Long time tummy problems
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| Tue, 09-11-2007 - 4:34pm |
Hi everyone! I'm a new member to iVillage, and after reading a few of the posts, I finally felt like I found some people who understand what I'm going through. I've had stomach issues of sorts since I was in high school, and I'm now 24. I've had ultrasounds, fecal occult blood tests, sigmoidoscopy, upper GI, and lots of blood/urine tests over the years. Lately my symptoms have been worse, and I've finally gotten up the nerve to pursue this until I have some kind of diagnosis. I'm currently on Prilosec OTC and I'm supposed to avoid lactose for the next week to see if that's part of my problem. But, my symptoms are nausea (no vomiting), sensitivity to touch, change in bowel habits, fatigue, and belching. I was wondering if any of you have had any similar combinations of symptoms. I have had an ultrasound of my gallbladder - because I have a strong family history of gallstones, but the doctor said it looked healthy. I did have a full-on attack last Christmas where I was really sensitive to food - everything hurt my stomach, including water. I had diarrhea and severe stomach cramping. I ended up in the ER, puked three times (bright green), and they sent me home with anti-nausea meds and no diagnosis.
Like I said, I'm finally getting up the courage to pursue this, and I think I've finally found a NP who understands. I don't have a gastroenterologist yet, but I think I will after I've had a few more tests run.
Any tips for living lactose-free, other than avoiding the obvious things like milk, cheese, and ice cream?
This is mostly just a vent, but any advice is definitely welcome!


<Thanks for the information and welcome Elise! NP = nurse practitioner (a nurse who has taken another step to become more independent and see patients on his/her own, I think usually under the oversight of a doctor). She's the only person I've found so far who really seems like she wants to get to the bottom of this as much as I do.
I'm not convinced that lactose is my problem, but anything is worth a shot at this point. I'll post again once I've had another appointment. :)
Thanks for clarifying what NP stands for...I wasn't sure if it was Nurse Practitioner or a Naturopath and they are totally different!
Have you tried keeping a food journal/diary, to see if certain foods/beverages cause problems? Sometimes we don't think something can be causing a problem, until we keep a list and can actually pinpoint certain foods.
That is great that you've found someone that is taking your issues seriously. I think that many NP's can take that extra time and I just hope they get the recognition they deserve...as far as salary and such. The doctor that oversees their 'work' shouldn't get all the credit, just because he/she is overworked and can't spend the time that an NP might be doing...kwim?
Definitely keep us updated! I look forward to getting to know you and am here to offer whatever help and support you need.
CL of

<I had an appointment today with another doctor (my usual NP wasn't available), and I feel like we made some progress. She was really good and took the time to take all of my history. She drew some blood as is going to run some tests for liver/pancreas function to make sure that's all good. She also gave me a referral for a gastroenterologist, although her first availability is Oct. 11th. So, I'm trying to get another referral in hopes of getting in sooner, but at least it's a start. I have found that avoiding lactose helps at least a little bit, so I'm going to keep doing that.
Hope everyone's doing well!
I used to able to eat any thing I wanted. When I was about 15, I found that I couldn't eat dairy. As I got older, other things seemed to bother me as well. I had every possible digestive problem lactose intolerance, IBS, constant gas, and acid reflux. I came across this product a couple of months ago and it has essentially cured my stomach problems. It has 17 ingredients including enzymes and probiotics to help break down your food before it becomes a problem. I have taken every possible pill and antacid for my stomach issues and this is the only one that works for me. You should give it a try.
I was wondering if you found out anything about your symptoms or a diagnosis?
It definitely seems like you're going through something similar to my experience. I've now had an upper endoscopy, colonoscopy + ileoscopy (all complete with biopsies), gastric emptying study, lactulose breath test, abdominal CT, and all kinds of blood tests. Everything was normal, except the breath test was "slightly positive," so I took a specific antibiotic to treat bacteria in the intestines, and it didn't help. So, now I think I've basically been diagnosed with IBS, and I'm on a drug called desipramine 10mg/day. It actually seems to be helping, and I'm starting to get some of my energy back (not much, but some is better than none). I've only been on it a month so far, but so far, so good.
I completely understand the up and down of the symptoms, because I've experienced the same thing. One day I'll have pizza and ice cream and feel fine, and then another day I'll have oatmeal and I'll feel like crap for the rest of the day. It never seemed to follow much of a pattern for me. The only thing you may want to consider asking about if you haven't already is your gallbladder. From what I know, usually gallstones will cause episodic symptoms, especially after eating rich foods. For my sister (who had her gallbladder removed at 23), every time she ate Mexican, she'd flare up. Her symptoms were usually lower back pain and really bad heartburn. My mom had hers removed at 19 and it took them years to figure out what it was. She got to a point that all she was eating was Jello.
Keep me posted, because I can definitely commiserate. I understand the frustration you're going through. I'd recommend keeping a food diary along with your symptoms to see if you can find any patterns. Good luck!
Food diary is a great idea but then I'd have to remember to write in it. lol