cramps and explosive diarrhea.
Every night - I wake up with horrible back pain.
I've had a total abdominal ultrasound, also ultrasounds of
my overies and kidneys. (I have a cyst  on one kidney -
could that be causing my nocturnal back pain?), Other than the
cysts - nothing was wrong.
I'm on Bentyl and Prilosec  - which have helped but not completely. My doctor says I have 'irritable bowel syndrome'.
Should I accept that diagnosis?
Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi,
i have acid reflux with corrosion, however  last week i had a colonoscopy, he said it looked fine, but i have thrown up, everything i eat for the past 5 days, and the pain in my back is severe, i also have fibromyalgia.
my food is not digested, not to be gross, but there is whole food seen in my stool, and whole capsules (vitamin) in my vomit.
ive been taking nothing new as far as medicine or vitamins, also last week i had one bowel movement with bright red blood in it.
i had a hysterectomy in oct 2000, and bladder repair surgery in jan 2001. blood tests last week were all negative, for whatever he tested.
any thoughts
thanks
email me at ***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Cindy. I recommend that you see a good gastroendoctronist. In my research, I have found many causes for this problem.My wife recently in Yale New Haven Hospital which is one of the best in the US. She underwent several tests and while her symptoms have been relieved, they still persist on a frequent basis. We are still searching for answers and some kind of prognosis
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIARRHEA AND VOMITING FOR A MONTH NOW. I CAN'T KEEP ANY FOOD DOWN. I HAVE TRIED NAUSEA, ANTIBOTIC AND PRILOSEC MEDICATIONS.  WHAT CAN I HAVE?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just read about something called Bile Reflux Gastritis -- the article says it is a "disabling complication of gastric surgery" and causes epigastric pain, nausea, bilious vomitting, and weight loss.  You can find the article at www.ssat.com and searching under "bile reflux".  Hope you find some answers soon....best of luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So glad to hear that your wife is cancer-free.  From the list of medicines you gave, almost all of them have nausea and vomiting as common side effects.  Since you mentioned that she has back pain, I am assuming she is on the oxycontin for this.  Oxycontin is a very good medicine for chronic pain, but also has nausea and vomiting as a common side effect.  Unfortunately, opiates (oxycontin) also tend to act as a depressant.  It has been said that "pain (physical and mental) is the thief of the human spirit."  Many people with a history like your wife's, suffer from depression.  If she has had an appropriate work-up for her complaints without any known cause being found, depression could be contributing to her physical symptoms.  In some people, depression shows up in the form of physical complaints.  Your wife is on an antidepressant, but maybe not the right one for her.  The Pancrease that your wife is on can cause iron deficiency anemia.  A simple blood test could determine if this is contributing to her feeling so poorly.  Has your wife ever been on Megace?  It stimulates the appetite.  A different use for Thorazine (in very low doses) is that it helps nausea, vomiting, and appetite.  The antidepressant, Remeron, is a good appetite stimulant, plus, hopefully it would help her mood.  Dave, there are lots of treatment options available, but most importantly is that you and your wife have a good, working relationship with your physician.  Best of luck to you both!
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Avatar universal
As a followup, My wifes cancer was 14 years ago. She had a Whipple Procedure that got all of the cancer. She has been declared cancer free and a recent exploratory operation was clean except for a few adhesions.She is on Soma, Celexine. Oxycoton, Pancrease, Paxil, and Insulin. She has about given up and it is very hard to get her to try to get help for herself. I could use some suggestions on how to brighten up her outlook.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dave,
One has to wonder if the cancer in your wife has spread.  If you have a competent, caring physician, they should be able to rule that out with relative ease by performing a few diagnostic studies.  Not knowing what tests have been done on your wife and their results, I would imagine it would be difficult for anyone to really comment on what could be going on here.  Plus, your wife's nausea and vomiting could be medication related and you did not mention the meds she is on.  If you feel that your wife is not getting the care she needs, within the constraints of your finances and insurance coverage, get a second opinion--preferably from a GI specialist.  Best wishes to you and your wife--I hope she gets relief soon.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dave your wife sounds like she has low cortisol levels.The symptoms you mentioned go right along with symptoms of low cortisol caused by Addisons disease of the adrenal glands.Ask your dr to check her AM & PM cortisol levels and also ask for an ACTH stimulation test that checks to see how the adrenal glands react to stimulation by the hormone from the pituitary gland.If she has severely low cortisol problems she could  die from this.The treatment for Addisons disease or low adrenal deficeincy is a hydrocortisone or prednisone type medication.The pain she having could be coming from the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys.If I were you I would definitely check this out.Also with Addisons disease one sometimes has to take a medication such as Florinef to replace the hormone called aldosterone that controls the salt,water,and potassium levels.If salt and water levels are too low it will cause low blood pressure.Addisons also causes naseua and weight loss.One that has this disease often will have dark circles around the eyes.Hope this helps out and wish you both all the best!!

Sincerely
Russell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dave your wife sounds like she has low cortisol levels.The symptoms you mentioned go right along with symptoms of low cortisol caused by Addisons disease of the adrenal glands.Ask your dr to check her AM & PM cortisol levels and also ask for an ACTH stimulation test that checks to see how the adrenal glands react to stimulation by the hormone from the pituitary gland.If she has severely low cortisol problems she could  die from this.The treatment for Addisons disease or low adrenal deficeincy is a hydrocortisone or prednisone type medication.The pain she having could be coming from the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys.If I were you I would definitely check this out.Also with Addisons disease one sometimes has to take a medication such as Florinef to replace the hormone called aldosterone that controls the salt,water,and potassium levels.If salt and water levels are too low it will cause low blood pressure.Addisons also causes naseua and weight loss.One that has this disease often will have dark circles around the eyes.Hope this helps out and wish you both all the best!!

Sincerely
Russell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

    Hi,   Has she been checked for Carcinoid cacer?   Sandostatin would help the diarrhea.   There are blood and a urine tests to check for it.  Blood:   CgA:  Plasma Chromosgrain A.   One of the best tumor markers for neuroendocrine cancers.  Also, Serotonin:  U-5HIAA  test.   Blood: 5-HTP. 5-HT,and others.   Please look into it.  Sincerely,   J. Spillane
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