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Chronic Abdominal Pain

Digestive Health | Last Active: Dec 10, 2022 | Replies (136)

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@stillsearching

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

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Replies to "I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent..."

Thank 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.

I 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.

I 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.

Do 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

Longer large intestine

Hi. I've had chronic pancreatitis since 1992 due, the doctors think, to pancreas divisum (incomplete pancreatic duct, so pancreatic juices & enzymes can't flow into the intestines; instead they digest the pancreas. OUCH!!) Pain gets worse as day progresses and/or with activity. I've seen my local GIs in South & Central Florida, a doc at Univ of Miami, a quack in Boston, a terrific doc in New York City. I've had multiple ERCPs with & without sphincterotomies and/or stents and a EUS. Nothing except narcotics really helps. I recently attended a 3 week cognitive pain therapy course at Mayo in Florida which gave some tools to help cope & have a life. Please feel free to ask anything that might help you. jan11442

Hi. I'm new here but will put in my 2 cents worth anyway. The worst part (and most frightening) is the search for an answer to what is wrong. As a retired RN I can tell you that when a doctor can't find the answer unfortunately he will decide its the patient's fault- the patient must be crazy. Don't believe it! Keep your hopes high & keep looking. May I suggest during your search for what is wrong, seek out a program that will help you cope with the unknown & the pain. Good luck. The answers are out there. jan11442