Any feedback is a GodSend.

[scarletnymph]

Let me start by saying this is not IBS. In Jan. 2010 I flew to FL and my ears didn't pop. As a result pressure built up and I got a sinus infection that lasted almost 3 months. I had never had any sinus problems before (No allergies or sinus infections) A month into this I started getting at least 2 nosebleeds a day varying in severity.  I was on 5 different antibiotics. Less than a week finishing the last round, I got a UTI (which I get at least once a year) that started to spread to my right kidney. Another antibiotic. Less than a month after that, I got a stomach bug or food poisoning and have been out ever since. This year has been hellacious. I am nauseous all the time. My BMs are orange/yellow diarrhea most of the time. I have random pain on both sides of rib cage and lower back into buttocks, had severe bouts of acid reflux, yellow on back of tongue, swollen pale/white tongue. At its worst I can't eat or drink the nausea is so bad, indigestion, I get chills for hours at a time but with no fever that I can tell, and bad headaches. None of these symptoms are relieved by bowel movements and I don't get cramping.  They have diagnosed stomach virus and mesenteric lymphadenitis almost 3 months ago; both of which should “go away within a week on their own”… 2 and a half months ago.  I have been put on 2 other antibiotics. I have had a colonoscopy, endoscope, small bowel follow through, tested negative for Chrons, colitis, H Pyl., Salmonella, Shigella, Chamylobacter, Staphylococcus, Giardia, Cryptospor, C diff., Random blood tests looking for specific things. I'm not gluten intolerant, diabetic, or a hypochondriac. I have never been allergic to anything be it medicine, food or otherwise. No blood pressure problems, never a broken bone and the only surgery I’ve had was to remove wisdom teeth and an ingrown nail.  I have been on probiotics for 2 months in hopes it was just my gut flora imbalanced. I will have a few days where I start feeling better and then with no common trigger I’ll get turned again. Days of relentless nausea, weak, light orange/yellow diarrhea. I’m trying to stay positive but am losing myself slowly to whatever this is.  I really don't like going to the doctors, missing work and driving myself financially into the ground via all these tests. I want my life back but I feel like I'm going to be dumped into the "We don't know what’s wrong - it’s IBS." category. I don't know if the sinus issue is relevant but at this point, it can't hurt to look at a bigger picture. I’m not getting better. Please for the love of God, help me.

[scarletnymph]

Thank you for writing on here. I have seen my PCP, a gastro Dr., and a surgeon. I am still fighting. My husband won't let me give up... but I would be undermineing the situation by saying that I didn't feel like curling up and disapearing into the folds of my bed that has turned into a variable habitat for the 'thing' I have become. I am no more depressed or anxious that what this situation bades me to be..but it is darker some days than I care to admit. I hear reason and understand the basic logic in the terms like "Get through one day at a time" and "Keep hope" and the ever present "They'll figure this out."... although these are becoming less and less a true motivational statement and more of a proverbial 'pat-on-the-back' from those around me. And while I know they no longer know what to say - a part of me feels guilty for making my family, friends and co-workers be in a position to say these things all the time. But every time someone asks how I'm doing, its a slap in the face for me. And in my line of work I get asked this a hundred times a day and while a generic 'Fine"..."Great.".. and "Fantastic." or some variation of faux enthusiasm is required; it has never been so hard for me to do it... I choke back sobs at the fact that I've had to do this for literally 7 months now. Being told that this is IBS scares the hell out of me. I know IBS from friends and family.. and this is NOT IBS. I have had my thyroid tested but I see an endocrinologist on Monday. My only hope is that she reviews patient files before accepting because she only takes those she feels she can help. And she wants to see me. So there has got to be hope right?... God.. this time of year was my favorite. I was an annoying ball of undiluted happiness. Christmas cheer abound! But this year... I honestly feel like I'm carrying around the dead carcass of the old me. Like some macabre puppet I have to string along infront of friends and family.... and the longer it stays .. the more it decays... becoming less and less believable. *sighs* I'm just so tired.. and it's easier for me to feel sad when I feel sick. Theres no longer that barrier of hope - it just gets to me that much faster.. Anyways.. thank you again for reading and I will keep you posted of any medical details... we HAVE to figure this out... I have no choice....

[patient915]

I just read through all of the posts and I have a couple things to suggest.  First, I believe that it is rare when someone just randomly develops many unrelated symptoms and they don't all have a common reason.  It sounds like you should have some more blood testing done.  Things like thyroid can cause many symptoms.  Also you never mentioned what type of doctors you have seen.  Have you only seen your general doctor (and the surgeon) or have you also seen doctors in different specialties?

One thing that is hard about getting sick is that you lose a lot of your motivation.  After a while it can be hard to get up and go see another doctor or go get another test when nothing you have done so far has helped.  Do you have insurance?  If so, getting a couple more blood tests won't cost very much.  Things like vitamins, minerals, and thyroid can cause many different problems.  Please stay motivated, there is something out there that can help you, it just takes time to find it.

[ggreg]

Scarlett,
You are two months out from your gallbladder surgery and you still don't feel well.  This is not good at all.  I am wondering if you saw the doc as followup to your surgery and told him you still didn't feel good and if you told him your symptoms at that time, which I presume are still nausea, discolored diarrhea stool, strange color in your mouth, plus what was the explanation of your liver crp being so high, poss UTI, and so forth.  If you are broke, you can STILL go see the doc who has been doing all these tests, and when comes time to pay, ask the office to send you a bill...they don't like to, but they will.  OR if you are feeling near death's door, or have a temperature, or are perhaps dehydrated from continuing diarrhea, you can go to the ER and they will accept you whether you have insurance or money, or not.

If you decide to go to the ER, while they need to know you recently had gallbladder surgery, they also need to know your previous symptoms, which I just listed off, and also how your illness began after you came back from a trip to Florida.  I'm thinking you have a liver infection, or the common bile duct blockage, SOMEthing is making you sick, and after you dealing with this for a year, going through surgery, and are even worse now, not better, wellllll, someone who knows their stuff ought to sit down with all you records and figure out what is going on.  Could be you have a gut infection that is not the norm, settled in your liver perhaps, and I hesitate to say it but parasite is possible, and they'll have to do more than just the generic tests or more than just throw antibiotics at you.

I also think you should make an appointment with the doctor who actually did the gallbladder surgery so you can speak to him about what he saw in your gut when he opened you up (altho if you can reach him by phone, all the better), but he also OUGHT to know some of the atypical reasons why you're still sick and have been sick all along, I mean, he's a surgeon!  

I just wish you could quit being passed around, and when gallbladder surgery didn't do the trick, they really should have ramped up their investigations.  You could ask for a referral to one of the top guys in gastroenterology in your state who works at a university hospital.  For your next doc appoints or going to the ER, someone in your family should go with you.  Also, you shouldn't feel the least bit bad about asking for financial help from family, too, mainly to keep paying the mortgage, if you have one.  Keep us posted, and I am SO worried about you.
GG

[scarletnymph]

I don't have the energy to get up anymore... laying in bed... so tired and weak.. would go to the hospiital if I had the money... or thought they could help....

[ggreg]

Scarlett,
Gee whiz!  I hope you will return to the doc who is watching over you and tell him you are still sick.  You could go back thru all these replies here and jot down some of the ideas diff people have had about what might be making you sick.  One person said Crohn's disease, I think, which is diff from gallbladder issues.  And I think I made mention of a reason why you might get that strange color in your throat.  You could bring that little list to him, tell him some people suggested those might be reasons you've been sick.  Maybe bring someone with you, to keep the doc serious about all this, who can tell him how miserable you've been.  Whatever has been doing this, I think must still be at work here.  You have every right to be mad as heck about going thru removing your gallbladder and yet you still are quite sick.  Maybe he can refer you to a new specialist.  There is an Ask the Doctor section of MedHelp that you could try, in case THEY have better ideas than us.  But of course you'll need to get back in to see your doc ASAP.  I just hate this for you and barely know what to say.  How sad and frustrating.
GG  

[scarletnymph]

Well - I'm still sick. I am more depressed than I was and no closer to an answer. I hate life right now and no, I am not sick because I am depressed. I am depressed because I am sick and have been for over 6 months..The main issue is still the nausea. I get chills with no fever, over-whelming fatigue and a yellow/orange coating on the back of my tongue despite taking good care of myself.... For the love of God... please please ask anyone...everyone...This is not right....and there has got to be an answer...