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Stomach ache for 5 months - please, please help
Hi everybody, this is my first post on here, so apologies if I've posted in wrong place.
I was wondering if there's ANYONE at all who could try and help me or at least offer me some advice. I'm going insane to be honest with you all.
Allow me to very briefly explain; since the end of June this year I began getting these dull stomach aches, the pain came and went but lasted most of the day. Eating helped soothe the pain, but it returned. I always slept well, was never woken by the pain, but seemed to always wake up with it there, like a constant dull ache. I've lost quite a lot of weight too. To cut a long (painful) story short, I made countless trips to the Doctors - had all the tests - x-rays, barium meal, 3 separate blood tests, breath test (for Helicobacter), & the Endoscopy + biopsy. Result : Negative for anything & everything! To say I was dissapointed is an understatement, because the alternative diagnosis was stress. I'm sorry, but for me I can't comprehend that stress can cause this amount of consistent pain.
About me a little; I'm a very nervous person, I worry about everything - I have two wonderful children and until a month ago had no job, no money, my Father's company went bankrupt, there was illness in the family, very little prospects, etc,. I now have a steady job and hopefully getting back on my feet - but the stomach ache seems to have returned.
I don't smoke, only drink ocassionally - I do enjoy the odd beer and glass of red, eat healthy - but it's still there.
Do I go back to the Doctors AGAIN? The last time I was there I was told to go see a psychiatrist and in a polite way, not to come back. They kept insisting it was pure stress and there was nothing medically wrong with me.
If there's anyone, and I mean anyone who can offer any piece of advice, I would be hugely grateful. I'm so fed up.
Thanks to all of you for reading this post.
Kind regards,
Richard
I was wondering if there's ANYONE at all who could try and help me or at least offer me some advice. I'm going insane to be honest with you all.
Allow me to very briefly explain; since the end of June this year I began getting these dull stomach aches, the pain came and went but lasted most of the day. Eating helped soothe the pain, but it returned. I always slept well, was never woken by the pain, but seemed to always wake up with it there, like a constant dull ache. I've lost quite a lot of weight too. To cut a long (painful) story short, I made countless trips to the Doctors - had all the tests - x-rays, barium meal, 3 separate blood tests, breath test (for Helicobacter), & the Endoscopy + biopsy. Result : Negative for anything & everything! To say I was dissapointed is an understatement, because the alternative diagnosis was stress. I'm sorry, but for me I can't comprehend that stress can cause this amount of consistent pain.
About me a little; I'm a very nervous person, I worry about everything - I have two wonderful children and until a month ago had no job, no money, my Father's company went bankrupt, there was illness in the family, very little prospects, etc,. I now have a steady job and hopefully getting back on my feet - but the stomach ache seems to have returned.
I don't smoke, only drink ocassionally - I do enjoy the odd beer and glass of red, eat healthy - but it's still there.
Do I go back to the Doctors AGAIN? The last time I was there I was told to go see a psychiatrist and in a polite way, not to come back. They kept insisting it was pure stress and there was nothing medically wrong with me.
If there's anyone, and I mean anyone who can offer any piece of advice, I would be hugely grateful. I'm so fed up.
Thanks to all of you for reading this post.
Kind regards,
Richard
I would recommend asking for a stool sample to look for blood in the stool (because you had black stool) and for parasites and other things. It isn't stomach cancer because that would have shown up on the endoscopy. I doubt it is a tapeworm but it could be.
Hi there,
The pain is located in the dead centre of my stomach - for reference purposes the belly button. It's always been in the middle, never to the sides.
During the summer I was prescribed a umber of tonics, some more potent than others. I began taking Omeprazol, which the Doctors claimed at first would alleviate the pain. This did not work and a further specialist told me to stop taking them. I was then prescribed Pariet - a much stronger drug which did seem to take the pain away actually, but which was discontinued following my endoscopy ( I took it for approx 15 days). I was also told it could be excess gas - so I took Flatoril & Maalox. Apologies for the medication names, I'm not sure how informative this is for you. If you like I can try and find out the active 'ingredients' as it were and send them to you.
After the final visit to the Doctors, he told me to stop taking everything and go and see a psychiatrist. The pain did go away actually for approx 3 weeks, then returned slowly day by day.
I am 33 years old, I weigh 78kg (before I was ill I weighed 83kg). Again, apologies for being metric values.
In terms of bowel movements, I've been through every colour & texture imaginable, from almost black to pale grey, from extremely hard stool to liquid. Unfortunately, 2 months ago I contracted a stomach bug which left me bedridden for 2 days, causing this severe diarrhea.
For the past 4 weeks however, my stool has been regular, daily, not strenous at all, good composition, so no problems there (thankfully!).
If I can be any more specific please do let me know.
I appreciate all your help on this.
P.S. Could it be a tapeworm or stomach cancer? I'm a complete hypochondriac, but try not to take in everything I read on the internet.
The pain is located in the dead centre of my stomach - for reference purposes the belly button. It's always been in the middle, never to the sides.
During the summer I was prescribed a umber of tonics, some more potent than others. I began taking Omeprazol, which the Doctors claimed at first would alleviate the pain. This did not work and a further specialist told me to stop taking them. I was then prescribed Pariet - a much stronger drug which did seem to take the pain away actually, but which was discontinued following my endoscopy ( I took it for approx 15 days). I was also told it could be excess gas - so I took Flatoril & Maalox. Apologies for the medication names, I'm not sure how informative this is for you. If you like I can try and find out the active 'ingredients' as it were and send them to you.
After the final visit to the Doctors, he told me to stop taking everything and go and see a psychiatrist. The pain did go away actually for approx 3 weeks, then returned slowly day by day.
I am 33 years old, I weigh 78kg (before I was ill I weighed 83kg). Again, apologies for being metric values.
In terms of bowel movements, I've been through every colour & texture imaginable, from almost black to pale grey, from extremely hard stool to liquid. Unfortunately, 2 months ago I contracted a stomach bug which left me bedridden for 2 days, causing this severe diarrhea.
For the past 4 weeks however, my stool has been regular, daily, not strenous at all, good composition, so no problems there (thankfully!).
If I can be any more specific please do let me know.
I appreciate all your help on this.
P.S. Could it be a tapeworm or stomach cancer? I'm a complete hypochondriac, but try not to take in everything I read on the internet.
Welcome to the gastroenterology community! Where is the pain located? Have you had any change in your bowel movements? How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? Are you on any medications?
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