Connect
Chronic Abdominal Pain
I have had acute abdominal pain since April 2011 and it has escalated over the months.. The pain begins early morning, remains unrelenting and escalates throughout the day. It is sharp at times and gnawing most of the time. It radiates down from my sternum and to the lower left of my abdomen. My family doctor nor GI specialists cannot find the cause. I have had CT scans, ultrasound, video capsule endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, push endoscope, H pylori tests, ova stool test for parasites and MRI, to name a few. EVERY test result has been returned as "unremarkable"--no cause found. I am currently taking Paxil 25mg, Nexium and Oxycodein for the pain. Nothing has helped me determine the source of this pain. I am reaching out to this community to see is anyone has a similar experience.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Connect
I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent which did not allow the pancreatic juices to flow. It took me years to discover this. I had all of those tests too and they came back normal until I had an ERCP with a fantastic gastro wizard at UCSF (San Francisco) Keep track if the pain gets worse after eating (when the pancreas starts to work). Mine hurt more in the morning also because laying flat (sleeping) took the pressure off of the duct then ramped up the rest of the day I hope this helps. I'm on a new journey for chronic pancreatitis that has taken over my life. I'm thinking of going to Mayo clinic for some help to get some (or any) life back. I wish you a positive outcome. Don't give up
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThank you so much for you response. This has been a mystery to all specialists and all they say is that there is nothing wrong and then throw up their hands and say you are on your own, or to seek psychiatric help. This pain is driving me crazy and causing so much anxiety that it is hard to deal with on a daily basis. I have a Drs appointment after work today and will definitely bring this up to him to see if he can schedule the test. I can't thank you enough for replying.
Have you had a stomach emptying test? I was going through something very similar. The episodes would come and go (for about 3 years) but they began lasting longer and becoming more frequent. About a month and a half ago it just never went away, acompanied by some vomitting and always with nausea. Plus, I lost about 25 lbs in the last month and a half, which really freaked me out since I know how my body usually works. (Normally, I could run 100 mi on the treadmill and lose 3 lbs if I'm lucky). After a million tests performed and everyone telling me they could find nothing, I finally was seen by an MD who ordered the stomach emptying test and that's when they realized my stomach is paralyzed. See, the organ itself looks fine on an MRI, CT, Ultrasound, etc., but this test revealed that it wasn't emptying any food at all, hence the reason I couldn't eat and I always felt sick. No matter what, keep trying. No one knows your body like you do. After they would tell me everything was "normal" I would look them in the eyes and tell them, "I am telling you there is something wrong with me." Don't give up.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI have also had a stomach emptying test and it showed severe gasrtoparesis. The doctor then put a feeding tube in my small intestine but because of the Crohn's Disease I was unable to tolerate the feeding tubes for various reasons. I was hospitalized multiple times for vomiting, dehydration, multiple infections from feeding tube pain, and malnutrition. I now have a indwelling port and I am on TPN at home. I feel better than I have in years but the TPN is not a long term solution. I am still unable to eat and drink much without the symtoms coming back. Good Luck and let me know what happens.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI keep reading posts similar to yours and it really scares me. I was just diagnosed with the gastroparesis last Tuesday but I've had problems for years. The only difference is that about a months and a half ago the symptoms just didn't go away. I've lost 30 lbs in the last month and a half. Actually, make that 35 as of when I stepped on the scale today. I am afraid. I can't eat anything without either vomitting or experiencing severe nausea. I'm so fatigued it's becoming difficult to get out of bed. I'm a mother of 3 young children and I'm in school full time, as well as a full time job, and I am crying every day because I don't know how to live like this- so tired and not able to eat or drink. I am doing my best to function because I don't want to freak my kids out but I really don't know how people live like this. I'm so sorry that you are going through what you are going through. When I began seeing a gastro, one of the first things I was told is how hard it is to diagnose "abdominal pain". Luckily ("unluckily?"), they were able to provide me with a diagnosis, but the next information I received is that they can do nothing for me. I really hope your outcome is met with a better solution. Sorry to vent.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHave you tried an elimination diet? Stop eating dairy and gluten for a month or two. I had the same thing- awful abdominal pain but labs, CT scans, etc, all came out normal. When I stopped eating gluten, my abdominal pain went away completely, though I still struggle with fatigue.
Gastroparesis. Try Align. You can get it at larger grocery stores like Sam's or Cosco. Though it has not eliminated my Gastroparesis, it has helped with the pain somehow. Get on a Gastroparesis diet and follow it precisely. I wish you well.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsDo you have a redundant colon. /motility prior to he stomach paralysis?
what is that?
No I have had all the tests and nothing that has indicated a redundant colon. Still searching. Thanks for your reply. Any help is greatly apprecated