I have had pain episodes starting in my upper right abdomen off and on for about 2 years now. The doctors seem to be running in circles. I'm taking aciphex and bella donna and diazepam. The attacks seem to last 6 weeks or so. They also seem to be getting worse. The pills seem to keep it down... but just. During the worst of the attacks, it's hard to move, at it's best the pain is very low but I can always feel like something is there.
Now, the symptoms seem to be expanding. Queasy at attack peak. I no longer have an appetite. I did have a few very light color(cream/tan) and now generally lighter color stools than previously. The discomfort is expanding to mid-stomach area and tenderness on lower right side. Gas bubbling day and night. Never had gas before (or any other health prob).
Had x-ray, endoscopy, NM Hepatobilary(radiation-liver-gallblader test), blood work, stool work, sonogram, fine res pancreas CT scan. But some of these tests were done like a year ago. My Eosinophils were high at 9% (normal 0-7%). A second test recently has confirmed this again.
Does this look familiar to anyone? Thanks for reading this.
groundhog
ps. My email address is groundhog1rb@excite.com.

You don't say what your hepatitis status is. Have you been tested for all types of hepatitis, including an assessment for NASH (Non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis)and Autoimmune hepatitis? Have you had a biopsy?

I find the eosinphil levels interesting.

Eosinophil function is incompletely understood. They are prominent at sites of allergic reactions and with parasitic larvae infections (helminths). Eosinophil secretory products inactivate many of the chemical mediators of inflammation and destroy cancer cells. This phenomenon is most obvious with mast cell-derived mediators. Mast cells produce a chemotactic factor for eosinophils.

Produced in the bone marrow, eosinophils then migrate to tissues throughout the body. When a foreign substance enters the body, lymphocytes and neutrophils release certain substances to attract eosinophils which release toxic substances to kill the invader.

So, a parasite, infection (tested for h pylori?), or allergy seem to be some of the posssible actors here. Assuming no parasites, have you investigate food allergy/sensitivity? From the symptoms, this is a possibility. I, muself, have allergies to foods and have similar symptoms if I eat onions, milk and some other foods.

The way to determine whether it is your diet is to eliminate all but pure foods (rice, grains, plain unspiced meats and fish, bananas, etc) Steam vegetables. Do not fry foods, steam vegetables and eliminate highly starchy or high fiber foods. Do not smoke or drink alcohol.

Try this for a few weeks and see whther this helps. Add back foods slowly and note whether symtoms return. Some people find that an enzyme from the health food store called taurine helps.

I am not a doctor and this is just some ideas based on my own experience and some lectures I have attended.

thanbey

You described my symptoms exactly. I made about a dozen lifestyle changes, including much of what thanbey suggested, and the symptoms have subsided significantly.

I'd like to hear more about taurine, if possible.

Taurine is a naturally ocurring digestive enzyme. For more informaiton on it, you'll have to do a search. I am not an expert in this area, just another person with a food allergy.

I take it to mitigate symptoms, but not as a daily routine. It helps me, but avoiding the offending foods is the best strategy.

Onions are in EVERYTHING so sometimes I get them despite my best efforts.

thanbey

thanks Thanbey and Sam for your input. I was hoping for "Nahh, that could never be hep.", but I guess it's a possibilty. I also get alot of responses on gal bladder. Even though I've had a test, I'm told that the hidascan with cct (spelling?) can be wrong.

I'm getting another endocope tomorrow and small bowell series x-rays monday. I don't know if they tested me for hep but will ask.

Thanks, you guys really know a lot about this stuff.
groundhog

Thanbey, somehow I got a message that you had posted a reply to this topic, but I don't see one. Anyway I will take the chance to post an update.

I had edocopy, CT scan of pancreas, small bowel series x-rays, and blood work (they didn't do a hepatitis test). They found nothing. As I've found, this happens to many people. I think doctors and their "science" are much less developed than the impression you get.

Anyway, I later went to my free, state clinic to get hepatitis B and C tests. They weren't anonymous tests so I gave a fake name and address. The tests both came out negative.

Bottom line is that at this time I don't know what I have. I guess I will have to let it get worse enough that the doctors can measure something... Maybe if an organ actually comes out in the toilet I can take it to them.