15 y/o son sick constantly

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2007
15 y/o son sick constantly
23
Sat, 01-06-2007 - 7:17pm
My 15 year old son has had stomach problems for a long time. As an infant, he vomitted alot. As he got older it got a little better, but not really. He has a lot of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I have taken him to many, many dr's and back in October, they discovered that his gallbladder was not functioning. Mid-November, we had the gallbladder removed, but he is still having the diarrhea and vomiting. I have taken him to our family dr. 3 times in the last 3 weeks. The 1st visit, they told us it was a sinus infection and put him on antibiotics. A week later he wasn't any better, so we went back and they changed the antibiotic. He got over that and was ok over the Christmas holidays, but over New Year's he started the vomiting and diarrhea again, so back to the dr. we went on Tuesday. This time they said it was a stomach virus. He has been sick all week. I didn't think stomach virus lasted that long! I am so frustrated with all of this. The gastroenterologist released him to go back to school 12/1 and he has yet to go back because he stays so sick all the time. The gastro told me to take him off the Prilosec that he had him on, but I've put him back on it this week. I'm to the point that I don't know what to do now or where to turn. The dr's kept telling me it was a stomach virus before and come to find out it was actually the gallbladder giving him the problems then. Why is he still having these problems? Who would be the best Dr. to take him to? I wasn't real crazy about either of the 2 different gastro dr's we've taken him to. The 1st one acted like he thought he wasn't really sick. The 2nd one is the one who diagnosed the gallbladder and we had it removed, but I have a hard time talking to him and don't feel like he's really listening. We live in a fairly small city and there's not that many dr's on my insurance plan to chose from. I feel like once again that I'm getting the run around. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? They would be greatly appreciated. I'm so tired of seeing my son suffer all the time!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2004
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 12:04pm

Hello!


Have you talked to either doctor about a second opinion?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 12:29pm

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So sorry to hear what your son has been dealing with! Arrogant doctors seem to gravitate to me, but I've become much more 'vocal' about my displeasure. lol


Sarah had some great suggestions and I plan to ask another CL (Sandra, a gastro nurse)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2007
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 3:59pm

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I have heard of IBD and Crohn's and the thing about that is his diarrhea is never bloody. I don't know if that matters or not, but everything I've read says a symptom is bloody diarrhea, not just diarrhea.

I have thought about milk intolerance and have taken him off all dairy for the time being to see if that helps. He's had this latest "episode" now for almost a week. He is feeling some better, but still is having diarrhea and says his stomach hurts some. He's still not wanting to eat much. I think he's lived on crackers and Powerade for the last week and many weeks before that he has gone without being able to eat much of anything else. His appetite did improve right after the gallbladder surgery, but after being sick again, he's quit eating. Needless to say, he doesn't have much energy either.

I forgot in my post last night to mention that he does have many environmental and food allergies. He gets allergy shots. His food allergies are mostly legumes, which he pretty much avoids all the time, but sometimes, it's hard not to eat something with a little soy in it. The allergist told us that he didn't have to completely avoid any of the foods but just to try not to eat them often. He does totally avoid peanuts, though.

I've also had him to an endocrinologist. We go back to her and the allergist next Monday. There was something in his thyroid panel that was in the high normal range back when they were running all the blood tests and she wanted to check it again after the 1st of the year.

Another problem is his education. He's a very smart kid and has always done well in school and is a good student. I'm extremely worried about how this is going to affect his grades. He hasn't been to school since the end of September. After they found out his gallbladder was the problem, I was able to have a homebound teacher come the month of November. He's missed 3 weeks of actual school (I guess in a way it was good it was over the holidays) since the homebound teacher quit coming. I thought about calling the school board in the morning and talking to the man that helped me get the homebound teacher set up and see if he has any other suggestions. I know that they won't put him back on homebound without a dr's authorization and the dr's not going to authorize it without knowing what's going on. I'm just about at my wits end with all of this. I'm depressed over it and I'm really hoping that he's not going to get that way, too. For a teenager not to be able to have much of a social life is no way to live, though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2004
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 6:13pm

It's possible this latest bout is completely unrelated to his earlier concerns. (hi elise)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2002
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 8:10pm

My heart goes out to you and your son...what a horrible struggle this has been in what should be the prime of his life. I have to agree with Sarah...I think IBD or IBS should be considered as possible causes of your son's symptoms. Now I will admit the nausea is a concern for me and not usually associated with these bowel conditions. Another concern of mine is that your son has been on various courses of antibiotics and I think quite likely may have a condition known as Pseudomembranous Colitis which is caused by overgrowth of organisms in the colon and is associated with antibiotic use. Diagnosis is made by stool samples and a quick look inside the colon...a flexible sigmoidoscopy is all that is required. I'm including a link for you to read more about it.


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pseudomembranous-colitis/DS00797


Now I know you mentioned in a later post that your son has never seen any blood in his stool but often with crohn's that is the case. You also have not mentioned what investigations either of the GI dictors have done .....your son should have a colonoscopy or at the least a flexible sigmoidoscopy witha chronic history of diarrhea and a small bowel followthru xray exam will help to either confirm or ruleout crohn's. Others have mentioned lactose intolerance and that's also a possibility but if he doesn't feel better off lactose then you need to follow other avenues.


Also has their ever been any discussions on the possibility of Celiac disease? His symptoms could mimic that as well.Here's some info on that.


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/DS00319


I really think you should head back to the GI doctor and reaffirm all his symptoms. At the very least your son deserves this. If after all these tests and nothing is found then perhaps there are other pyschological issues at work but I really feel your son has a bowel malfunction illness that needs diagnosing. Good luck and don't give up.


Sandra

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 8:53pm

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I appreciate your time and expertise Sandra. Thanks for offering other

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 9:13pm

Hi Beany! *waving*


Thanks for bringing up a few more possibilities.

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CL of

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2007
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 7:59pm
We're going back to the GI Dr. on Wednesday. The regular Dr. today seemed quite concerned that he wasn't better and her first words were "I want you to take him back to the specialist." So that's where we stand now. I contacted the school board today by e-mail but the person I e-mailed never read it, so he might not have been in today. I posted a reply earlier, but don't know if I did something wrong or what, but I don't see it. He was checked for Celiac Disease and didn't have that. I honestly don't know what all they checked him for before they found the gallbladder problem. I know they looked at his liver and said it looked ok. The ran all kinds of blood tests. Just keep us in your thoughts and prayers. He seems so lifeless to me, and that's whats got me worried the most.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 12:59pm

I hope you've heard something by now. Thank goodness his regular doc can see that something is wrong!


I'm sure your son is feeling very frustrated by now. Hard as it might seem right now, try to get his focus on something else that he enjoys. He has to know and appreciate that you haven't given up, even if he doesn't say much. I had many health issues as a teenager and my parents thought the doctor was always right (all in my head)....until my appendix nearly burst and emergency surgery was required.


Please update when you know more!

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CL of

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2007
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 10:38am
Ok, we saw the GI Dr. yesterday. He said yes, there is something definately still going on, so next Friday he's going for a colonoscopy and another endoscopy. He did blood work yesterday, too, and put him on 2 new meds, so hopefully we'll get this straightened out soon! He is going to check for Crohns among other things. I'll update you once I know more!

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