Ouch! Please Help!

[HelpSarahDotCom]

Hi, I'm Sarah,

I am in pain almost every day without fail!

I've been to my doctors soo many times and they have NEVER done any kind of tests, they also make me feel as if I'm being the pain and wasting their time.

They've told me I've got IBS, even though all the different tablets they have prescribed to help haven't helped at all!

I've tried Peppermint Tea before I eat - no improvement.

Charcoal tablets - no change

Buscopan - no change

Heat pad - helps sometimes

Here are my symptoms, not sure if they are all linked, I'm hoping you can tell me...

- breathing hurts when pain comes
- diarrhoea one day, constipation the next (or sometimes even in the same day)
- acid reflux
- I'd say  'severe' abdominal pain almost daily
- somedays I have terrible wind (& pain, which I can identify as trapped wind)
- Belly Button Pain, as if something is being pushed into it/pulling it open
- severe bloating all of a sudden, which disappears suddenly anything upto a hour after starting
-I bloat around 2 or 3 trouser sizes up, my size 14 trousers can go from lose fitting to rolling down and cutting into my lower abdo
- shooting pain through my body like lightening
- navel discharge
- very low abdo pain - if pain is higher it's never above my belt button (unless it's wind)
- unable to lose weight despite ttrying for 2/3 years with just fluctuating weight as a result!
- IBS, I've tryed to link the food I eat with the pain starting with no patterns!
- the doctors checked a 3 week food diary, only to tell me keep trying to determine what causes the pain.

I would be grateful for any help, I'm soo fed up with being in pain and being uncomfortable in my everyday work clothes.

Sarah

[TheLightSeeker]

Hey Sarah,

Please bear with me for just a bit longer as I thought of a couple more things.
The espresso coffee I just had, gave a me a burst of mental energy! lol!

A simpler test for low acid.
Self-test  for low stomach acid  :
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold water first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything.
Drink the baking soda solution.
Time how long it takes you to belch. Time up to five minutes.
If you have not belched within five minutes stop timing.
Repeat 3 consecutive days.
If belching starts within 2-3 minutes, then theoretically the stomach acid level is adequate and if it takes any longer than 3 minutes then it indicates low acid level.

Also Leaky Gut Syndrome slowly disrupts adrenal/hormonal function.
You may benefit from having a complete hormonal panel.
A good Endo will help you with this, but it helps if you have knowledge,
as this field of medicine also, is very inefficient, to say the least, when it comes to anything complex. And what isn't when it comes to adrenals? lol!
If you want to learn more about adrenal function, adrenal fatigue etc.
visit Dr. Lam's adrenal fatigue website for a good tutorial.

After all, we are are own best healers, they say.

Have a nice day!
Niko

[TheLightSeeker]

Sarah,


(Some of the following info is copied and pasted from some of my responses to other members)

Low acid
Self-test 2 for low stomach acid  Source: from a specific carbohydrate diet lifestyle article.
(My daughter had a similar one suggested by her Naturopath in the past.)
Buy some Betaine HCL with pepsin
Eat a high protein meal of at least 6 ounces of meat (if you eat meat)
In the middle of meal take 1 Betaine HCL pill 650mg or less
Finish your meal as normal and pay attention to your body
There’s really only 2 outcomes from this test.

The first is that you won’t notice anything, as you go about your normal life after the meal nothing will change.  This means it is very likely you have low stomach acid levels.
If as you go about your normal life and start to feel stomach distress characterized as heaviness, burning, or hotness – then these are signs that you don’t have low acid levels.

These tests are only indicative of low acid levels, but by no means 100% diagnostic.

Gut Dysbiosis/ Leaky Gut Syndrome
In gut dysbiosis and leaky gut syndrome, the gut mucosa is inflammed and becomes permeable, so
Proteins, bacteria, viruses, and fungi (which produce mycotoxins in their overgrowth stage) that ordinarily would not get in, enter the bloodstream and tissues of the body. The body considers these as foreign and thus starts an immune response and over time, if this does not get corrected timely, it manifests as auto-immune disease, affecting any part or system of the body!
Here's a study pertinent to this.
Journal of Infection and Immunity. 1993;61:619-626

There's a simple urine test available for Leaky Gut Syndrome: mannito/lactulose test


Test for low thyroid 2
The Barnes Basal temperature(BBTT test is very simple to do.
Just find an old type of thermometer and do it before you get up.
Make sure it's ready so you don't need to shake it in the morning and if sleeping with your husband/partner and close enough, you may have a higher reading!
It's recommended that you measure your left underarm temperature for ten days straight, first thing in the morning before doing anything else at all!  Any activity of any kind raises body temperature and invalidates the results.   If menstruating, you should start this ten-day period on the third day of your cycle.

The underarm temperature is actually lower than that measured under the tongue so 36.6-36.8C is considered normal in the BBTT. Anything below 36.6C is considered an indicator of possible underactive thyroid function while anything above 36.8C could indicate an overactive thyroid (although of course it may be a sign of infection and fever or other problems).
Again most doctors do not check this!
You normally get blood work, that will not reveal type 2.  

If the symptoms are not extreme, you may have a mild or moderate thyroid issue, something again that gets overlooked!

The other thing that you may want to look into is low potassium
and high calcium, as this combination can give you many hypothyroid
symptoms, b/c the body is not utilizing the thyroid hormones properly.
Re-establishing  mineral balance may help in many different ways.
Does not show in standard thyroid testing!

Yeast Infection/Candida
To test: leave a tall glass of water by your night-table. Upon waking up spit generously into the glass.
After 20 minutes if spit becomes long & stringy, or
sinks to the bottom of the glass, you probably have Candida (yeast infection).
Sinking spit is worse than stringy and floating, I believe. Do a YouTube search for more details.
To remedy:
a.Coconut oil (extra virgin organic) in place of cooking oils 2T daily, work up to 4T daily in 2-3 weeks.
Greatest antifungal-much better than ANY anti-fungal drug! I've seen the studies.
(I have read 3 books on the benefits of coconut oil)
b. Anti-candida diet. Avoid sugars(including artificial)
carbs, alcohol, fermented foods, dairy (some people are OK with yogurt).
c.  High quality prebiotics and probiotics.
I have taken the Progressive Nutritionals HCP®Synbiotic kit, which I found to be one of the best ones on the market.
Only given as a resource for information, as this is manufactured in Canada.
d. Lower stress levels! Stress and yeast infections
go hand in hand (stress on its own is a factor that
may contribute to the development and exasperation of many symptoms.

Allergies/Sensitivities/Intolerance
Dr. Coca's Pulse Test, it's a free download, and it will indicate within a week,any reactivity, any allergies, any intolerance and sensitivity to anything ingested,that is considered offensive by the immune system.
It is a great self-test, for the degree of accuracy, however, should you find it too difficult to do because of your schedule perhaps, there's a simplified version that I can send you, as second option.
Never mind; It takes just an extra minute. Here it is:
Dr. Cocoa's Pulse Test (simplified version)Just sit in a chair and come to rest for about 5 minutes. Take your pulse for a full 1 minute (not the 15 sec. multiply by 4 thing). Then put whatever you want to test in your mouth and chew it for 30 seconds. Then take your pulse again. If you find it is faster by 6 beats, you are allergic or have a sensitivity to it. If you have type “O” blood, use 4 beats as the criteria instead of 6. It’s that simple.

And finally -I'm known for my notoriously long posts lol!
B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 injections must be Methyl-cobalamin and NOT Cyanocoblamin
as the Cyanide portion binds to potassium from your body and a new very toxic chemical - Potassium Cyanide- accumulates in the body, releasing hydrogen cyanide gas, a highly toxic chemical asphyxiant that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen. Source: CDC
Cyanocobalamin is a cheaper form of B12. Avoid it and do not accept any assurances, indicating otherwise.
If you must pay extra, then you may consider to supplement on your own with sublingual methyl-cobalamin drops (most bio-available form)
It takes time to correct B12 deficiencies.

Please read this post carefully, there's a lot of valuable info here,
do your own research and should you decide to do some of these tests,
just feel free to post again or pm me for any details or advice, if you need.
Cheers!
Niko

[HelpSarahDotCom]

Hi

Thank you both for your thoughts, they are much appreciated as nothing said sounds life threatening.

I have always been concerned that I have what some sort of cancer or growth but that's probably because my mum was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer (ovaries) the doctors found it after her having it for 15 years! And apparently most ppl can only live with it upto 20 years.

She is ok now but has to be checked regularly.

The discharge from my belly button is sort of white/clear, really smelly.
And I do have my belly button pierced and have done for almost 4 years now, the piercing itself isn't painful/having discharge its coming from inside my belly button.

I have been tested for thyroid function as I have complained to the doctors a lot about not being able to lose weight and the test came back fine.

It's interesting that you mention about malabsorption of vitamins as I have to have vitamin B12 injections every 3 months.

The doctors don't know whether it's tissue or organ pain but I'd say the pain comes from inside my body not on the outside.

I alsO have problems with periods, the last couple of years I have had bleeding whilst taking the 3 weeks worth of pills, this used to happen if I didn't take it at the same time each day but even with taking it at the same time every day, I get spotting.

I also had a smear test this year which was ok but it made me bleed for 6 days afterward. And the nurse was very gentle. As she knew I have pain during sex.

I'd say my acid reflux is low not high.

Do you mean tests I could do at home?
Because I would like to try them if that's what you ment.

Sarah

[TheLightSeeker]

Hi Sarah and Natalie.

FYI
No one, not even a doctor can diagnose, here.
A diagnosis can only take place when the all the diagnostic criteria have been met, and this is dictated and governed by the various medical boards
and health authorities in the various regions and countries, wherever the patient lives.
Online diagnosing is therefore, is unethical, improper, possibly illegal and potentially dangerous.
Any advice given here, even by medical doctors, is just an opinion.
With this understanding, we are here to receive or offer information for educational purposes and share experiences, offer support etc.

Your observation, Natalie, leading to the PID suspicion, is well supported,
except for  diarrhoea/constipation, acid reflux, excessive bloating, painful belly button & inability to lose weight.

The suspicion for Urachal Cyst is  possible, however, considering the
surrounding circumstances and history, a yeast imbalance causing this symptom is more probable.

Sarah,
A condition, that encompasses almost all the symptoms is Gut Dysbiosis/Leaky Gut Syndome, caused by an underlying yeast infection
(candida).
As far as the acid reflux goes, low acid and high acid levels present similar symptoms!
Low acid levels increase intestinal permeability-leading to Leaky Gut Syndome-, which in turn negatively affects thyroid function in several ways, thus the inability to lose weight. Other low acid symptoms include heartburn, indigestion including undigested food in intestines and stool , bloating, abdominal pain and discomfort,and more.
Low stomach acid causes gastrointestinal overgrowth of pathogens, Malabsorption of minerals, vitamins and amino acids, and food sensitivities.

If you want to pursue this further, I'm very familiar with the simple tests to verify my above suspicions. The good news is, that if indeed , you verify that you have Candida, Low acid, Gut Dysbiosis/Leaky Gut Syndrome,
there's a good possibility of a complete cure, so just let me know.
(With your doctors' original unofficial dx of IBS, there's no known "medical cure.")

Please post again or pm me directly.
Wish you well.
Niko

[Rambo14]

Hi Sarah this is Natalie.  I'm an RN so I cannot diagnose but might be able to help get your mind thinking about your situation differently.

You might have IBS but it might not be your main problem.  As far as the doctors go they can be rude and insensitive.  It took me about 24 years complaining every year to many doctors all over MN about my period and the horrible cramps etc, until a nurse practitioner listened to me and found  the worst stage of endometriosis.  Before that one doctor told me I should have kids, even though I was not married and still in college.  I asked him if he would pay for them and their college education.  He didn't like that.  Some are just jerks.

Anyway, the first thing I thought of in your writing was PID (pelvic inflammatory disease).  This is a commonly overlooked diagnosis that has similar symptoms to your explanation above.

do the doctors know the problem is organ or is it with the tissue?  If it is with the organs you could have a type of lymphoma in your abdomen.  with PID your lymph glands (we have many many lymph glands on both sides of our abdomen) and when the lymph are compromised swelling occurs.  Such like a sore throat, swollen lymph glands there.

The one thing you have me concerned on is the naval discharge.  what color, how much, how often, pain to specific naval location?
do you have a belly button piercing?  if so it may have become infected...
Otherwise......

The pain and problems you describe could possibly be "Urachal Cyst" and if it has burst it causes pain and will ooze from the navel.

I would seriously find different doctors for different opinions to make sure every area is covered.  Your best bet is to visit an "Internal Medicine" doctor.  they know everything.  Good luck and your in my prayers.