Aa
Tired Of Being Sick!
Hi!,
Im a 23 year old male that has been battling stomach issues for the last 2 and half years. It started in Jan of 2008, where i thought i had the flu....i lost my appetite, was using the bathroom all the tme, and was very weak and fatigued. Well this lasted about a month, and they started running test, they gave me med for acid reflux, they did a exray, they did barium ctscan. Finally about 5 months later, after have black stools, they did a endscopy and colonoscopy at the same time, they found i had wrinkles and sever inflamattion in my stomach. So i took a stool sample and this is where they found i had Cryptosporidium, a parasite found in homosexuals or people with aids, which neither i have. Finally after about 8 months of it, it went away. But the problems wwere just beginning, they did a hida scan and found out my gallbladder was not functioning right. Thy took that out in sept of 08, i felt better for a few months, still have bad episodes of using the bathroom. I couldnt eat pizaa or some other spicy foods but i could drink alchol and everything else. Well the begining of this year , istrted losing weight, having sever nausea, which woke me up about 5 times a week in the middle of the night. Im alwaysl gassy and bloating and cramping. Im so fatigued and tired. I have recently went on a gluten free diet, this is my second week. I went on it cause my grandpa has celiac disease. It seemed like it might have been working, but i am more tired then ever, and still ahve stomach pains. My stools always float and have alot of mucus in them. Im tired of going to the doctors, im tired of everything......i would just like to be healthy and feel like a 23 year old again. Being sick is starting to take over my life,i know i have something wrong with me, but the doctors act like im fine. I know theres something wrong, and im scared it could be something bad.....
Im a 23 year old male that has been battling stomach issues for the last 2 and half years. It started in Jan of 2008, where i thought i had the flu....i lost my appetite, was using the bathroom all the tme, and was very weak and fatigued. Well this lasted about a month, and they started running test, they gave me med for acid reflux, they did a exray, they did barium ctscan. Finally about 5 months later, after have black stools, they did a endscopy and colonoscopy at the same time, they found i had wrinkles and sever inflamattion in my stomach. So i took a stool sample and this is where they found i had Cryptosporidium, a parasite found in homosexuals or people with aids, which neither i have. Finally after about 8 months of it, it went away. But the problems wwere just beginning, they did a hida scan and found out my gallbladder was not functioning right. Thy took that out in sept of 08, i felt better for a few months, still have bad episodes of using the bathroom. I couldnt eat pizaa or some other spicy foods but i could drink alchol and everything else. Well the begining of this year , istrted losing weight, having sever nausea, which woke me up about 5 times a week in the middle of the night. Im alwaysl gassy and bloating and cramping. Im so fatigued and tired. I have recently went on a gluten free diet, this is my second week. I went on it cause my grandpa has celiac disease. It seemed like it might have been working, but i am more tired then ever, and still ahve stomach pains. My stools always float and have alot of mucus in them. Im tired of going to the doctors, im tired of everything......i would just like to be healthy and feel like a 23 year old again. Being sick is starting to take over my life,i know i have something wrong with me, but the doctors act like im fine. I know theres something wrong, and im scared it could be something bad.....
When you mention pain in the stomach, where is it located the worse. You do have symptoms of chrons. But as stated above chrons can be anywhere. Is the pain in the LRQ or LLQ. If it is in the lower right and it is chrons it is in the small intestine. So ask the new dr to scope the small intestine also.
Also, there is a blood test that can show if you have the gene for chrons. If your insurance pre-approves the test then they will pay. Otherwise it would cost you around $400.00. So make sure it is pre-approved. If they will not approve and you can swing it at all, I would have the blood test. That way it will show that if you have the gene you could be having a flare-up and that was not happening 2 years ago that it showed up.
They found my chrons by barium swallow test that they watch the barium go through the intestine and also the blood test showed that I had the gene.
Is the dr giving you any antibiotics?
Best of luck and let us know how it goes.
Also, there is a blood test that can show if you have the gene for chrons. If your insurance pre-approves the test then they will pay. Otherwise it would cost you around $400.00. So make sure it is pre-approved. If they will not approve and you can swing it at all, I would have the blood test. That way it will show that if you have the gene you could be having a flare-up and that was not happening 2 years ago that it showed up.
They found my chrons by barium swallow test that they watch the barium go through the intestine and also the blood test showed that I had the gene.
Is the dr giving you any antibiotics?
Best of luck and let us know how it goes.
Back again........Sunday afternoon I ate salad and little bit of grilled chicken, immediatley afterwords, i was suffering from extrme nausea, bloating, and some diherra. I really thought i was gonna to puke. I was so gassy. I finally let out a bunch of burps and felt a little better, but my stomach still felt raw and just blah. Well today i woke up and felt pretty good, but i had to go use the bathroom. I had kinda normal stools, not solid but better then normal. And right when i got done i just strated cramping up and getting gasssy. It makes me feel so nauseas its miserable unitl i can finally burp. But my stomach still aches. My doc appointment is a few weeks away, and sunday i was in so much pain i just wanted to go to the emergency room. But i finally slept it off. I dont know where the horrible gas comes from. I hve been eating sald, bannas, a little bit of applesauce, crackers, and potatoes.
Nausea and cramping could be from something what you have eaten in the evening or for a dinner. What was it: fruits, dairy, meat, something fatty..?
This was a very bad morning. I woke up very nauseas, with horrible abdominal cramping, It gets to the point that im on the verge of vomitting. I wish it didnt take so long to get a doc appointment, i cant stand being like this anymore. Ill have my good days, where everything seems like its getting better, buit the then i will have horrible days. The good days arent even gthat good, i still dont feek normal, but feel better. Im tired of complaining................
Continue with the gluten-free diet. If you have floating, foamy sticky stools - then this is probably unabsorbed fat (possibly from inflammation of the small intestine). So also avoid heavy fatty foods like cakes and cheese, egg yolks, etc. Two-three days of low-fat diet would help reduce bloating if unabsorbed fats are the cause (fats are not absorbed in the small intestine so they reach the colon where bacteria ingest them and produce gas = bloating).
Celiac disease often damages small intestine so much that you become (temporary) lactose intolerant. So, if low-fat diet won't halp, try with low -lactose or lactose free diet for 2-3 days.
And, of course :) , celiac disease can cause temporary fructose malabsorption. Avoiding fruits like apples, pears, prunes, plums, peaches, cherries, dates, figs..also honey and anything containing sweeteners HFCS or sorbitol for 2-3 days would reduce bloating if this is the cause.
All above does not explain "heavy inflammation in the stomach". I guess you would need another gastroscopy to get diagnosis of this. Crohn's disease is one possible cause.
Like said above - you may suffer from more conditions. I strongly suggest you mentioned diet trials to get bloating relief.
Celiac disease often damages small intestine so much that you become (temporary) lactose intolerant. So, if low-fat diet won't halp, try with low -lactose or lactose free diet for 2-3 days.
And, of course :) , celiac disease can cause temporary fructose malabsorption. Avoiding fruits like apples, pears, prunes, plums, peaches, cherries, dates, figs..also honey and anything containing sweeteners HFCS or sorbitol for 2-3 days would reduce bloating if this is the cause.
All above does not explain "heavy inflammation in the stomach". I guess you would need another gastroscopy to get diagnosis of this. Crohn's disease is one possible cause.
Like said above - you may suffer from more conditions. I strongly suggest you mentioned diet trials to get bloating relief.
Dear: You may have an irritable vowel syndrome and Crohn disease in addition to the celiac disease, plus lactose intolerance althogether. I know someone in my familty who has all that in addition to liver disease and ulcers. This person was half dead until trated for amoebas. You may need a comptrehensive stools lab. work. I hope you get your health back. You may be highly frustrated and may need a therapist to take care of your anxiety. I hope you all the best.
I am not lactose and tolerant....i actually think this gluten free diet might be helping! this is the hleathiest i have felt in 2 years. I still get very gassy and some pains, but not as bad. I still dont feel normal, but i do feel better. Hopefully this works!
Hi!
Just letting you know that I understand what you're going through. For almost two years I have been suffering from abdominal pain and excessive painfull gas. It happens to me every single night. There's not a single night I don't feel sick and have to lay in bed. I have to take tylenol everyday because the pain becomes so unbearable even though I know that taking so much medicine is bad for me. My doctors can't seem to figure out what's wrong with me. All my exams have turned out normal. I do suffer from acid reflux and I now seem to be lactose intolerant. I HATE BEING SICK EVERY NIGHT! It's so frustrating! Sometimes I just lay in bed and cry because I'm so sick of being sick. I just wish the doctors could figure out what's wrong with me. I know this is not normal, it can't be normal. How can someone be sick every single night?? I never use to be like this. I can't do anything in the evenings anymore and this is not just because of the pain, but because of the terrible TERRIBLE gas that I get!! I feel sorry for my husband because he's the one who has to put up with me. So my friend, I KNOW how you feel! I wish you the best and I hope that someday they can figure out what your problem is. It ***** to live not knowing what's wrong with your body.
Just letting you know that I understand what you're going through. For almost two years I have been suffering from abdominal pain and excessive painfull gas. It happens to me every single night. There's not a single night I don't feel sick and have to lay in bed. I have to take tylenol everyday because the pain becomes so unbearable even though I know that taking so much medicine is bad for me. My doctors can't seem to figure out what's wrong with me. All my exams have turned out normal. I do suffer from acid reflux and I now seem to be lactose intolerant. I HATE BEING SICK EVERY NIGHT! It's so frustrating! Sometimes I just lay in bed and cry because I'm so sick of being sick. I just wish the doctors could figure out what's wrong with me. I know this is not normal, it can't be normal. How can someone be sick every single night?? I never use to be like this. I can't do anything in the evenings anymore and this is not just because of the pain, but because of the terrible TERRIBLE gas that I get!! I feel sorry for my husband because he's the one who has to put up with me. So my friend, I KNOW how you feel! I wish you the best and I hope that someday they can figure out what your problem is. It ***** to live not knowing what's wrong with your body.
It's possible that your problems arise from few different causes (like H. pylori infection of the stomach, functional disorder of bile ducts...) or all problems may be due to one cause. You've said Crohn's was excluded by biopsy...it's important to have a good gastroenterologist to evaluate this. Crohn's could cause all problems you have since it can affect all parts of the gut.
During next ERCP they may perform (and you can discuss this with the doctor before it is done):
- biopsy of gastric mucosa to see if it is H. pylori infection or Crohn's disease or other cause of "severe inflammation"
- manometry of sphincter of Oddi to see if you have sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
The main symptom of gastric ulcer is burning pain in upper middle stomach shortly after eating, especialy after acidic foods like fruits, vitamin C, alcohol, vinegar and drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen...Just avoid these if you can...Duodenal ulcer would cause pain between meals also at night. Ulcer can be confirmed only by endoscopy. Gastric inflammation you have would cause about the same symptoms since inflammation and ulcer are like two phases of the same process...
Burping may be caused by H. pylori infection, bile duct dysfunction, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or slow gastric emptying. If you feel acidic taste and heartburn (burning behind the sternum and in the throat) then burping is likely from gastric reflux and this from H. pylori. If burping goes with a bitter bile taste, it's from bile duct dysfunction. Avoid heavy foods that stay a long time in the stomach.
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Have a blood test to see if you are anemic and have vitamin deficiences. Drink enough. This is to avoid tiredness. If you will get iron pills they may cause you abdominal cramps so you may ask for iron injections instead of pills.
You can have a breath test for H. pylori, or if ERCP is scheduled soon, you will be tested then.
Cryptosporidium may affect small and large intestine but not stomach. celiac disease affects only small intewstine, not stomach. Crohn's disease like said may affect any part of the gut from the mouth to anus. You should get a firm diagnosis of your stomach inflammation.
During next ERCP they may perform (and you can discuss this with the doctor before it is done):
- biopsy of gastric mucosa to see if it is H. pylori infection or Crohn's disease or other cause of "severe inflammation"
- manometry of sphincter of Oddi to see if you have sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
The main symptom of gastric ulcer is burning pain in upper middle stomach shortly after eating, especialy after acidic foods like fruits, vitamin C, alcohol, vinegar and drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen...Just avoid these if you can...Duodenal ulcer would cause pain between meals also at night. Ulcer can be confirmed only by endoscopy. Gastric inflammation you have would cause about the same symptoms since inflammation and ulcer are like two phases of the same process...
Burping may be caused by H. pylori infection, bile duct dysfunction, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or slow gastric emptying. If you feel acidic taste and heartburn (burning behind the sternum and in the throat) then burping is likely from gastric reflux and this from H. pylori. If burping goes with a bitter bile taste, it's from bile duct dysfunction. Avoid heavy foods that stay a long time in the stomach.
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Have a blood test to see if you are anemic and have vitamin deficiences. Drink enough. This is to avoid tiredness. If you will get iron pills they may cause you abdominal cramps so you may ask for iron injections instead of pills.
You can have a breath test for H. pylori, or if ERCP is scheduled soon, you will be tested then.
Cryptosporidium may affect small and large intestine but not stomach. celiac disease affects only small intewstine, not stomach. Crohn's disease like said may affect any part of the gut from the mouth to anus. You should get a firm diagnosis of your stomach inflammation.
The severe inflamation was in my stomach....the doctor even thought i could have gastric cancer, the way my stomach looked, but it came back negative. My gall bladder didnt have any stones, but it was only functioning at 7%......i do sometimes have paing on my right side. But i have discomfort all over my stomach. Im constantly burping, nauseas, and gassy. Ive arleady had the colonscopy and ercp done at the same time about two years ago, but they are going to schedule me another one. They said thre could be a possibly of crohns, which ity doesnt run in my family, but i know that doesnt matter.I just know my stomach has been severly dysfunctional ever since the crypto. Im going to a new gastro, who is suppose to be very good, my last one want ever highly recommended, but thats the only one who i could get. I sometimes wonder if i have an ulcer, i dont know what the exact syptoms are, but anytome i drink alcohol, even two beers. The next day i have diherra bad, and my stomach hurts worse. Thanks for your help tho....i wish you were my doctor, you seem to listen and have more feedback then they do !
1. Biliary sludge stuck in the bile duct, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) or Cryptosporidium (or other) infection of the bile duct
2. Inflammation of the small intestine due to celiac disease
3. Cryptosporidium infection of the small intestine
These are some possibility that sound likely.
What to do:
Continue with COMPLETE gluten-free diet. Also avoid fruits and fruit products (you may have oranges, grapefruits, lemons, bananas), honey, soda, sweets and any food containing sorbitol or HFCS. You can still eat corn and oats products, rice, potatoes, meat, vegetables (but avoid high-fibre ones like beans and cabbage - to prevent bloating). Be sure to drink enough - water or tea - it's quite possible you are dehydrated. After long term diarrhea it is also possible you have anemia and some vitamin/mineral deficiences. You should have a blood test for this and take appropriate supplements if needed. All this is to feel not so tired. If gluten-free diet will help it speaks for celiac disease so just continue it. It may take some weeks to see further improvement.
Where did they found "wrinkles and severe inflammation" - in the stomach or in the colon?
Cryptosporidium can be attracted by food poisoning and it can cause inflammation of the colon, small intestine or bile ducts. Ova and parasites test is often false negative so three stool samples from three bowel movements (at least one day appart) have to be given to the lab for repeated testing. In positive test you would need treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Intestinal parasites may appear with diarrhea (with mucus - translucent jelly-like substance that disintegrate in water quickly), bloating, and weight loss. Blood test often shows elevated eosiniphils (a type of white blood cells) and IgE antibodies.
You would also need a fecal fat test to see if you are losing fats with the stool - this could be the cause of losing weight and all other symptoms you have.
Two mentioned stool tests are important to distinguish between parasites and fat malabsorption. If you excrete excessive amount of fats, stool would be floating, foamy, whitish and STICKY.
Did they find gallstones in the gallbladder? If not then maybe only the function of gb was impaired. Or function of the main bile duct or its sphincter may be still impaired and causing your symptoms. This would need another endoscopy (called ERCP) during which the bile duct would be checked. This bile duct disorder would cause right upper abdominal pain - just below the lower right rib.
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Again, drink enough water or tea. Avoid fruit juices and soda. Avoid plums, prunes, apples, pears, mango, papaya, peaches, appricots, cherries - all these may cause bloating.
2. Inflammation of the small intestine due to celiac disease
3. Cryptosporidium infection of the small intestine
These are some possibility that sound likely.
What to do:
Continue with COMPLETE gluten-free diet. Also avoid fruits and fruit products (you may have oranges, grapefruits, lemons, bananas), honey, soda, sweets and any food containing sorbitol or HFCS. You can still eat corn and oats products, rice, potatoes, meat, vegetables (but avoid high-fibre ones like beans and cabbage - to prevent bloating). Be sure to drink enough - water or tea - it's quite possible you are dehydrated. After long term diarrhea it is also possible you have anemia and some vitamin/mineral deficiences. You should have a blood test for this and take appropriate supplements if needed. All this is to feel not so tired. If gluten-free diet will help it speaks for celiac disease so just continue it. It may take some weeks to see further improvement.
Where did they found "wrinkles and severe inflammation" - in the stomach or in the colon?
Cryptosporidium can be attracted by food poisoning and it can cause inflammation of the colon, small intestine or bile ducts. Ova and parasites test is often false negative so three stool samples from three bowel movements (at least one day appart) have to be given to the lab for repeated testing. In positive test you would need treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Intestinal parasites may appear with diarrhea (with mucus - translucent jelly-like substance that disintegrate in water quickly), bloating, and weight loss. Blood test often shows elevated eosiniphils (a type of white blood cells) and IgE antibodies.
You would also need a fecal fat test to see if you are losing fats with the stool - this could be the cause of losing weight and all other symptoms you have.
Two mentioned stool tests are important to distinguish between parasites and fat malabsorption. If you excrete excessive amount of fats, stool would be floating, foamy, whitish and STICKY.
Did they find gallstones in the gallbladder? If not then maybe only the function of gb was impaired. Or function of the main bile duct or its sphincter may be still impaired and causing your symptoms. This would need another endoscopy (called ERCP) during which the bile duct would be checked. This bile duct disorder would cause right upper abdominal pain - just below the lower right rib.
---------------------
Again, drink enough water or tea. Avoid fruit juices and soda. Avoid plums, prunes, apples, pears, mango, papaya, peaches, appricots, cherries - all these may cause bloating.
I was wondering if cryptosprdium can cause any other problems....i had it for a long time, i know it messed up my gall bladder, but can do any effect on anything else? I have been tested for it again and i dont have it, the doc says i have ibs, which i think they tell that to everyone when they cant figure out whats wrong. I have been tested for crohns about 2 years ago ad was negative. Could i be having problems from my gall bladder removal? This celiac diest seems to make me feel better, but this morning i had som gluten free bread and apple sauce, and about an hour later i had explosive diherra, and it was very stringy or tarry looking, but it wasnt black or red. Im tired of going to the doctors, i dont have very good insurance, and it seems like im always paying bills, but i just want to feel better. Another thing is that im always gassy, VERY GASSY! But it stays in my stomach, my stromacj makes so many sounds, almosty like a moaning sound thats very loud, and it happens all the time. Sorry im typing so much, no one i know understands what this does to me, cause i use to be so helathy, the crypto changed my life. I lifted weights and was very toned my whole life, then i lost 45 pounds in about 4 months....and i still cant gain any weight.......its just kinda depressing
Floating stools, if due to mucus are probably from parasites - cryptosporidium or other. Ova & parasites test and appropriate antibiotic - this is what you need if this is the case.
Floating stools, if whitish, sticky, foamy may be due to increased fat content due to fat malabsorption that can be due to:
- intestinal inflammation, including celiac disease or Crohn's disease
- stones in the main bile duct
- pancreatitis
- liver disease
The first thing to do: ova and parasites stool test. Mucus typically appear in the stool in parasites.
Floating stools, if whitish, sticky, foamy may be due to increased fat content due to fat malabsorption that can be due to:
- intestinal inflammation, including celiac disease or Crohn's disease
- stones in the main bile duct
- pancreatitis
- liver disease
The first thing to do: ova and parasites stool test. Mucus typically appear in the stool in parasites.
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