Aa
stomach problems for years-undiagnosed
Hi all,
Does any of this sound familiar/any ideas about a diagnosis?
It started about 10yrs ago with a sudden intolerance to alcohol. The morning after having a few drinks I'd feel really sick, anything I ate would just 'sit' in my stomach making me feel nauseous and the only relief came from making myself throw up. I stopped drinking but then about a year later I began having the same symptoms, even though I wasn't consuming alcohol- I'd wake up feeling 'toxic' and sick, jittery, uncomfortable. If I made myself vomit I felt better.
Over the years the symptoms have worsened and now I'm sick all of the time. I feel the worst after sleeping, whether it's from sleeping all night or just taking a quick nap- sleeping makes me feel sick(er).
I've been diagnosed with everything from Gastroparesis to IBS- no treatment works. The Gastroparesis test, BTW, first showed my stomach was diagnosing at 25% the normal rate. I stopped taking the med prescribed b/c it was taken off the market and didn't seem to be helping anyway. Years later the same test showed total normal digesting (100% normal rate).
So, now I have to induce vomiting (not food, I throw up before eating anything) to feel any relief of symptoms. The vomiting is bringing less and less relief.
*****When I throw up it's usually lots of bile- bright yellowish green with a horribly bitter taste, very distinctive. Over the years there's more and more bile when I throw up. The doctors say it's normal to vomit bile, but when I'm feeling esp. sick ('toxic'- as if I've spent a night drinking too much though I don't drink alcohol anymore, jittery, a little nauseous, jumpy, uncomfortable all over, tired, tightness in the chest, burning sensation in my stomach, flu-like symptoms, some pain in the stomach esp. upper right side) there's always LOTS of bile when I throw up.
I do not have an eating disorder. It's not anxiety. I've been bounced from gastro to psych many times and each time I see a psychiatrist he/she says 'this isn't psych. related, this sounds like a physical problem'.
I've had sev. tests but no results, everything is normal. The tests don't seem to be addressing the problem though. I've had endoscopies, gastric emptying, ultrasounds, and numerous blood work to check for diff. things.
I don't have reflux symptoms, though occasionally if I'm feeling esp. symptomatic I'll have a little bit of bile reflux- this is rare though.
I have chronic tenderness on my right side, upper right esp., and the right side of my stomach seems to 'bulge out' a little.
My stools are often light with mucous on them. I'm underweight, about 30 pounds down from my normal weight. I have no appetite these days.
A few years ago my doctor prescribed methadone for unrelated pain (and not drug habit related)- it was like a miracle cure. I was symptom free for sev. months as long as I kept a full stomach, but then the symptoms returned without explanation.
I'm looking at the Mayo Clinic right now. My doctor made a referral but of course my HMO denied it. I have to appeal the decision. Things are so bad I'm having trouble working, I've had to drop out of grad school, the only thing I want to do is lie down b/c I feel so sick all of the time, except for the few hours after I make myself throw up- then I have a little relief but as I said that's becoming less and less helpful. I try not to throw up too much b/c of the damage it's doing to my teeth and fears of what it's doing to my esophagus. The last time I had an endoscopy it showed I have a hiatal hernia. It's also becoming more difficult to induce vomiting. It's a chore, one that I loathe. I hate it, and I'm miserable. I'm also so frustrated with my doctors and the whole healthcare system. I need to be in a diagnostic hospital setting where an aggressive approach can be taken to diagnosing whatever's going on.
Can anyone relate to these symptoms? Does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? A psychic (I know, sounds sketchy) said it's related to my pancreas though my doctor says bloodwork has ruled out pancreatic problems.
Thanks for reading. Any responses would be welcomed.
Does any of this sound familiar/any ideas about a diagnosis?
It started about 10yrs ago with a sudden intolerance to alcohol. The morning after having a few drinks I'd feel really sick, anything I ate would just 'sit' in my stomach making me feel nauseous and the only relief came from making myself throw up. I stopped drinking but then about a year later I began having the same symptoms, even though I wasn't consuming alcohol- I'd wake up feeling 'toxic' and sick, jittery, uncomfortable. If I made myself vomit I felt better.
Over the years the symptoms have worsened and now I'm sick all of the time. I feel the worst after sleeping, whether it's from sleeping all night or just taking a quick nap- sleeping makes me feel sick(er).
I've been diagnosed with everything from Gastroparesis to IBS- no treatment works. The Gastroparesis test, BTW, first showed my stomach was diagnosing at 25% the normal rate. I stopped taking the med prescribed b/c it was taken off the market and didn't seem to be helping anyway. Years later the same test showed total normal digesting (100% normal rate).
So, now I have to induce vomiting (not food, I throw up before eating anything) to feel any relief of symptoms. The vomiting is bringing less and less relief.
*****When I throw up it's usually lots of bile- bright yellowish green with a horribly bitter taste, very distinctive. Over the years there's more and more bile when I throw up. The doctors say it's normal to vomit bile, but when I'm feeling esp. sick ('toxic'- as if I've spent a night drinking too much though I don't drink alcohol anymore, jittery, a little nauseous, jumpy, uncomfortable all over, tired, tightness in the chest, burning sensation in my stomach, flu-like symptoms, some pain in the stomach esp. upper right side) there's always LOTS of bile when I throw up.
I do not have an eating disorder. It's not anxiety. I've been bounced from gastro to psych many times and each time I see a psychiatrist he/she says 'this isn't psych. related, this sounds like a physical problem'.
I've had sev. tests but no results, everything is normal. The tests don't seem to be addressing the problem though. I've had endoscopies, gastric emptying, ultrasounds, and numerous blood work to check for diff. things.
I don't have reflux symptoms, though occasionally if I'm feeling esp. symptomatic I'll have a little bit of bile reflux- this is rare though.
I have chronic tenderness on my right side, upper right esp., and the right side of my stomach seems to 'bulge out' a little.
My stools are often light with mucous on them. I'm underweight, about 30 pounds down from my normal weight. I have no appetite these days.
A few years ago my doctor prescribed methadone for unrelated pain (and not drug habit related)- it was like a miracle cure. I was symptom free for sev. months as long as I kept a full stomach, but then the symptoms returned without explanation.
I'm looking at the Mayo Clinic right now. My doctor made a referral but of course my HMO denied it. I have to appeal the decision. Things are so bad I'm having trouble working, I've had to drop out of grad school, the only thing I want to do is lie down b/c I feel so sick all of the time, except for the few hours after I make myself throw up- then I have a little relief but as I said that's becoming less and less helpful. I try not to throw up too much b/c of the damage it's doing to my teeth and fears of what it's doing to my esophagus. The last time I had an endoscopy it showed I have a hiatal hernia. It's also becoming more difficult to induce vomiting. It's a chore, one that I loathe. I hate it, and I'm miserable. I'm also so frustrated with my doctors and the whole healthcare system. I need to be in a diagnostic hospital setting where an aggressive approach can be taken to diagnosing whatever's going on.
Can anyone relate to these symptoms? Does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? A psychic (I know, sounds sketchy) said it's related to my pancreas though my doctor says bloodwork has ruled out pancreatic problems.
Thanks for reading. Any responses would be welcomed.
Georgia,
Hang in there. My symptoms appeared twelve years ago after drinking too much. I'd occasionally get sick after drinking too much, but after about eight years the symptoms would appear after just a drop of alcohol (e.g. in tiramisu, or from cider vinegar in food, or from an old peach). No symptoms would appear immediately, but would happen in the morning upon waking up. I'd have a distinct kind of neck ache/ headache/ general body ache. Then nausea would set in. Within an hour I'd start vomiting every 15-30 minutes for about twelve hours. After dry heaving enough, bile would come up eventually, usually at the end of those twelve hours. The only thing to do for that time was curl up on my side in bed; lying on my back would make the nausea more acute.
At first, I was afraid of getting too dehydrated, so I'd try to drink a little water. But drinking even a tiny amount would cause me to vomit quicker and heavier. If I was lucky and noticed it first thing in the morning -- right away -- then I could prevent the nausea with a perchlorperazine pill (which countered the nausea) which would stay down in that hour or so before the nausea started.
I visited two doctors, each of whom simply suggested avoiding alcohol. I had a couple blood tests a few years ago, which yielded nothing. My blood sugar is fine, liver is perfect, and am generally in perfect health. (I'm also quite skinny, but have been for most of my life.) Both doctors said they could start a battery of tests which ultimately could yield nothing. I declined. But in the last several months I've gotten sick for no apparent reason (unless there was some small amount of alcohol in something I ate, which I doubt but can't totally confirm).
Lots of people have this same exact, undiagnosed condition. But it sounds like yours is more drastic.
I'm seeing an acupuncturist this week, and maybe another Chinese medicine specialist. I'll let you know.
Be strong. Take care,
Ken
Hang in there. My symptoms appeared twelve years ago after drinking too much. I'd occasionally get sick after drinking too much, but after about eight years the symptoms would appear after just a drop of alcohol (e.g. in tiramisu, or from cider vinegar in food, or from an old peach). No symptoms would appear immediately, but would happen in the morning upon waking up. I'd have a distinct kind of neck ache/ headache/ general body ache. Then nausea would set in. Within an hour I'd start vomiting every 15-30 minutes for about twelve hours. After dry heaving enough, bile would come up eventually, usually at the end of those twelve hours. The only thing to do for that time was curl up on my side in bed; lying on my back would make the nausea more acute.
At first, I was afraid of getting too dehydrated, so I'd try to drink a little water. But drinking even a tiny amount would cause me to vomit quicker and heavier. If I was lucky and noticed it first thing in the morning -- right away -- then I could prevent the nausea with a perchlorperazine pill (which countered the nausea) which would stay down in that hour or so before the nausea started.
I visited two doctors, each of whom simply suggested avoiding alcohol. I had a couple blood tests a few years ago, which yielded nothing. My blood sugar is fine, liver is perfect, and am generally in perfect health. (I'm also quite skinny, but have been for most of my life.) Both doctors said they could start a battery of tests which ultimately could yield nothing. I declined. But in the last several months I've gotten sick for no apparent reason (unless there was some small amount of alcohol in something I ate, which I doubt but can't totally confirm).
Lots of people have this same exact, undiagnosed condition. But it sounds like yours is more drastic.
I'm seeing an acupuncturist this week, and maybe another Chinese medicine specialist. I'll let you know.
Be strong. Take care,
Ken
Jessie,
I forgot to ask, did the surgeon say why your gallbladder was so scarred and inflamed? Did you ever get a cause for the problems with your gallbladder? I'd like to know. My right side has been tender for years-seemingly in accordance with when this all started and it's only gotten worse. There's a def. protrudance on my R side- most of my stomach 'sticks out' a bit on the R with that whole area being tender to the touch/push. Docs say this is normal (???) which doesn't make sense-I would think it would be worth investigating.
I was in the ER the other night with spasms on the R side. The head of the ER ordered a CAT scan and an ultrasound and I thought "finally, maybe I'll get some answers". Your post came at a good time:) If they both come up normal I won't feel quite so discouraged.
I forgot to ask, did the surgeon say why your gallbladder was so scarred and inflamed? Did you ever get a cause for the problems with your gallbladder? I'd like to know. My right side has been tender for years-seemingly in accordance with when this all started and it's only gotten worse. There's a def. protrudance on my R side- most of my stomach 'sticks out' a bit on the R with that whole area being tender to the touch/push. Docs say this is normal (???) which doesn't make sense-I would think it would be worth investigating.
I was in the ER the other night with spasms on the R side. The head of the ER ordered a CAT scan and an ultrasound and I thought "finally, maybe I'll get some answers". Your post came at a good time:) If they both come up normal I won't feel quite so discouraged.
Hey, I'm sorry you're going through what I'm going through. Nice to know you're not alone though right?
Please read the above post to Jessie76 for a possible solution.
I'll be sure to keep YOU posted as far as any treatments or tests, I promise. And read Jessie's post to me about the HIDA test.
Best, Georgia.
Please read the above post to Jessie76 for a possible solution.
I'll be sure to keep YOU posted as far as any treatments or tests, I promise. And read Jessie's post to me about the HIDA test.
Best, Georgia.
Thanks for the advice Jessie (and just for commenting!). I will absolutely ask my doc. about the HIDA test.
A friend who is a homeopathic internist has offered to take on my case for free. A very generous friend! She's already prescribed peppermint oil to dissolve any gallstones that might be blocking the liver/bile duct (I'm sure I'm butchering the physiology around her reasoning). We'll see what happens. The peppermint oil I found at the local community pharmacy has alcohol in it, part of the distilling process so I'm taking Solray's Gallstonex which is made with artichoke and peppermint as the 2 main ingred. After 2 days I do feel a LITTLE better. Could be a placebo effect, may not have taken it long enough for stones to dissolve. Still lots of bright yellow/green bile when I vomit.
The alcohol thing is so hard to describe but it's not in my head. I've had times where I've eaten something, usually a dessert (rum drizzled over a cake, etc.) without knowing there was alcohol in it, only to feel very sick hours later. No hives though. Just the jittery, jumpy, toxic, 'unwell' feeling.
A friend who is a homeopathic internist has offered to take on my case for free. A very generous friend! She's already prescribed peppermint oil to dissolve any gallstones that might be blocking the liver/bile duct (I'm sure I'm butchering the physiology around her reasoning). We'll see what happens. The peppermint oil I found at the local community pharmacy has alcohol in it, part of the distilling process so I'm taking Solray's Gallstonex which is made with artichoke and peppermint as the 2 main ingred. After 2 days I do feel a LITTLE better. Could be a placebo effect, may not have taken it long enough for stones to dissolve. Still lots of bright yellow/green bile when I vomit.
The alcohol thing is so hard to describe but it's not in my head. I've had times where I've eaten something, usually a dessert (rum drizzled over a cake, etc.) without knowing there was alcohol in it, only to feel very sick hours later. No hives though. Just the jittery, jumpy, toxic, 'unwell' feeling.
Man, I read that, and I thought I wrote it!!!! Unfortunately, I am in the EXACT same boat, as far as being misdiagnosed- and am still at a loss. And they just keep passing me from doctor to doctor- so I cannot offer any advice- only wanted u to know, there is someone just like you throwing up every morning of my life- 30 lbs. under weight (if one more person say, "OH, you are SO skinny!!", I feel I may choke them)....pooin mucus, bile, and lots of other odd looking stuff...LOL, smile through the pain...Good Luck, I hope you get it figured out, if u do, please put up a posting so maybe I can get soem help too!!
oh, I almost forgot, the reason this sparked an interest, was your beginning statement about the alcohol. I developed an intolerance to alcohol in 2005, I had drank thru high school and college with no problems, then for 2 years I was breaking out in hives every day (I was drinking every day). I ended up in the ER 3 times in anaphalactic shock, long story short, I stopped drinking and stopped breaking out. Even now if I have one beer or drink of any kind I immediately get jello-y all over and feel like my veins are transporting fire to my arms and legs, I feel my stomach burn and get nauseated, and 15 minutes later I have hives. Maybe it is linked somehow, I don't know, but I don't hear many people have problems with drinking and we have some other similarities, I wish I had looked into my gallbladder Years ago!! Best of Luck, Jessie
I am sorry for what you are going through. I feel silly asking, but have they checked your gallbladder? You mentioned pain on the right side and that is where pain usually is with gallbladder problems. I have been having problems with my stomach all my life, constant nausea, no food settled right, although I never induced vomitting (I hate throwing up more than feeling nauseaus, but vomitting prob would have relieved the feeling) It has been going on for years and years and I kept getting different diagnosis, I had ulcers in my stomach & duodenum, hiatal hernia, acid reflux, enlarged pancreas, kidney stone disease (which is how they explained the right side pain) finally I saw my urologist and he palpated where your gallbladder is located and I was VERY tender, he sent me straight to the surgeon and even though my tests showed no problems with the gallbladder, (the last test they did, the HIDA showed a low %) he removed it and said it was severely scarred and inflammed. I had several ultrasounds & showed no stones and normal, had a CT, normal again, but I would not give up, I was in the ER 3 times in a month, finally I told them to do the HIDA, but they still said it was ok at 31%, the surgeon knew so much, he said sometimes the tests don't show and when you have all the symptoms and are sensitive you have to go by that and I am so glad I listened. I am still recovering and there are some drawbacks at first, but I am no longer nauseated, just having issues with diarhea, which is normal. Anyway, the right pain and the bile makes me think maybe it would be worth checking into. Good luck, I hope you can work out the Mayo Clinic, please let us know how you are doing
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