gastroparesis

[darkbutterfly]

I have had colon problems now for almost ten years.  I am a 28 year old female, who has a strong history of colon cancer within the family(my dad passed from it at 34 years of age).  I have had one polyp removed when I was 18.  When I turned 24 I began having horrible pain, vomitting and diahrrea out of no where.  It was a constant thing, so I was admitted to the hospital and had my gallbladder removed.  I felt better for about three weeks, until this all  started again.  I have had episodes of this with pain that disables me from daily activity.  About two years ago, I was diagnosed with C Diff(I am an x ray tech).  I got it from clyndimyacin.  It went undiagnosed for two months, and finally upon diagnosis, I had 48 to 72 hours to live.  I was in the ICU for 8 days, and step down another 6 days.  I was told if things didnt turn around, I would have to have my colon removed.  I told them to let me die if it came down to that.  I was put on heavy doses of vancomycin, and sent home on the drug for another month, three times daily.  I can not take antibiotics anymore because they cause C Diff almost instantly.  I have had it two other times since the first incident, however not bad enough to be hospitalized for.  
I began having terrible pain and vomitting and diahrrea daily after I was released from the hospital.  I have been admitted countless times for dehydration, pain and uncontrolled vomiting and diahrrea.  It is at the point where I have been flagged as a drug seeker, which I am not.  I was in pain management for the pain symptoms, but have since stopped seeing that doctor.  My GI doctor did a capsule endoscopy last March, and found I had delayed gastric emptying.  I would eat and 12 hours later, throw up what I ate.  He has since put me on phenergen and librax for this problem.  I have been checked for ulcerative colitis, crohns, you name it.  They have all come back normal.  I have had countless EGDs and colonoscopies that reveal nothing.  I did have a recent hospital visit where another EGD was preformed, and they found a hiatal hernia.  I also showed mesenteric adenitis on a CT scan that was done.
My GI is at wits end, and is now referring me to the Cleveland Clinic for further evaluation.
I am just wondering if the severe C Diff I had caused gastroparesis, or having a cholecystectomy?  I have had my appendix removed also.  I am not diabetic, and have no thyroid conditons that would cause gastroparesis.  It is unknown why I have it.  I am in constant pain(lower abdominal) and have acutally lost jobs due to being ill.  I need help and some answers.  If you have any answers or treatments that may work, please, I am begging someone to help me.  Thank you

[Momofkidneyfighter]

C-Diff can definitely cause gastroparesis. My 4 year old son had c-diff for 4 weeks, Drs done a stool sample and caught it. His stomach stopped working and was very distended because of it. Had to have PICC line put in because he couldn’t tolerate tube feeds. We are at day 34 and stomach still not working.

[darkbutterfly]

thank you for the insight on my issues.  My husband is gluten intolerant, with mild celiac disease, so we dont eat gluten usually.  I have tested negative for celiac disease, but have tried the gluten free diet.  I have tried a fiber free diet.  I just went to a world reknown GI doctor yesterday, and there are so many things to consider.  Since my father died so young of cancer, she wants to scope me and biopsy in the exact same area his cancer started.  My mother had to sign to get the records from 1985, when he passed.  There could be a genetic link to all of this, and I just dont know it yet.  I could be going through what were the first stages he went through.  This could go wild and develope into cancer, especially since my most recent CT showed inflamed lymph nodes in the right side of the colon.  My system is fighting something, but no one knows what.  I am doing some C Diff testing again, starting today.  If there is no link between the inflamed nodes and C Diff, then they are going to lean toward some sort of cancer, or early detection of crohns or ulcerative colitis.  I was also diagnosed with cyclic vomitting syndrome.  I was put on a new medication for the gastroparesis and the cramping, and severe pain I am having.  I cant recall what it is called at the moment, but there is a risk that one in one thousand women die from this drug, because it can cause bowel ischemia.  I had to sign a waver saying the risks out weigh the benefits.  Its a scary thing.  But I have to do another gastric emptying test to see how bad the gastroparesis is, and if it is bad enough, then  I can have a pace maker put in that sends impulses to the stomach making it easier to digest food.  So many options and so much to think about.  Thanks for the help!!!!

[CalGal]

I haven't heard of any correlation between C. diff and gastroparesis, although I suppose it can't be discounted.

I know you've been checked for a number of different condtions, and you may have been checked for celiac, but I'm wondering if you'd be willing to give a gluten-free diet a try? Many people believe that celiac issues should show up in tests, but that's not always the case. And the pain, vomiting and diarrhea you're having do fit with some of the symptoms that many individuals have, although admittedly those symptoms can also be found in a number of other illnesses so you'd being trying an exclusion diet strictly to rule out the possibility. To exclude celiac you'd have to avoid wheat, rye, barley, oats and malt for at least a couple of weeks.

There's also a test could be used, although many docs apparently don't think much of it. On the other hand, many 'silent' and latent celiacs bless its coming into existence - it was the only way they actually knew what they had. It's the fecal antibody test through enterolab.com. It should be teamed with the allele (genetic) testing to find out what genes are being carried.

I can't say the gastroparesis would 'fit' with celiac issues, but some who are celiac find that food will just 'sit' in the stomach for a few hours. My  husband was one who found that happening to him.