i want it to stop! - Bowel Disorders Message Board

nyxin · 01-02-2004, 09:35 PM

hello everyone,
i have not posted here for a long time. to re-cap my situation, i had a horrible colon infection after the birth of my son 6 months ago. it was a very rare and deadly type of infection, in which no doctor could tell me how or why i got it. i was very ill for a long time, but eventually the antibiotics did their job and i started to get on with life. i was doing pretty well but the time was nearing that i needed to get all these post-op tests done to make sure everything was ok. i lifted some heavy things and started to get nervous about the tests that were coming up, i don't know which one started it but i began to get a pain in my upper right abdomen. i instantly had a panic attack thinking that i was getting sick again, and in doing so i really did make myself sick. i went to the doctor and they gave me xanax, which does help. i had a cbc done, kidney function, liver function, gall bladder function, HIV test which all came out perfect, right down the middle. i had an ultra sound, a baruim enema and an upper GI series which all came out great as well.

so here i am, i got every test, well pretty much that a person can and it all came out great. but i still have this pain in my side. sometimes it feels like it's burning, other times like it is pulling and sometimes it radiates over the right side. it isn't a horrible pain, just annoying enough to get my anxiety going.
i really don't have any other symptoms. the only thing is that i get very anxious when i feel like i have to have a BM. it feels like i am going to have the runs, but i don't, it is normal.

it is a cycle i am desperate to break. i feel this all the time, it stays the same, just changes the way it hurts, but not the amount. my BM does not have mucos, i can pretty much eat anything, but i am not very hungry because the anxiety makes me have a nervous stomach.

i do realize a lot of this is nerves, but i feel that if i could find out why my side is hurting and make it stop, the health anxiety would go away too. i am wasting so much time worrying over this. i want it to stop.

please help

suzi47cmt · 01-02-2004, 10:16 PM

hello there nyxin. I understand your anxiety situation. I think you are the first person I have seen that is so open about the anxiety thing playing such a part in all this. Of course anxiety and stress just make us go to the bathroom more, and then the more we go the more anxious we get. LOL I am not trying to be crass or unfeeling, but sometimes humor helps.

BUt, seriously now....I read on here a couple days ago about another person having similar symptoms, and all the feedback messages mentioned appendix, as in appendicitis. I am not saying this to upset you. I am trying to help. One of the messages said that you could have these types of symptoms for quite awhile sometimes, before actually finding out it is appendicitis. Perhaps when you speak to the doctor again, if you havent mentioned that "burning" feeling, that you mention it. Of course if you already did, and he has done all of the things above, maybe you could just keep track of it, and just keep bugging your doctor.

I REALLY hope you have, or do, begin to feel better. I have crohns disease, so I know what you are feeling. The anxiety, nervous stomach, frequent BMs, etc..

Please take care, and let us know if and when it does stop, and how you are doing.

nyxin · 01-02-2004, 10:45 PM

thanks so much for the fast reply. well funny enough, they thought that my appendix burst when i went to the er 6 weeks after my son was born, i went to surgurey and that is when they found my horribly infected colon. my appendix was apparantly fine, but they took it anyway. they said that they tested for chrons too, not sure when, but it was ruled out. i dono, my doctors are now looking at me like im nutz, i think they are right.

Jenetti · 01-03-2004, 09:44 AM

No Sweetie , Youre not nuts , just in PAIN and not getting any answers or relief from the pain.

I'm in the same boat. Since Thanksgiving, ive been hurting (lower right side). Doc thought at first diverticulitis (i have no appendix) and treated me with cipro. Suggested I have a colonoscopy after i got better . I will see THAT doc (GI) in jan 20 and see when he sets it up for.
I had been surviving on soups and liquids, but noticed i wasnt getting better so figured i needed to back off on that and let my colon rest some. BAD MOVE!
Anyway, after not getting better after 2 ROUNDS of cipro, i ended up in the ER. Not a good time to be there with holidays and docs on vacation or away. I had had a cat scan done prior and it was normal. Blood count, normal, xrays show distended bowel but otherwise normal. No obstructions. ER doc decided to admit me to the hospital because i was severly dehydrated and in so much pain my blood pressure (which is always normal) was UP. They loaded me up with fluids and antibiotics ( IV) the whole time I was there. All tests came back normal so doc didnt know what to do other than send me home with robinul forte for bowel spasms and lortab 10/500 for the pain. Im suppose to stay on a bland diet and see them back next week.
Here I am, in the same boat. STILL HURTING. STILL SCARED TO EAT AND DRINK cause of the pain. STILL having to wait to see what happens. STILL NERVOUS as heck. Yea nervousness, the stress of not having answers, of not getting relief DOES make things WORSE. Hang in there hon, im in the same boat. Hopefully we both get answers soon. I just don't know what else to do.
Jen

nyxin · 01-03-2004, 01:34 PM

wow. that is quite a story. i am surprised that they thought diverticulitis as it is usually found on the left side. why did they give you antiboitics? did you have a fever? was your white blood cell count up? you know that could be a continuing reason for your pain, all your good floura is gone. i would suggest some primal defense. it is great stuff. the only thing i did NOT have was a colonoscopy. the surgeon said that there was no need because the upper GI and Barium enema came back normal. have they tested you for chrons disease? that could be a reason too. just some thoughts.