Chronic upper stomach Pain/Nausea going on 4 yrs. ALL TESTS NEGATIVE
I have been dealing with upper stomach pain and nausea for 4 years. Started two years after gallbladder removal. On 12/27/18 I had a Nevro H10 nerve block device implanted. Within a couple of months, the device was working well, probably 80% improvement (which I'd take now!). I was back to working out, biking, felt like I got my life back! Then after about 4-5 months, the symptoms started coming back. It's been 14 months now and Nevro still can't capture the working setting again. In the meantIme, the problem has worsened in the past 4-6 months. I wake every day with pain in the middle of my stomach, just below rib cage. It's more of an "upset stomach/nausea" pain and usually let's up a little about an hour after waking up. Sometimes it can also make me feel "fluish" and overall crappy, especially if I exert myself at all. If I start working on a project at home, I wIll start to feel lousy and have to rest. It will also sometimes be accompanied by extreme sweating. I cannot even play a simple round of golf. I've had EVERY Gastroenterology test and all is normal. Even a camera pill. I also had a series of heart tests done and everything is fine. Blood tests had shown a very low Iron levels, but we did iron IV's to get that back up. In addition to the stomach, my feet started going numb and getting pain with pins and needles, especially when I sleep. Yesterday, I was diagnosed with Neuropathy and some nerve damage in my feet. On Monday I'm having tests to determine what is causing it. I do not have diabetes. I am also having a glucose tolerance test Monday. Neurologist said "it's possible" that what's causing my feet Neuropathy "could" be causing my stomach issue. I personally don't believe that. Started seeing a Chiropractor again too. He feels the stomach pain could be gas/air bubbles that are getting trapped in my esophagus area. He's working the area to stimulate the nerves and loosen the gas pockets.I also use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, which alarms him because it forces constant air into my stomach all night long. I'm switching to a bi-pap machine to see if it helps. My MD tried a steroid pack last week, but it didn't help. In 6 months I've had just ONE day (actually 3/4 of day) of no pain and normal energy. It's very hard and I cannot live like this anymore. Since I can't travel to the Mayo Clinic due to the Pandemic, I am having my MD refer me to a local Diagnostic clinic/hospital. The closest one to me is UT Southwestern in the Dallas area. Hopefully they can figure out what is causing this. All Liver and Pancreas tests are also fine. I've had a HIDA scan to make sure the "plumbing" where my Gallbladder was removed is not causing it (it's in that area). This problem can vary day to day and even hour to hour in intensity and can go from "ok" to bad and back again. The ONLY thing that takes the pain away is Hydrocodone. I had to take anywhere from "zero" to 1.5 pills to control it for the last 5 years. Now over the past 4 months, I have had to take 2 to 3 pills per day to control the pain and nausea (I also take nausea prescription, but it doesn't work well anymore. I am very concerned about addiction so working with my Doctor and making sure I take no more than three in a day. As far a prescriptions, I take Trintellix and Adderall (one pill each) in the morning along with a new blood pressure med I just started taking a month ago. I have not been able to sleep for years so I take Clonazepam for sleep. No food allergies or gastrointestinal problems. If anyone has a guess or if any of this sounds familiar, I'm open to ANYTHING! I also do Cryotherapy once in a while and the cold does help, but it doesn't last. I'm asking my pain Dr about a SPLANCHNIC pain shot to see if he thinks it will hep until we can figure this out or get my NEVRO device to work. THANK YOU!!!
Chris
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@trip17 I know how you feel about gabapentin. I have also gone through the weight gain. I don't get a lot of relief from pain either. When you went off it did they have you taper or just quit? I see my doctor in a couple of weeks and this will be on my agenda.
I think I tapered off. Was taking 3 pills each night with dinner. The Trokeni he put me on helped me lose 20 lbs in a month but made me sicker and I believe caused neuropathy in my feet.
Hi
I had the same thing. In and out of different doctors and all my tests were negative. Went to see a natural Patric and she figured out and helped me by telling me remedies. I started taking licorice root for a month 3 times a day. Please follow instructions if you take. Then I was weaned off the medication my doctor gave me. I went to see a gastro and he said when there is negative results it’s dyspepsia and you need to watch what you eat. I’m feeling so much better with no flare ups and watching what I eat. I do cheat once in a while but that’s ok.
I hope you feel better and this information helps you.
Robin.
Have you tried aloe vera gel, a tablespoon several times a day. Please ask your doctor. Can be purchased at Puritan pride.
My md started taking my meds out one at a time until I started feeling better after he took Donepezil out. You might try that.
I had a Splanchnic Nerve block procedure last week because I wanted some relief so I could travel next week to a very important event. The procedure did absolutely nothing to ease my daily pain and nausea. In addition, my feet Neuropathy that I get Sanexas treatment for twice a week was working until last week. Now the pain in my feet is back to where is was originally. I’ve exhausted all specialists and tests except a Rheumatologist. I have begun to have all my test results and medical records sent to the Mayo Clinic in Florida. I will then have a video conference with the Doctor to decide how to proceed. It’s a living nightmare that doesn’t seem to have an end to it so I’m counting on the Mayo to come through for me. I cannot live my life this way.
@trip17 I don't know if you have heard of Kratom, but I use it all of the time for nerve pain, and it helps tremendously. It is not FDA approved in all states, and the moderators on Connect would rather that I post about it privately. If you would like to know more about this wonderful plant, please do private message me at LoriRenee1. I will try to help you, as it helps me tremendously with severe nerve pain. Lori Renee
@lorirenee1, you can post about kratom. No need to private message. Thank you for pointing out that it is not FDA approved.
@colleenyoung Aww, Colleen, thanks so much for letting me post again about Kratom. I swear, it is truly the only thing I know of that rids me of nerve pain for about 3-4 hours at a time. I will also always mention that it is not FDA approved. Poor folks on this site really need help, and Kratom helps. Thanks again, Lori
If it's stomach pain and nausea, could be something you are eating. I have tried before, I think, to tell you to check into Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. A mediator release test (MRT) will tell you to which foods you have a sensitivity and are causing your mast cells to run amok, which can cause all kinds of pain issues. The test worked for my grandson who suffered for 2.5 years.