Help! How long until I feel better?

[tarheel78]

6 days ago, Tues, I was constipated first thing in the morning, but after the movement I felt better just bloated for the rest of the day. I was still able to eat, just did not eat as much. The following morning, Wed., I awoke at 1:00 with the most awful pain - I spent HOURS thinking I was going to pass out from the pain, nausea, dizziness, cold swetting, etc. The symptoms did not let up so I went to my doctor after his office opened. He noticed my white blood count was really high and put me on Cipro, Leprax, and Zofran. My abdomen was very tender in numerous spots, especially lower left quadrant. He diagnosed me with probably having diverticulitis. He also advised me to return to him or go to ER if my symptoms progressed, which they did. Thursday morning I was in the ER, the completed an ultrasound on upper right to rule out gall bladdar, and a CT scan on lower abdomen for rule out appendicitis. They released me after IV fluids, diagnosing me with gastreolitis (diverticulosis was seen on CT but not inflamed). They told me to stop taking Cipro but to continue taking Leprax and Zofran. I went home and suffered some more, became weaker and weaker, trouble forcing liquids because so nauseated, no food, no bowel movements, and no vomiting, just pain. Friday my doctor told me to begin taking Align each day for the next week, since I was still not improving. Saturday afternoon, I ended up back in the ER - badly dehydrated. I was extremely weak and lethargic, still nauseated, headache, stomach cramping, and now starting to show blood on tissue after urinating. Thought I might be getting and UTI and new I needed fluids since I had not eaten since Tues and only successfully getting about half a bottle of water in each day (if that). They found my blood pressure to be down and definite dehydration. They gave me fluids and told me to be on my way. Nothing showed up in urine even though I am still having blood on tissue after urinating. (NOT menstrual time - that ended 10 days ago) and darker. Forced a popsicle on me this morning, which has made me feel much worse, but don't want to get dehydrated. Still no fever, no bowel movements, less urination, just strong discomfort in abdomen and nauseated with NO appetite at all. Any ideas on why it's taking me so long to recuperate? Is this normal? Any help would greatly be appreciated as I am ready to get back to my life as a devoted mother and teacher!

[tarheel78]

5 weeks now and still no appetite, nausea, and abdomen pain that worsens after eating. Feeling weaker and jittery. I am easily averaging less than 500 calories. Endoscopy was completed. Little bit of reflux but other than that looked good. Biopsies taken, have only heard back one result which was negative for stomach cancer tissues. YAY!! Great news. I just want to feel better. Go to doctor again in 2 weeks to decide if Barium CT is needed. Could it find anything different from the normal CT with and without contrast? I am losing weight and at times hands look very dehydrated.

[tarheel78]

My issues have continued. I am still having bowel issues, nausea, and no appetite. Since Saturday (it is now Wed night) I have been able to eat a total of 2 bananas, 2 jellos, 2 yogurts, and 1 popsicle (all of which I had to force myself to eat because I didn't want anything but husband and kids insisted). I am also having abnormal female bleeding and passing lots of clots. I went to GI doctor on Tuesday. Still extremely tender in abdomen. Had colonoscopy on Wed - everything looked great. Having an endoscopy tomorrow. Any more suggestions or ideas?

[tarheel78]

Went back to the doctor with consistent abdominal pain and lack of appetite with naseau. No kidney stones noted. Began having constipation, very uncommon for me, probably related to dehydration and lack of eating. After I began having pressure to have a bowel movement with inability to pass bowel or urine, I went back. They took an xray and found that I was now impacted in the sigmoid colon, was not earlier in the week, and it was the size of a babies head. I also had more up further in the large intestines. After agonizing pain and an enema, I was able to pass it and my urine (blocked due to bowel pressure.) 1 week later and I have an improved appetite, still not normal, still lots of naseau, and an aching tail with hemorrhoids and a fissure. I have been using cream, epson salt soaks, etc. Still having blood passage. Ready for some relief soon!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The various possibilities which present with such pain in the lower left abdomen are diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, bowel obstruction, ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease,irritable bowel syndrome , kidney obstruction or pyelonephritis, psoas abscess  and volvolus (twisting of the sigmoid part of the large bowel on itself).
Investigations like ultrasound abdomen, CT abdomen and colonoscopy are required to confirm a diagnosis. My advise is to consult a gastroenterologist and discuss these possibilities with him. In your case, it can be due to kidney stones as you are having hematuria (blood in urine) also.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.