Undiagnosed Stomach Problems! Help!

[elisabeth570]

I went to the doctor recently thinking I had a bad stomach bug, but the doctor thought it may have been my gallbladder. We went through all the tests (ultrasound and HIDA Scan) and they were all normal. We went through a lactose intolerance and it wasn't that, also tested to the gluton intolerance and many of the other normal culprits like IBD were ruled out with blood tests.

My symptoms have been pretty consistent throughout this entire month of being ill. My first and most debilitating complaint is constant nausea (no vomiting, I tend to avoid it all costs, but I would have otherwise), feeling full after only eating small amounts (but attributed that to not eating much at all), and feeling full for hours and hours (going to bed feeling like I just ate a 6 course meal), abdominal pain and cramping, alternating bouts of diarrhea and painful constipation, loud gurgling sounds, lots of burping. I occasionally will regurgitate food with my burps, I've had acid reflux the entire duration, worse in the mornings, but I noticed that my burps later on in the day, I regurgitate some acid with tastes from that morning's breakfast (sorry about the detail). I think that covers it...

I've been diagnosed with IBS and was given Belladonna/Phenobarbital which for a week worked magic, but soon I built up a tolerance to it and had to up the dosage again and again before giving up and weening off it it. Now I have Promethazine for the nausea (I reach for that most) and to top it off, I've developed some sever anxiety about my every day activities (I have quit my job since this all started; I rarely leave the house and surviving on breakfast cereal with soymilk, toast, and chicken noodle soup. During my last appointment, my doctor said he would do some reading and get back to me.

I had been on anti-depressants after a similar bout of 3 months of stomach issues about 4 years ago, but stopped taking them two months ago because they caused a rapid heart rate. My doctor gave me Ativan in the mean time.

Could this be something more serious? I used the Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker and Gastroparesis was at the top of the list. Is it possible I have IBS and Gastroparesis? How do I approach my doctor with this? What else could this be?  I'm desperate for answers. I'm rapidly losing weight, and it's unintentional, I'm just unable to eat without being uncomfortable.  

[patient915]

It is a good idea to ask your doctor for the true report, however be careful when you read the report.  The radiologist doesn't know you or your symptoms and if you see what the radiologist wrote, and then you google it, it will cause you lots of stress.  Did you talk to your doctor about a gastric emptying scan?

[elisabeth570]

I thought I'd give you an update.  I spoke with my doctor who recommended a CT scan (abdominal and pelvic) and then to come see him.  I thought we were finally getting somewhere.  The results are in--they were normal.  Yet another setback.  I like my doctor though, more than many others I've had, and he is still invested with me.

Here's my question: what is NORMAL?  It's my understanding that results of a CT scan are read by a radiologist, typed up, and sent to my doctor--with detail.  Not just "everything's normal."  

The same happened with my HIDA scan for my gallbladder.  Results were "negative."  Negative??  Shouldn't I have received a number or something?  

I'm seeing my doctor again tomorrow--I might inquire about all of these so-called "negative" and "normal" test results...

[patient915]

Sounds like a good idea.  However, I would recommend avoiding cheese as it is high in fat and can be difficult to digest.

[elisabeth570]

Thanks so much for your advice.  Tomorrow is Monday--so I am calling my doctor first thing in the morning to schedule an appointment.  I hope he is willing to do this test--he seemed very perplexed when I last left the doctor's office on Thursday.  

I have stopped the Belladonna/Phenobarbital because I'm afraid it may interact with the Ativan I was prescribed.  The main medication I reach for is my Promethazine and my ginger capsules to help with the unending nausea.  

It's hard to eat much of anything.  Today I just had some toast and then a cheese sandwich--because I was diagnosed with IBS first, my fiance is pushing all of this roughage and high-fiber foods and raw fruits...no thank you!  It's difficult to eat when your stomach is still recovering from its last trauma, I mean, meal.  

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  It does sound like gastroparesis like me.  I would recommend asking your doctor for a gastric emptying scan to see about this.  In the mean time I would avoid Phenobarbital as this can be very addicting.  I would also recommend eating a low-fiber, low-fat diet and eating small frequent meals.