Please help... sick for 4.5 months! - Bowel Disorders Message Board

nancymosemen · 02-25-2009, 05:20 PM

Greetings! I am about to lose my mind - any advice would be great!

It started about 4.5 months ago - HORRIBLE gas that smells very bad but only happens at night. I also experience diarrhea 1-3 times per week (always in the AM). Bowel movements every two days or so otherwise. Eat plenty of fiber.

Then it progressed to pain in the right side of my abdomen, nausea after eatting meals, still have gas, and just an overall feeling of illness. I literally just don't feel well - at all. I feel "sick" almost every single day. Now when I exercise, I have pain in my abdomen which does not allow me to jog, bike, etc.

I feel bloated frequently and when I do have a bowel movement, it typically feels as though there is still something there as if I need to go more but I cannot.

I went to the doctors in Jan. they did the following tests:

-Liver function
-Pancrease fluids
-Other "belly" tests
-Chrons
-Celiac
-Cholesterol
-Sugar
-Antibody levels
- Preggo test (urine) which came back negative

... All came back normal. The only thing off SLIGHTLY was my potassium level which was 3.4 instead of 3.5.

The doctor is sending me for an ultrasound and xray to rule out my gall bladder however the earliest they could get me in is still 2.5 weeks away!

I took it upon myself to get to a GI appointment an hour away from my home which I go on Monday as by the time the doc put in the request for a GI, the waiting list was 4 months long. My doctor seems to think that this could just all be stress however I feel horrible - everyday - and he really doesn't seem concerned.

I have had some blood in stool, not just on toilet paper, and often have the chills.

Any ideas?... I am seriously starting to worry that there is something VERY wrong and my doc is just sitting back...

kennyboy · 02-26-2009, 06:44 AM

Hello Nancy. I am surprised that your doctor did not suggest a colonoscopy. That would at least put your mind at rest that there is no physical obstruction or abnormality. It doesn't sound like stress to me but then I'm no expert. You don't say which country you are from so I don't know how much pressure you can put on your doctor to speed things up.

The fact that the problem occurs at night is not really significant to me and just suggests that your spincter muscle has relaxed in your sleep and the gas build-up is leaking.

Blood in stools is not a clear indication that it is one particular thing as he's probably already informed you, but feeling 'chilly' points towards an infection somewhere...... to me anyway but if you have an infection your temperature should be erratic, is it?

It doesn't sound like a fissure because the pain from these is localised near your anus, and boy do you know when you've got one! Hemorrhoids is a remote possibilty and a colonoscopy will definitely pick that up.

Good to know that you are fit in every other way. Keep us informed and good luck.

PS. As an afterthought your symptoms are similar to sufferers of coeliac desease which is probably why you have not been recommended for a colonoscopy but an x ray instead. It would also explain the foul smelling gas. It tends to run in families I have read. Any history of something similar with relatives?
However it is a manageable disease because it basically is a gluten intolerance that does not allow your intestine to function normally. If you cut out gluten from your diet while you are waiting for the next medical step it might prove the point and it wouldn't harm you. Cheers.

nancymosemen · 02-26-2009, 08:15 AM

Thank you for responding!

My lovely doctor, who only insists on seeing me once month, told me on Feb 16th that now he thought it was ok to refer me to a GI to see if they wanted to do a colonoscopy. He said that he is an expert in general med and he will let someone else be the expert to determine if I need a scope done. At that point, the waiting list was 4 months long which is why I took it upon myself to find another GI that could get me in sooner and it is an hour from my home. I go on this Tuesday.

They also did a stool culture which came back normal and did a blood cell count which he said showed no infection. It is all just so bizarre.... wouldn't you say?

I love in the U.S., have not been on antibiotics, nor have I traveled outside the country. These seem to be questions that many have when they hear about my symptoms.

Any help would be great... I am just really worried that it is something serious and all the Doc is doing is pushing me prescription anti-diarreha pills to take 4x's a day but he said it may cause constipation so I have not taken them.. ugh.

kennyboy · 02-26-2009, 11:59 AM

Well you don't mention any pain at all and if your stools are 'normal' (apart from the diarrhea) then irritable bowel syndrome looks like a prime suspect. Some people with IBS have found a probiotic called VSL3 to be very helpful. Wouldn't do you any harm to try it and see if it makes a difference. It's a case of trying certain strategies until you (or your doctor) hit on the solution.

You could have a gall stone or and appendix problem....there are loads of possibilities that are not life threatening I'm happy to add. Do you smoke as that can sometimes play havoc with your digestion?
Good luck and keep us informed how things go.

nancymosemen · 03-05-2009, 05:36 PM

Greetings!!

Went to the GI and they are sending me for a colonoscopy on March 20th. I am VERY nervous and not sure what to expect.

Why do so many people on here say that it is painful? I thought they knock you out for the procedure?? Any advice would be helpful!

Thank you!