I'm in the worst pain in my life

[lottapain]

I'm currently 29. As early as I can remember I've had severe pain and issues with bowel movements. When I was younger than 18 I used to double over with cramps and have severe constipation. I would have it act up usually 3 times a month or so. A lot of time had passed really, probably about 10 years before it started acting up again really badly, although I wouldn't describe my bowel movements as normal. The last 2 years it's been acting up more than it has ever before. I've had severe back pain and abdomen pain as well. I've had cramping, constipation, and even problems feeling like I've had to pee but couldn't. I've been to about 5 doctors. They thought kidney stones but the X-ray came out fine. They then thought it could be nerve damage. My Sciatic nerve does get pinched quiet a bit, but that wasn't the pain bothering me the most. I've been through physical therapy, meds, exams, and even fasts. I haven't had a loss of appetite, but I have actually gained a large amount of weight (about 30lbs) ....

I feel pain EVERYWHERE. From my chest at the base center of my rib cage, my shoulders, stomach, sides, back, legs, left buttocks cheek, and even like general muscle weakness. I'm supposed to be getting an upper and lower colonoscopy but I'm having to save up the $250.00 deductible.

Until then, I'm in so much pain it takes me biting down, holding my breath, and literally screaming to get out of bed. I toss and turn at night because the pain is worse on one side than the other sometimes.. When I do finally have a bowel movement it comes out ribbonish, very wide and thin... It hurts to push and after I push I get SEVER cramping that hurts so badly it feels like it's taking my breath away.

I was taking 1,500mg of IBprophen 3 times a day as my Dr. instructed but, I've read so many things about how they could be making it worse and causing constipation...

I'm not sure what to do. I'm honestly scared and I feel like a moron when I tell a Dr. the pain is EVERYWHERE.

Sometimes it doesn't hurt when I get up, but less than an hour after waking up... I'm doubled over again...

HELP!?!

[Texas Grannie]

I eat cereal made of flax. It is really pretty good and crispy. I put a little honey and walnuts on it. If I eat this once a day, I keep regular. I am more worried about your weight gain and the shape of your BM. When I gain weight fast, it is because of fluid buildup and the shape of your BM sounds as though you have a blockage somewhere. You need to go to a gynacolagist. Texas Grannie

[lottapain]

Thanks so much for your response.

I def think there is nerve damage because like I said I went to a physical therapist and they were able to identify like 3 nerves that were damaged. Plus, I get a numbness in my legs and arms sometimes... I really just feel like I'm falling apart. I've even noticed a small amount of a white discharge in my stool. Kinda like a flemmyish (if that's a word) fatty looking stuff. I've also noticed I feel like I have to pee and can't a lot lately, and I feel a strong muscle weakness. It hurts so much to bend over. I've been taking all those IBprophen but like I said, I've heard those can make matters worse so I've tried going without. It's been a painful process. It's going to be atleast another month before I can get my colonoscopy... =(

[ggreg]

I'm not sure, but I have to address the Sciatic pain as being a possible source of all this trouble.  Since you will get a colonoscopy eventually, I'll ignore that for now, except to offer a few dietary changes.

If your nerves in your back are goofed up, try to remember how you may have injured your back when you were a teenager.  I mean, you can get nerve problems without that, but think about it.  Because if you were in a car accident, for example, and your nerves are goofed up from that, you need treatment for it.  See, if those nerves are damaged badly enough, it could affect your digestion.

Anyhow, the business about having a hard time getting out of bed and all the discomfort you have, that sounds like me.  I have back injury and I also could not get out of bed without gritting my teeth and holding my breath, and after getting up the strength to haul myself out of bed, it just hurt like crazy.  A doctor gave me Lyrica, I took it at night, and the next day, no more low back pain and I got right out of bed.  So, that's how come I mention to get treatment for your Sciatica.

As for your digestion, there's a couple very easy things you can do, to see if it helps, until you can get to the bottom of this when you have your colonoscopy.  I have digestive problems as a result of some medication I was on a few years ago, so I'm very careful aout what I eat.  Every morning I have Cheerios, and at lunch every day, I eat 100 percent whole wheat bread with lettuce in the sandwich.  I try to eat spagetti once a week, and I drink extra water, and I try not to sit in one position too long and I try to do stretch exercises.  Also, before they figured out what was wrong with me, I ate some of that Activia yogurt in the grocery store for a couple weeks, and it helped a lot.

Those would be my suggestions.